Zleeps Firmness memory Foam Buying Tips

Memory Foam Buyers Guide for mattresses and beds

Thinking about buying a new memory foam mattress and bed and find yourself puzzled by all the special terminology? Don't know the in's & out's of memory foam mattresses and beds? Curious about the, comfort, firmness and all the other jargon? Wondering how your needs can be matched by the benefits of memory foam? If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, then this memory foam buyers guide is for you!

Contents

• What is memory foam material?
• Where did memory foam come from?
• Why memory Foam?
• What is the difference between spring or memory foam mattresses?
• Memory Foam Facts
• Why we need sleep?
• Why should I upgrade my mattress to a memory foam mattress?
• UK Bed Sizes
• Memory foam mattresses can help to stop snoring
• The firmness guide
• Memory foam ranges by Zleeps
• Benefits of  ordering from Zleeps
• Q & A on memory foam

What is memory foam?

Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional material that increase its viscosity level, thereby increasing its density. It is sometimes referred to as visco-elastic polyurethane foam. But the key term is memory foam.

A Zleeps memory foam mattress is unlike your standard spring based mattress that your used to and the way to go about buying one differs too.

Shopping for a spring mattress used to involved traipsing around different bed showrooms, talking to sales people and lying on bed after bed after bed. The key to finding the ideal spring based mattress is to find the mattress which fits your body. It could be the first mattress you lie on… or it could be the 97th on your third day of mattress hunting.

Memory foam revolutionizes the way we shop for a mattress. Instead of having to find a mattress which fits your body, your body will simply fit the mattress. The memory foam will mould to your particular shape offering a highly personalized level of comfort.

You simply need to find out which density is suitable for your weight and softness preference. Higher density memory foam is suitable for people who are heavier or prefer a firmer mattress. A lower density memory foam is suitable for lighter people or those who prefer a softer mattress. There is more information on memory foam density later in the brochure.

Where did visco elastic foam come from?

Memory foam was originally developed by NASA to decrease the very high pressure caused by the extreme G-force occurring during the take-off of the space shuttle. NASA abandoned the material after failing to find a practical application for it but Scandinavian scientists saw its potential and busied themselves perfecting it for use in beds.

It was subsequently used in the medical field. The expense of memory foam at this time meant that it could only be offered to patients who were bed bound or had mobility problems. With firmer mattresses these patients often found that the pressure over some of their joints cause the blood flow to decrease and can cause pressure sores. Memory foam mattresses significantly helped in decreasing these problems.
This is the reason why memory foam mattresses are becoming so popular today and why they are quickly over taking the old kinds of mattresses as the bed of choice for the general public. The manufacturing of the memory foam material has become easier and cheaper over the years and so costs have come down to a point where everyone can afford the comfort it can offer.

Companies like Zleeps have reduced costs by minimising overheads. We sell direct to you through our website and we deliver your memory foam product direct to your door. On top of this we offer a range on products to suit all budgets.

Why Memory Foam?

Value
Memory foam mattresses were initially too expensive for general use in the home, but in recent years it has become cheaper to produce and is now widely available.

Comfort
It’s most common domestic uses are memory foam mattresses, pillows, and memory foam mattress toppers. These help you stop tossing and turning resulting in a better night’s sleep which allows the body to wake rejuvenated and refreshed. Another plus about a memory foam mattress is the fact you do not turn the mattress over like you would with a spring based mattress.

Durability
Remember although a memory foam mattress moulds to your shape it will always go back to its original shape even if you were sleeping on the mattress 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week, 52 weeks of the year.

What is the difference between spring based mattresses and a Zleeps mattress?

From 1900 to 1975 mattress technology didn’t change that much. Then during the 70s NASA developed memory foam. In the 80s waterbeds came and went with speedboats and Rick Astley. During the 90s memory foam technology was being perfected in Sweden but was very expensive. By 2009 memory foam has become available for the mass market and is becoming the industry standard for a great night’s sleep.

So what’s the difference between a memory foam mattress and a spring based mattress. Well, both mattresses look similar and both aim to get a good night’s sleep, but the memory foam material is different. When you lay on a spring mattress the springs push back on your body. Think about it; that’s what springs do. The problem with this is that pressure can build on certain parts of your body, specifically your joints. These are your pressure points. Memory foam eliminates pressure points by not pushing back against your body as you lie down. You simply melt into sleep.
 
In short, memory foam is the future for mattresses; no springs, no pressure points, no turning and no dips will appear with age. If you want pure luxury and comfort to sleep on choose a memory foam mattress.

Visco Elastic facts

Memory foam mattresses have been nothing short of revolutionary to the bed industry. For years we all slept on the same basic design, springs. These can offer a comfortable night’s sleep, especially if you are willing spend between £1000 and £2000. Memory foam mattresses are different and can offer even greater comfort as these premium sprung mattresses. So how does a memory foam mattress work?

Movement
Memory foam mattresses have been shown to help alleviate tossing and turning to ensure a calm night’s sleep.

Heat
Memory foam mattresses draw heat away from the body and help regulate your temperature during the night. On cold nights this heat keeps your body warm. If you regularly find yourself feeling hot during the night and are worried that a memory foam mattress may make this worse, think about looking into a mattress with a layer of latex foam over the memory foam. This will ensure you keep cool.

Comfort
Memory foam material naturally moulds to the shape of your body, supporting you in all the right places while offering comfort to your pressure points. It can offer both comfort and support because of the properties of the memory foam material. The heat of your body softens the memory foam and this heat is greater in areas of pressure. This allows the memory foam to be soft as well as supportive. Because of this it has been shown to help alleviate aching bones and arthritis.

Allergies and mites
Memory foam mattresses and pillows are naturally resistant to common dust mites. If you suffer from allergies then this could be down to what’s living in your pillow. If your pillow is 2 years old then up to 10% of its weight can be dead dust mites and their droppings!

Longevity
Some studies have show memory foam mattresses to last up to twice as long as traditional spring mattresses. Zleeps offer a 5 year guarantee on all their memory foam mattresses so you can sleep easy at night.

Why do we need sleep?

Without good quality sleep the brain’s ability to function effectively is diminished. Grogginess and irritability as well as poor memory function can all be massively increased just by losing one night’s sleep. 

Without good quality sleep concentration and attention span is decreased. This is not good if lives depend on you if you are a doctor or a lorry driver.

Being awake for 17 hours is the equivalent of performing with two glasses of wine in your blood stream. You wouldn’t drive while drunk so don’t drive while tired!

How does sleep help us?
Scientists have been studying sleep for years and it still remains a mysterious area. So how does sleep help us? Well some believe sleep allows the body to recuperate and refresh. Sleep also maintains our cognitive abilities such as being able to function in term of speech, memory and other cognitive behaviours. Sleep has also been found to help the brain develop.

How can a memory foam mattress help?
All of the above indicate why it is so important to invest in a quality memory foam mattress and comfortable pillows. We spend a lot of money on things that help the quality of our waking hours such as television, stereos and computers. But spending money on quality bedding that will aid sleep isn’t always a priority. And it should be.

Why do we need quality sleep?
Seeing as we spend such a large portion of our time sleeping it makes sense that we invest in high quality bedding such as a Zleeps memory foam mattress. You don’t need a car, a boat or a plane to get to the land of nod, but you need to have a high quality mattress. A memory foam mattress is the Ferrari of the mattress world. It really is that good! And more than a flash car, a memory foam mattress will have a huge impact on your quality of life.

What can happen when your tired?
A number of major ecological disasters and other catastrophes have been blamed on tiredness. These include:

• Chernobyl

• Three Mile Island

• Exxon Valdez    

The Challenger shuttle explosion
We don’t expect you to be responsible for an accident on this scale but if you hold a position of responsibility then you need to get a good night’s sleep. Lorry drivers for example need to be alert at all times. Regardless of your job, we can all benefit from a good night’s sleep that comes with a Zleeps memory foam mattress.

Why should I upgrade my mattress to a visco elastic mattress?

If you are due to get a new mattress then now is the ideal time to investigate the benefits of memory foam. You should think about getting a new mattress if:

• Your mattress is over 10 years old

• Your mattress is lumpy or sagging

• Your mattress is causing my to toss and turn

• You wake with aches and pains

• You wake feeling tired

If you can answer ‘yes’ to one or more those questions then it is time to think about getting a new mattress and what better time to investigate memory foam!

If you don’t feel you need an entirely new mattress then you can still experience the wonders of memory foam with a memory foam topper. These are great if you have a good, sturdy mattress but feel that you could do with a better night’s sleep. The topper will sit on top of your current mattress and give you a layer of memory foam comfort. You do need to make sure that the mattress onto which you are going to fit the topper is sturdy and supportive. If it is worn out or old it will not provide the support that a memory foam topper needs.

Memory foam mattresses are the future of mattresses. People are beginning to see the benefits of memory foam and sales are increasing across the UK each week!

Remember the reason you have a bed and a mattress is to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Memory foam mattresses ensure that your body is totally supported with the pressure reliving material allowing you reduce aches and pains by up to 80%. This helps minimize tossing and turning so your body can get the quality sleep it needs to feel rejuvenated. The mattress market is quickly moving to a point where majority will be manufactured with memory foam material in the near future.

Zleeps memory foam mattresses can help stop snoring

Many studies have been undertaken to investigate snoring and evidence supports that a Zleeps memory foam mattress can actually help you with your snoring. Snoring can be a huge problem for some people and they will go to any length to stop it, even surgery. Before you think about that you might want to try a Zleeps memory foam mattress.
Snoring can interrupt the sleep of the snorer and anyone who shares their bed, resulting in a poor night’s sleep and a strain on the relationship. Anyone who is a snorer, or lives with one, knows that what most people treat as a joke is a very real problem with very serious consequences.

There are several remedies for snoring, and also for sleep apnea, which occurs when the sleeper temporarily stops breathing. It is a good idea to visit your GP if it is serious. Apnea is thought to affect around 30% of the population directly, and have an indirect effect on their partners, families and work colleagues, who have to put up with the effects of their lack of sleep such as tiredness and irritability.

What do we know about snoring?

• Almost half of all UK adults snore

• Men are more likely to snore than women

• Poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle can make snoring worse

• Drinking alcohol just before bedtime can increase snoring

• Famous snorers include Winston Churchill and Mussolini

How does a Zleeps memory foam mattress help prevent snoring?
In some cases, snoring can be aggravated by the sleeping position, which is why snorers may consider a memory foam mattress. Zleeps memory foam mattresses mould to the users body and support them in the ideal sleeping position. If you are finding your sleeping uncomfortable and you tossing and turning then a memory foam mattress can help.

If you have a fairly new mattress and don’t want to spend again then you could try a memory foam topper to add that extra comfort to your existing mattress. If your problems persist then you should visit your GP or to your chemist and asking for a specialist spray that helps to keep your airways open at night, or for further help on how you can reduce or eliminate your snoring problems.

How to pick your perfect bed

When you are looking for your perfect nights sleep there are few things that you need to think about:

• The size of the bed

• The firmness of the memory foam material

• Your budget

• How your going to get the bed into your bedroom
  

The following pages will give you advice on all these aspects. If you’re new to memory foam you might want to take a close look at the firmness guide. This will explain how firmness can differ between products and what could be the ideal firmness for you.

The UK Bed and Mattresses Sizes

One of the most important things you need to take into account when choosing your bed and a memory foam mattress is what size you are going to get. A smaller bed will be cheaper but a larger bed can be seen as an investment.
Experts say that you should go for as large a bed as possible; as much bed as we can afford and as much bed as we can fit in our bed room.

Single Bed
A single bed is a bed that is only suitable for one person and a small person at that. It is a popular bed type with children and young teens.

Double bed
The double bed used to be the bed of choice for two people. This bed can be large enough for some couples but seeing as people have gotten larger over the hundred years since the standardization of bed sizes it can be a tight squeeze. As such this is now a popular bed with older teens.

King-size bed
A King-size bed is now the standard size bed for a lot of people. This size bed adds just enough size to make it roomier for a couple but not too much size to make it too large for your bed room.

Super-King bed
The ultimate bed! Roomy, luxury, spacious. This bed is what you've been looking for if space isn't an issue and comfort is top priority. You need to sleep in a Super-King at least once in your life.

Custom Bed
Some beds don't conform to these standard sizes. These can be a custom made bed to fit an awkward shaped room or they can be an antique bed made before these standard bed sizes were established. If you have a custom shaped bed then Zleeps can help with our custom made memory foam mattresses.

Take a look at our range of memory foam mattresses to fit these beds. Or our custom memory foam. Or even our complete bed sets. Zleeps can help with everything.

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