How to choose a cotton mattress

Cotton filler

To fill the product, special clothing cotton wool is used, and not intended for medical purposes. Its quality is easy to understand by reading the label, for example, GOST 5679–85 (sewing cotton wool), and GOST 63.13–79 (mattress cotton wool prepared by recycling). GOST 63.14–79 (this is a type of sewing wool with recycled materials).

These types of cotton wool are durable and do not clump. They maintain optimal proportions between long and short fibers.

Sometimes the manufacturer uses natural filling material (regenerated fiber). Their characteristics do not differ from those filled with ordinary cotton wool. Divided into types:

• filling using wool residues;
• mixed filling (consists of synthetic and natural fiber);
• filling based on synthetic fiber.

The first two types of cotton mattress filler are the most practical to use.

Mattress cover

Before purchasing, you should pay attention to the density of the material and the seams themselves. Teak, calico, polycotton, chintz, having a density of 110 to 190 g/m2.

Filling Density

With a standard mattress padding measuring 160 by 190 cm, the weight of the product should be at least 13 kg. For narrow mattresses measuring 90 by 190 cm, the filler weighs 7 kg, and for 80 by 190 cm: 6 kg, for 70 by 190 cm about 5 kg.

For mattresses size 140 by 190 cm weight will be 9 kg, and for 140 by 190 cm – 11 kg.

Quilting a mattress

The quality of the product also depends on the stitch frequency, for example, for a mattress with a width 90 cm is 36 peaks, for width from 70 to 80 cm – 27 peaks. And for wider products:

• 160 cm – 63 peaks;
• 140 cm – 45 peaks;
• 120 cm – 54 peaks.

Which mattress is better - cotton, plain foam or polyurethane foam?

Cotton mattress pros and cons, service life

In this product, the ratio of long and short fibers is important (a product with short fibers makes it flat, but reduces weight). Short fibers make the mattress feel heavier.

Advantages: natural material, heat retention and environmental friendliness

Flaws:

• quick dumping of the filler into lumps
• quickly lose their appearance
• are pressed through after 2–3 months of constant sleep
• poorly ventilated
• it harbors harmful microorganisms
• bad for the spine
• may deform posture

For information: Duration of service life: 5 years.

Foam mattress pros and cons

Mattresses based on foam rubber are very easy to transport; they are light and compact. They have high elasticity and softness.

They are quickly pressed, but the filler does not get lost in them. They are very sensitive to moisture from the human body; under the influence of liquid, foam rubber quickly collapses.

If an open fire occurs, such a mattress will quickly catch fire, and the mattress itself will last no more than 5 years.

Polyurethane foam mattress pros and cons

The filler used for the mattress is a synthetic analogue of the well-known latex. It has a microstructure of small cells. Visually it resembles foam rubber, but has better quality.

The service life of such a product is longer than that of the above. It is better in quality than cotton wool and is more comfortable to sleep on. A latex mattress has orthopedic properties. The cost of such mattresses is low.

Flaws:

• not completely hypoallergenic
• crumbles over time
• more rigid than natural latex, especially at the beginning of use
• It's hot to sleep on
• pressed to the shape of the sleeping person’s body (after 3 years of use)
• heavy.

Based on all of the above, we can conclude that a cotton mattress is a convenient budget option for a short period of time. It can serve when you need a mattress, but it is not possible to buy a more expensive analogue with high-quality filling.

Important! In the long term, it can cause a lot of harm to health, because it is poorly ventilated and does not have an orthopedic effect. It may cause allergies. In everyday life, such a mattress is not very comfortable due to its heaviness.

But if you decide to buy just such a mattress, then you should pay attention to the quality of the stitching, the naturalness of the filler, and the material from which the cover is made.