A mattress pad is a pad, thick sheet, or thin mattress, used to increase the comfort of your bed. Some mattress pads offer extra cushioning and support to a bed.,
A great reason to purchase a mattress pad is to use it to act as a buffer between the mattress and sheet, minimizing body soil to the mattress. Other people will use a mattress pad to protect the mattress of a young child, or adults who suffer from urinary incontinence. Down mattress pads, or mattress toppers, have become a staple for many sleepers.
With a number of new products on the market to sleep on, you don’t have to settle for a simple quilted mattress pad anymore. What you put over your mattress can go a long way in helping to keep you warm in the winter. Traditional mattress pads are filled with down, wool, foam, cotton, or polyester. They’re made to soften the mattress, give a smoother feel for lying on, and protect the outer layer of fabric on the mattress. Some mattress pads have corner elastic to hold it on the mattress, while others are constructed to fit over the top and sides of the mattress.
More costly mattress pads are designed for warmth and comfort. Some even have copper coils to radiate and hold in natural heat. Wool fleece mattress pads offer the warmth of wool and the softness of a down pad. Because wool compacts, the loft of a wool fleece pad will become matted over the years. Dry cleaning is required for a wool mattress pad, as with any fine wool blanket or apparel.
There are some points to be kept in mind while taking care of down mattress pads like when you have to wash it, read the mattress pad label. Some will say to machine wash in cold water while some will say warm water. Some will say tumble dry low and still others will recommend not drying in the dryer. Some will say to dry clean only and others might specify no bleach. While there may not be specific instructions, you can use this as a guide of what not to do.
Another Option: Use a duvet cover.
If your mattress pad is made of down feathers, memory foam, egg crate foam or wool, you may want to invest in a duvet cover. You can always wash a duvet cover from general wear and keep your special pad protected. Dry your mattress pad completely. Your label may say you can tumble dry low; however, this could still shrink it. An alternative would be to hang it dry and if you do so in the sun, this will help kill bacteria and dust mites. Be sure the pad is dried completely before you put it back on your bed so you don’t create an environment where mold and mildew may grow.
While there may be a little more care required with a high quality down mattress pad, you’ll never grow tired of the additional comfort you’ll have each and every night.