Buying the right mattress is an important decision since we spend almost one-third of our lives sleeping. At Bed Centre, we have sleeping down to a science so that you can make the right sleeping choices. While shopping for your new mattress, you might have come across the terms turnable and non-turnable mattresses. These mattress types offer different benefits, which in turn makes it easier for you to decide what the right type of mattress will be for you.
Turnable Mattresses
Turnable mattresses need to be turned on a regular basis as part of the maintenance and care, and will not perform as advertised if they are not regularly flipped. These types are often innerspring; or innerspring hybrid designs, which combine coil and foam comforts. What makes them popular is their longevity and longer-lasting comfort.
Each mattress type has a different turning schedule. Some may only need to be turned twice a year, while others require turning once a month. It’s important to note that turnable mattresses need to be turned more in the first few months.
Regular turning needs to be done to assist in material settlement issues and help mitigate general wear and tear. These mattresses are designed so that both sides of the mattress can be used and mostly, contain material fibers in their fillings such as wool, cotton, or white fiber (but this is not always the case).
A turnable mattress that hasn’t been maintained by being turned in this way will often begin to break down and sag. In some cases even create person-sized indentations in your sleeping surface. This type of mattress care is a necessity to keep your turnable mattress as comfortable as the day you bought it.
Pros of a Turn Mattress
1. Turning the mattress will allow used areas to settle again
2. Offers more even wear over the lifetime of your mattress
3. Your mattress will also last longer
Cons of a Turn Mattress
1. Depending on your bed choice, it may be heavy and awkward to flip
2. It may be impossible to turn alone
3. They are often more expensive than the non-turnables’
Non-turn Mattresses
Non-turn mattresses require that only one side of the mattress should be slept on. So you should never flip it over, as the non-sleeping side only provides minimal support and comfort. These types of mattresses are predominantly built with a comfort layer that is not prone to settlement. This is usually done through the use of foam and rubber, or by preparing and layering the inner fillings in a way that makes them more durable.
Non-turn mattresses often use latex, Geltex and memory foam, due to their ability to bounce back and retain their shape. Pillow tops and box tops are often used in mattresses that use fibres in their comfort layers (these would most likely be wool, cotton etc.). These mattresses are the more common mattress type and as a result you get a wider variety to choose from.
They also don’t always require a box-spring, and can be used with platform styles beds. They may include innerspring designs, with all layered foams that include poly, memory, and latex choices, as well as quilted cottons and wool padding.
Memory foam is popular choice because of how it conforms to your unique body weight, shape, and heat while providing contouring and sink. Latex is also popular due to its similar ability to give, but offers a more springy texture for increased weight distribution and pressure point relief.
Pros of a Non-turn Mattress
1. You have a much larger selection of mattresses to choose from
2. No turning schedule to remember
3. No real heavy lifting
Cons of a Non-turn Mattress
1. Your mattress may not have a long lifespan
2. Uneven wear may begin to show over time
3. You may incur additional mattress topper costs
Rotating a Non-turn Mattress
Non-turn mattresses may appear as if they require no maintenance but there is still one procedure you need to do regularly. You will need to rotate your mattress regularly If you want it to last and perform as it has been designed. To do this, you will simply need to spin the mattress on the spot so the head end is now at the foot end. This will make sure that sleeping positions are changed regularly and wear and tear is spread more evenly.
