Be Careful with Cheap Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses are one of the newest players on the mattress market, having been around only since the mid-1980s. But because they are a high-tech product with a very specific manufacturing process they are also expensive. If you can afford memory foam it is an excellent choice for supportive and comfortable bedding. Unfortunately, unscrupulous manufacturers have begun selling cheap memory foam mattresses to people who don't have the money for the high quality stuff.

Like anything else, you get what you pay for when purchasing cheap memory foam mattresses. They will not be as comfortable, they will not last as long, and they may not even really be memory foam in the truest sense of the word. Rest assured that if you find a memory foam mattress that is significantly cheaper than the average you should probably steer clear. Read on for some tips and tricks that might help you sniff out the bad quality memory foam.

Strong Odor

As mentioned earlier, memory foam is a high tech product with a very strict production process in order to get it right. A whole slew of chemicals are used in the production of memory foam, but when all is said and done there should not be a noticeable odor unless you stick your nose right up into the foam and take a whiff. If you smell a strong vinegar-like odor without having to get extremely close to the mattress you are probably smelling formaldehyde, a chemical that some manufacturers use as a fixer.

Not only is the formaldehyde a telltale sign of cheap memory foam but it can also cause allergic reactions, breathing trouble, and other physical conditions. Also be careful of memory foam mattresses that smell like perfume. It's not uncommon for manufacturers of low quality mattresses to mask the formaldehyde smell by covering the foam with a perfume laden topper. In other words, when you see a quality memory foam mattress there should be little or no odor after the "breaking in" period.

Flaking Is another Sign of Poor Quality

The construction of memory foam makes this material very viscous and gives it a very peculiar texture. It is such that you should never see flaking with pure memory foam. If you have a mattress where flaking is observed, either it is a latex foam being disguised as memory foam, or it is a combination product with both types of foam in it. Either way, it is a low quality mattress that probably isn't worth your time and effort. As a general rule, if it flakes stay away.

Made in the USA

It may be true that home electronics and cars are better off being made outside the U.S., but the same cannot be said about memory foam. Standards and regulations in the United States and Canada are such that it would be very difficult for a manufacturer in one of those countries to produce something of poor quality. But in other parts of the world there are little or no regulations.

China is perhaps the most egregious example of this fact. Some of the memory foam coming from China is such poor quality that any experienced salesman would know on first glance that it was a fake. Like others are not, this is one area where made in the USA matters.

So when you go shopping for your memory foam mattress make sure you look for a label that indicates where it was made. If you buy American not only will you be assured of the highest quality foam but you'll also be keeping Americans at work and the economy moving along. It may cost a little more than a cheap alternative from overseas but in the end it is worth it.

Memory Foam May Not Be Your Best Choice

As great as memory foam is, for some people it may not be your best choice. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or certain types of back pain you may find memory foam makes your condition worse. That's because the properties that give this foam its name cause it to push back against your body as you lie on it. This push back effect gives great support but it can irritate your joints and back. For rheumatoid arthritis patients who also have sensitive skin memory foam may be a further irritant.

Memory foam may also not be the ideal choice for those who suffer from hyperhidrosis. That's because memory foam tends to sleep hot. A hyperhidrosis sufferer will certainly feel the difference between a memory foam and coil spring mattress with just a few minutes lying on it. If you're prone to this sort of condition a memory foam mattress will make you even more uncomfortable and could end up causing heat rashes and other conditions.