Speaking about internal structure, all mattresses may be divided into spring and non-spring ones.

A usual spring mattress consists of a springs block covered with a thin layer of foam rubber or felt. Such mattress has a lot of springs the number of which compiles not less than 120 on 1 sq.m. Synthetics or cotton is used for covering of such mattresses.

We don't recommend getting such mattresses because of fixed coupling of their springs causing so unpleasant squeaking. Besides, all the springs of such a mattress are made of wire that can be worn out or break in the course of time.

There is more perfected variant of mattresses for people who prefer the spring ones. We mean here mattresses consisting of independent springs. It's a much better and convenient kind of mattresses as each spring of them is stitched into a separate cover. Such structure provides some orthopedic effect and complete noiselessness unlike awful squeaking ordinary spring mattresses. These variants are much more expensive but their structures and effects are worth of your choice.

Non-spring mattresses may be divided in their turn into quilted mattresses and down feather beds. The last ones are not worth using as their too soft structure is very harmful for your back. Besides, down feather is the best place for such an unpleasant phenomenon as parasites (ticks, etc.).

Now let's examine quilted mattresses. Actually you may use them but only in completely new state. Within a short period of time the staff is crumpled in such a mattress and there appear a lot of dents and knolls. Having slept a night on such a mattress you will get up in the morning completely worn out and tired. Unfortunately, you may see such mattresses even now in some hospitals and long-distance trains.

And there is one more version of non-spring mattresses. We mean foam-rubber mattresses. They are cheap but provide actually no support to your body and exactly to your back, as they are too soft and pliable.

There are a lot of criteria to make a correct choice of a mattress. First of all take into consideration its structure and composition. It's of primary importance for your health as it has direct connection with orthopedic properties. Besides, there is another important criterion concerning cover material playing a hygienic and aesthetic role especially for people suffering from allergy, diseases of skin and respiratory system.

While choosing a spring mattress, pay special attention at its springs, their quality and quantity. High-grade mattresses have a great number of springs. More perfected mattresses have two layers of springs with the height of 120 and 140 mm correspondingly. So you may also determine quality of a mattress by its thickness. Its thickness should be not less than 18 cm.

Overweight people should devote much time and efforts to make a correct choice of a long-term mattress. We offer some recommendations to help with such a choice:

Do not buy non-spring mattresses. They will be quickly worn out, and they are poor in orthopedic effects as well.

Pay attention at quality of the springs. They should not be made of thin wire.

Consider a possibility to get a mattress on special bearings that will help extend working life of your mattress.

If you consider all pro and con and decide to get a certain mattress do not hesitate to try it properly. Lie on the mattress checking its elasticity and compliance with your needs.

Having got a mattress, do not neglect the rules of its maintaining. Do not forget to turn it over every 2-3 months.

Even if you have got the best mattress that meets all your needs and dreams you should remember that it's necessary to change a mattress at least every five years. There are a lot of reasons for this. First of all you must know that any mattress is inclined to lose its orthopedic properties. The mattress composition is also worth being taken into consideration as it collects much dust and dirt in course of time. There is also an opinion among medical men that an old mattress may course insomnia, neurosis as it deposits negative energy during your sleep.

A mattress covering can be made of both natural and artificial materials. The natural ones include cotton, flax, wool. Synthetic and mixed fabrics are also widely used. Among steeps the following ones are famous: antiallergenic, fire-prevention, dust-protective, etc.

Nowadays a cotton covering fabric with copper microadditives has become popular for sedative and normalizing action.

Pay attention at the mattress covering. It shouldn't be made of chintz and unbleached calico as it is proved to be of poor quality. The best choice is considered to be jacquard (natural, synthetic, mixed). You may choose a "winter-summer" variant, it means jacquard on one side and wool on the other. While choosing a mattress mind that a good mattress should be quilted.

If you decide to get a high price level mattress you should know that there are some mattresses provided with aerators. These vents promote air circulation inside the construction.

Nowadays a lot of achievements have been reached in the area of mattress production in order to meet demands of the most meticulous customers and to get a treatment effect.

One of the most important innovative achievements of our century is an orthopedic mattress. It is designed not only to provide an appropriate rest but also to support and improve your backbone. An orthopedic mattress has always many layers. It is usually rather expensive but very convenient and useful. Besides, such mattresses can be used for a long period.

More fastidious customers may choose a water mattress. Despite it is rather heavy, it is very comfortable for sleeping and useful for your back. But it cannot coexist with children who can simply spit it with a needle or while jumping on it.

But the most modern achievement concerns a massage mattress. It has a special control panel. You may press a button on this panel and enjoy a massage as the mattress starts vibrating.

People often ask questions how to choose a high-quality mattress. Nowadays it is a problem indeed. There are a lot of manufacturers now whose production is of poor quality but they neglect no way to sell it. They advertise ordinary mattresses as orthopedic ones just to get their profit.

According to orthopedists there is a way to check the quality. You may sit on a mattress and place a bottle of water at 30 cm distance from you. The mattress is really of high quality if the bottle won't fall down.

While choosing a mattress pay attention at its covering as well. It should be thick and natural.

Mattress Stuff
Name	Composition	Properties and functions
Sheet wadding	Cotton fabric with thick nap	Heating layer
Felt	Thick fulling fabric from wool and cotton, more seldom from synthetic fibers	Hard layer
Heat-treated felt		Soft layer
Ordinary felt
Coir fiber	Natural fiber got from coconuts	Hard layer
Horsehair	Natural product	Hard layer
Latex (foam rubber)	Natural foamed extract from rubber-bearing plant milk (e.g. seringa) with cellular structure; artificial chemical product	Resilient and elastic airtight layer
Sea grass	Natural product	Resilient layer (algae)
Sheep wool	Natural merino wool	Heating airtight layer
Spun-bond	Bonded synthetic fabric of high thickness	Hard and strong layer
Strut-fiber	Bonded downy synthetic fabric	Heating layer