Last year I diy’d a king latex hybrid mattress and I’ve found that I can’t even sleep on it. It has 3" of latex under 8" Quantum Edge Elite-Bolsa pocketed springs and 3" on top, then bamboo & wool quilted and zippered cover. It is about 15 inches thick! It didn’t take long for body impressions to form on both sides of the mattress. My husband weighs 220 and I weigh 140. My hips and shoulders get very sore after only a few minutes when I’m on my side and whenever I try sleeping on my back my arms and legs fall asleep. I try to sleep in bed, but most nights end up going to the couch, and wake with a horrible backache every day. Changing the sheets is another nightmare as the mattress weighs a ton. I can hardly handle it on my own. I am almost 73 years old and have limited strength. Does anyone have suggestions on what I could do to try to make it more comfortable?
Just to clarify, are coils at the very bottom, or did you place the coils between latex layers? If so, then I think you find it much more comfortable if you place the coils at the bottom, then layer you latex on top (softer latex on top).
Hi BettM,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround.
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with your mattress! One option to consider is adding a softer mattress topper, such as a 2-3 inch plush latex, which can provide extra cushioning for your shoulders and hips, helping to alleviate pressure points. You could do this in two ways. Since you have limited physical abilities, you may want to consider, two twin xl toppers, rather than one king topper. They will be easier to maneuver. Plus, each of you can choose the level of plushness preferred.
You did not mention the type of foundation your DIY is on. You might want to adjust the base or foundation of your mattress to ensure it’s properly supported; sometimes a slatted base with <3" can help distribute weight more evenly. This may be more involved, particularly with limited physical abilities, but a proper foundation is a crucial component of a fully functional bedding system.
Additionally, and I am trying to follow this. Are you saying you have 3" layer of latex, above and another 3" layer below the 8" quantum Edge coils? If so, and I know it will be difficult, you may want to remove the 3" latex below the coils, then add the topper. Just test the mattress first, after you remove the 3" (base latex) provided your foundation is sound. Also, are the densities of the 3" layers above and below the coils the same?
Further, since the mattress was a DIY, you could also explore rearranging or replacing the latex layers. A softer top layer split as I mentioned for ease of moving and personalized feel for each of you. The issue may be, you dont want to just remove the top 3" and replace it with a very plush 3" layer as it may not be enough support for either you or your 220lb husband. But, removing the 3" base layer under the coils, on an appropriate foundation, then adding a split king (2 twin xl) 2" comfort layers above your 3" latex layer may do the trick, while reducing the height of the mattress very slightly.
It’s also important to check for proper alignment when you sleep; make sure your pillow and mattress allow for your spine to be aligned, especially when sleeping on your back or side. A contour or cervical pillow might help keep your neck aligned. Using pillows strategically can also make a difference; for instance, placing a pillow between your knees while sleeping on your side can help align your hips, and if you sleep on your back, a small pillow under your knees might provide relief.
If the design of your mattress allows, consider rotating or flipping it to help even out body impressions. It may be the wool quilting that may compress a bit and create what appears as body impressions. This is normal. It would seem less like that a newer latex mattress would create body impressions to the point of misalignment. Our hand made organic 3" wool topper on our own mattress, and it presents body impressions that has no negative side affects other than cosmetic, even though it looks like something is “off.” Since our mattress is so firm, the body impressions created by the wool topper are actually the welcomed contouring of the topper to my 6’ 220lb body, and lesser so for my wife 5’4 135.
Finally, if changing sheets is physically challenging, I have found DreamFit sheets, a more recent acquisition, a piece of cake to place on the bed. They have these super strong elastic band that practically align themselves when you place them on the corners of the mattress and stay in position and do not move. Also, I have seen, but not used, Sheex, sheets. They are thin and very stretchy and based on the videos I have seen, seem to be fairly easy to manipulate.
Hopefully, one of these suggestions will help you redesign/configure you current setup with some modifications that can be completed to get you to a better comfort zone.
All the best,
Maverick
Thank you for the tips. Yes, I have the coils sandwiched between two 3" layers of latex. I’m not sure of the ILD of either of the latex layers anymore. Is there a way to test that? the mattress is very thick and if we removed one of the layers the encasement would not be filled. I do think that there should be something under the coils to protect them and the encasement. It is on a slatted platform base, Platform Foundation – WinkBeds, which seems very sturdy. Maybe I should consider getting a whole new mattress, but if I do that I want one that zips open, in case I ever need to change the latex. Thanks again!
Measuring the ILD of a mattress layer at home would not be a practical exercise to perform at home. You could take two objects of equal weight, like a bowling ball or a heavy brick or book and observe or measure the amount it sinks in each layer. It wont give you an ILD, but it will articulate which one is firmer/softer.
As far as research shows, the winkbed foundation uses slats that are 3" apart, so that is a suitable spacing.
Having a base layer under the coils, while not always necessary, is an option that can enhance support and reduce sagging over time. You may want to consider a 1" base layer and a 2" softer comfort layer, and get the ILD information just in case you need to modify again.
Your coil layer and comfort layer seem appropriate as a starting point. If you were to place a 1" HD polyfoam layer under the coils as a base, then your 8" coils, 3" current latex comfort layer and 2" of softer comfort layer or split internal comfort layer targeted for each of you, that would still keep you at the 15" height, but with a different mattress feel.
If it turns out that the two 3" latex layers are in fact different ILD’s, you have an additional option to swap if the aforementioned combination is not quite right, but close. You can always check with the company you purchased the latex layers from, or old email confirmations, for what those layers technical details were.
All the best,
Maverick