There has been a lot of talk lately by both bamboo pillow and mattress topper manufacturers and the general public about how much better bamboo pillows and bamboo mattress toppers are and how these products help people to get better sleep and wake feeling more rested. But are these claims true, and if so, what makes bamboo pillows and bamboo mattress toppers better than more conventional pillows and mattress toppers.
What You Need to Know About Bamboo Pillows and Mattress Toppers
The first thing you need to know about bamboo pillows and mattress toppers is that they are not made out of bamboo. Rather they tend to be stuffed with memory foam, and it is only the casing or cover of the pillow or topper that is made with a combination of bamboo fibers and other materials. Some bamboo mattress toppers may contain both memory foam and bamboo fibers in the actual stuffing of the pad. So if you are expecting an entire pillow or mattress topper to be made from bamboo, you will be surprised.
That being said, bamboo pillows and mattress toppers still offer some advantages over other pillows and mattress toppers even though only the casings are made with bamboo.
Hypoallergenic
Bamboo pillows and bamboo mattress toppers are anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, which means that bacteria and fungus won't be able to survive on them, reducing the chances of an allergy flare-up.
In addition, bamboo bedding products are resistant to dust mites and bed bugs and other infestations, so not only will you not get bitten by these types of critters, but you will be less likely to come in contact with them.
Helps Regulate Temperature
If you happen to be a hot sleeper, then sleeping on a memory foam mattress with normal type coverings will tend to hold in the heat resulting in you sweating during the night, which can disrupt your sleep make you feel sticky and uncomfortable. Bamboo pillows and mattress toppers are moisture-wicking and absorbent.
Bamboo also allows for better airflow.
Therefore bamboo bedding products will help to keep you cooler, and if you do sweat, the fabric will absorb the moisture allowing you to sleep drier and wake up feeling more refreshed.
Less Harmful Chemicals
While memory foam is made using man-made materials, bamboo fabric is made using fewer harmful chemicals than other types of coverings, thus reducing the number of chemicals you are subjected to during sleep. Most experts agree that the fewer chemicals you are subjected too, the better it is for your overall health. In addition, the bamboo covering puts a layer between you and these chemical substances, some of which may irritate people with sensitive skin.
Better Spinal Support
Bamboo mattress toppers and pillows are normally made from the combination of memory foam and bamboo fibers, which conforms to the body and provides you with spinal support. When your spine is supported during sleep, you are able to sleep more comfortably and wake up with fewer aches and pains because of the support both the pillow and mattress topper provides.
A bamboo pillow helps to keep your neck, head, and shoulders properly aligned, while the mattress topper also keeps the rest of your body properly aligned. This helps to avoid the aches and pains that result from the improper alignment that often occurs when sleeping.
As you can see, bamboo offers many benefits, all of which can lead you to having a more comfortable night's sleep, and being able to sleep longer and wake up more alert. However, although bamboo pillows and mattress toppers have many benefits, they also have some disadvantages as well.
These disadvantages include:
Off Gasing- Although bamboo pillows and bamboo mattress toppers are covered in bamboo, the padding is normally memory foam or some other type of foam, which contains chemicals. New mattress toppers and pillows give off a chemical smell until they are aired often for several days or even a couple of weeks.
However, most other mattress toppers and pillows will also release these gases and chemical smells.
Washability- While bamboo can be washed, memory foam breaks down when subjected repeatedly to water, making it impossible to wash memory foam pillows other than spot cleaning the casings. Again this is not just a problem limited to bamboo pillows but to any pillow that uses memory foam or other types of foam.
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of bamboo mattress toppers and pillows, you can decide whether or not you think these products are worth the hype.
Hannah Edmonds is a creative and enthusiastic freelance writer who has been loving this gig for 8 years now. Her personal mission is to encourage a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life experience for people through her writing, and this is her true passion. She is very adept at details, produces only first-rate work, and avoids fluff as well as redundancy. Hannah's goal is for people to grow their knowledge so they can keep evolving and growing. She has gained a lot of experience and has honed her craft through several years of work with different websites and blogs. Aside from writing, Hannah absolutely loves to travel, read, and loves anything that pertains to sports.