Do not be alarmed, but you spend about a third of your life in a dream. This does not mean at all that this time is wasted; quite the contrary: thanks to the quality rest you live to the fullest and complete all of your plans.
The quality of your sleep directly depends on the quality of your bedding. That is why it cannot be taken irresponsibly. And since we started with shocking facts (although maybe you were ready for this), we will continue this trend: after a couple of years of using a pillow or mattress, they become one third composed of dead dust mites, dead skin cells, and others not hygienic charms of biological origin. Disgusting, isn’t it?
Whether scientists have found a way out of this nasty unsanitary trap and whether the evolution of mattresses has influenced their antibacterial properties – let’s find out.
Mattress Transformation Through the Centuries
It is easy to fall into misconceptions about the fact that the mattress, even in its primitive form, has always existed. However, there were times when people slept on bare ground. And when more comfortable conditions became a necessity, only rich people could afford soft and comfortable mattresses.
But let’s try to trace their path, starting from the earliest times.
Organic Bed
Neolithic became a time when people realized the importance of the special design of places for sleeping. At first, ancient beds were stone constructions, covered with animal skins, leaves or straw. The leaves or grass could not stay fresh for long, quickly becoming the habitat of insects. It is hard to imagine nowadays that such a place for a night of sleep was considered cozy and comfortable!
Water Experiments
The further development of the mattress included an innovation: its filling with some other material or substance. For example, in Ancient Persia, noble merchants slept on water mattresses. Animal skins were taken as a basis. They were tightly sewn and filled with water. Of course, it was unlikely that such a mattress could be used for a long time, but then, it was the standard of a comfortable bed. And this is thousands of years before the first modern water mattress appeared in 1873.
Egyptian Innovations
Egyptians used palm branches as pillows. They first proposed a cotton mattress stuffed with straw, wool or even clothes and rugs. It is also curious that it was the Egyptians who guessed to raise the sleeping place higher above the ground to prevent insects from crawling in there. They also removed organic elements susceptible to fast decay from the composition of the mattress. In ancient Egypt, beds were only for the rich. For example, Tutankhamun’s bed was made of gilded wood with cat legs.
Medieval Mattress Inequality
In the 15th century, a mattress continued its modernization: now it was made of soft fabric such as velvet, filled with feathers or leaves. A century later, people began to lay mattresses on special wooden platforms, which were the prototype of modern beds.
In the Middle Ages, people’s bedding depended heavily on their financial situation. The poor slept on wooden beds with mattresses made of straw. While the rich were sometimes content with very fashionable four-poster beds with curtains or decorative tapestries. Their mattresses were filled with soft feathers. Hand-carved beds were decorated with inlay and painted elements. Pillows and mattresses made of feathers and wool were highly valued and passed on as family property to new generations.
Then such a mattress was a convenient place of residence for parasites and bacteria in the house, since then there was no special idea about personal hygiene. Many families had multi-seat beds, reaching a width of several meters. They accommodated all members of the family, and, if necessary, the guests, who were laid next to them. Beds in wardrobes were also popular. People put a mattress stuffed with straw or pea husks there, and a guest or family member slept half-sitting. It was believed that such sleep is more beneficial for blood circulation.
The Prototype of a Modern Mattress
A mattress that has become more or less like a modern one is an invention of the 18th century. Its filler also underwent qualitative changes: now it was wool, cotton, coconut fiber and horsehair. The edges of the mattress were stitched, and stuffing was distributed over its entire surface.
Luxury Springs
A breakthrough in the manufacture of mattresses took place in the 19th century. In 1857, a furniture spring was invented, and after 14 years, German Heinrich created the first mattress based on this invention. This event marked the beginning of the heyday of the mattress industry, which reached its peak in the second half of the 20th century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a mattress model with independent springs entered the arena. Due to the high cost, such mattresses were not accessible to everyone. The fact is that initially, each spring had to be sewn into the fabric bag manually. However, mattresses with such springs became very popular: they served as bedding for expensive hotels and the most luxurious liners of the beginning of the century. Yes, even for the famous Titanic.
Latex, Foam Rubber and Synthetics
Soon, thanks to advances in chemistry, springless mattresses also improved. Latex began to be used as a filling for mattresses. The mass production of foam rubber in the 50s produced a kind of revolution. Mattresses made of this material quickly competed with spring and latex models due to their softness and lower cost.
After 20 years, the industrial production of synthetic latex foam gained momentum. The need for a large amount of natural latex disappeared, and latex mattresses became available again. Around the same time, full-fledged water mattresses with a durable rubber coating appeared.
Memory Foam Mattresses
At the end of the century, inflatable mattresses began to be widely used, later given the way to memory foam mattresses, which are still popular today. The world owes their origin to NASA researchers who were looking for a safe and comfortable airplane seat filler. They invented polyurethane foam with shape memory, which perfectly adapted to a particular body shape. Due to production difficulties, the first mattress based on the above-mentioned technology was not released until 1992.
The technology of modern mattresses production continues to improve. Multilayer orthopedic mattresses have firmly taken their place in the bedding industry. Many past achievements are successfully applied in these mattresses. These are impregnations with natural medicinal components (aloe vera, etc.), and a combination of different artificial materials with spring blocks for better support of the spine and other parts of the body.
However, in the production of modern mattresses, unlike their analogues from the past, absolutely everything is taken into account: the physical parameters of a person, his or her age or lifestyle, and the possible presence of various diseases. And the new materials developed by scientists for mattresses perfectly correspond to the physiology of a healthy person’s sleep.
What’s next?
So that’s all. Knowing the story is important. But what about hygiene and those terrible dust mites that you are now unlikely to forget about?
The evolution of springs and fillers did not solve the issue of bacteria and dead cells. For a long time, the problem of bed unsanitary conditions remained relevant. No one could offer anything but the replacement of pillows before they turned into cemeteries of dust mites, as well as the use of mattress covers and their frequent changing, which slowed down the process of transferring bacteria to the mattress a little.
But the philosophy of mattresses has completely changed with the coming of copper in the bedding industry. It seems unusual that it took so long to realize the key role of copper in improving the antibacterial properties of bedding. After all, its journey and recognition began from time immemorial.
The Coming of Copper
And we begin the time travel again. But grab a small spoiler: this time it will be more specific and will lead to a clear solution.
The antimicrobial properties of copper have been studied for a long time: its history goes back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used copper to sterilize drinking water and disinfect wounds. The Aztecs created compounds on its basis for the treatment of burns, headaches and auric infections. Copper helped to cope with skin infections, and soldiers put copper shavings against or even into their wounds to prevent the spread of infection and speed up the healing process.
The evolution of knowledge did not stand still. The use of copper in jewelry and amulets helped people to relieve joint pain, hence strengthen them, contribute to the healing processes and reduce inflammation. In addition, an improvement in blood circulation and general detoxification of the body was observed. Of course, copper was not a panacea for healing any disease but definitely made such jewelry very popular.
Now medical facilities pay tribute to copper as an excellent material that gives bacteria and viruses no chance. Also, such public places as restaurants, transport, train stations, swimming pools, and gyms join the “copper movement”. Adding copper to materials of surfaces in public places, especially those susceptible to possible microbial contamination (such as door handles), enhances the safety of people who touch such surfaces.
The discovery of new properties of copper predetermined its further distribution in various fields of use. For example, it turned out that copper is a wonderful conductor. It perfectly absorbs thermal energy, no matter where it goes from. Therefore, the introduction of copper into sleep accessories was only a matter of time. And the time has come.
Of course, no one says that you will sleep on a wide copper plate and stoically listen to the imaginary advantages of such an option, dreaming of losing consciousness as soon as possible. Technology has gone much further and you won’t have to suffer at all. Moreover, you will become much happier with your life than before, because healthy sleep is the key to good health.
Not all brands recognize the importance of the need for improvement. But there are still innovators, for example, Sleep2Win: this brand can easily give you a tour into the world of copper and mattresses and prove their direct connection.
Weaving copper into a mattress’ covers and infusing copper into the gel allows you to kill several birds with one stone:
- prevent the accumulation of allergens;
- keep the mattress fresh and clean;
- protect against bacteria moving from sheets and body;
- provide balanced support in the best orthopedic traditions;
- get rid of unwanted odors;
- remove excess heat from the body for a comfortable sleep.
Not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter: copper mattress acts as a magical temperature controller of natural origin. Unlike classic foam mattresses, they do not turn sleep into a nightmare, forcing a person to move around the bed in search of a cool spot. Or, spoiling one’s sleep by another extreme – not giving any easy chance to warm up since there is no place to accumulate the required heat. A proper copper mattress just gives its owner the opportunity to sleep in the most comfortable temperature conditions.
Excellent supporting qualities provide a balanced distribution of a person’s weight, relieving him or her of unpleasant sensations and pains in the back and lower back. And if classic orthopedic mattresses lose their properties over time, this will not happen with a copper one. Loads make it only stronger. As the old adage tells us, what does not kill you makes you stronger. In our case, it stays relevant about a copper mattress.
Antibacterial properties are a special reason for manufacturer’s pride. There are different situations in life, and a person can bring bacteria to bed in different ways. Missed shower procedure, cough or runny nose, excessive perspiration – a copper mattress will help to neutralize the negative effects of all these nuances, providing a healthy sleep and endless freshness, as if after using the advertised linen fresheners. The antimicrobial effect is achieved due to the compression of copper during the physical impact on it: when compressed, it forms a kind of barrier impervious to unwanted guests.
The special copper yarn also has a particularly impressive property: it does not wear out and is ready to be in use as long as needed.
Well, goodbye, dust mites and bacteria! We have found a way to get rid of close contact with you.
Copper usage is a crucial step in the evolution of mattresses manufacturing. This stunning material will take its place among the coolest achievements of recent years in the field of improving the quality and safety of sleep. Infused into the mattress, copper upgrades it into a kind of smart accessory that provides the correct thermal-regulation, protection against microbes, and provides balanced body support. You just need to try it once and feel all of its advantages by yourself.