iMattress Blog

Traveling soon and worried about bed bugs in your Hotel bed? Are you curious if you have a bed bug infestation? Do you know how to check for bed bugs yourself?  Here is an amazing graphic breaking it all down how to check it out like the professionals do. This graphic was brought to you by the amazing mattress people over at Rocky Mountain Mattress.

Custom Round Mattress

We get asked this his question more often than you might believe, and why not?  Round mattresses are fun and can bring excitement to a bedroom.  Here is a little bit of information we have put together regarding round beds.

Round beds are extremely popular in Europe and are gaining momentum in the United States.  There are even round beds that can be hung from the ceiling to create a floating effect.  People who have tried rounds beds say they will never go back.  They say that the traditional bed is too confining.  Round beds allow the sleeper to sleep in any position they choose.

Custom Boat Mattresses by Rocky MountainMattress

Boat owners are great at keeping their boats looking in tip top shape on the outside as well as the inside and like to have all the comforts of home while out on the ocean. However, if you ask them, they will tell you the most common item that gets replaced more often than any other is the boat mattress. Boat mattresses can get moldy after being exposed to ocean air and water for a period of time. This can cause a variety of  health issues if not replaced when this happens.  Natural latex toppers and mattresses are a great solution because natural latex is mildew proof, breathes very well, can be cut to any size (v berth as an example) and is extremely comfortable.

Just because you bought a used boat that looks like everything was replaced, it would be a good idea to check and possibly replace the boat mattress. Unless the owner can prove it’s brand new and has never been used or exposed to the water. This is the only way you  can be sure there isn’t anything wrong with the mattress on board that the previous owner just covered up. Many times owners recover the mattress to save some money but this doesn’t get rid of any mold spores that may be growing inside the mattress itself.

When replacing your boat mattress there is a specific way to measure the dimensions. Incorrect measuring can cause you to find yourself with a mattress that isn’t going to fit properly. When doing your measurements it’s easy if the mattress is square, however if it’s not, you may find it easier to make a type of template out of paper or cardboard to the exact size and shape and many places can make your mattress off that template. For width, be careful to measure from side to side in the inside area where the boat mattress will sit. Height will be measured from top to bottom. If your boat is like most others and has height restrictions, you want to make sure the mattress will fit within the allotted area. When measuring for this, measure from the bottom of the mattress rest to the highest level you want the thickness of your boat mattress to come to. Make sure you use exact measurements as most places have policies in place that boat mattresses are non-refundable as they can’t be resold to another boat owner. So ensure you measure correctly to avoid high costs later.

Oops! Bad news, you have an odor or stain on your new Memory Foam Mattress.

Now what do you do?

The dense nature of memory foam makes for tricky cleaning. In order to sufficiently clean your mattress, you need to be able to pass enough cleaning product through the stain or odor and be able to rinse the cleaning product thoroughly.

Memory foam has the inherent ability to soak up huge amounts of liquid. Memory foam is typically covered with a stretchable cotton material, but not necessarily water or liquid resistant. It is a good idea if you are worried about incontinence of a child or pet, for instance, to protect your mattress with a water resistant mattress cover. The body of a memory foam mattress is made from several layers of foam, often with varying densities. Most mattresses have 2 to 3 layers, but some may have as many as 8.

The most basic way to keep your memory foam mattress clean is to vacuum it on a regular basis; it is not unusual for dirt, hair or dust particles to find their way onto your mattress and accumulate. You should always vacuum both sides of your mattress. Vacuuming is also ideal for removing many odors such as cigarette smoke, urine and vomit.

Removing Odors from Memory Foam

• Using baking soda, sprinkle a thin layer over one side of the mattress, concentrating on a particular area if necessary, and let the powder sink in overnight. Vacuum entire surface and repeat process on opposite side of mattress. If done thoroughly, this process should take at least 2 days to complete.
• For more stubborn odors, or to really concentrate on a singular spot, create a cleaning solution of ½ water and ½ distilled white vinegar. Using a spray bottle, apply the solution to the area and blot thoroughly. You may wish to use a fan to accelerate the drying process. Repeat on opposite side of mattress if necessary. The vinegar smell should dissipate within a few days and take away the offensive odor. (This method has been reported as being extremely efficient in the removal of pet urine and the ammonia smell it leaves behind. People have also noted after using this method, their pets usually do not try it a second time.)

Try to avoid soaking memory foam, but if you should find your mattress full of liquid, it is best to use the blotting method and to refrain from wringing or twisting the memory foam as it may damage the integrity and structure of the foam.

If you choose to accelerate drying time by using a hair dryer, be aware that high heat may also cause damage to the memory foam.

Removing Stains From Memory Foam

For stain removal, it is crucial to use the spot clean method. The hypo-allergenic nature of memory foam mattresses generally make it unnecessary to clean the entire mattress.

• Using a small cloth, dampen spot with warm water. Then, using a solution of diluted dish soap, begin removal of the stain using a blotting motion and gentle circular motion to lift the stain; try to avoid scrubbing vigorously. You may wish to put this cleaning solution in a spray bottle for better application. Rinse spot by applying a dampened cloth over stain and cleaning solution and blot thoroughly to remove soapy residue. Dry thoroughly by simply allowing mattress to air dry or by the use of fans.
• An alternative to soap is vinegar and baking soda. By using a spray bottle filled with distilled white vinegar, spray area to be cleaned. Let vinegar soak into the stain for approximately 5-10 minutes. Next, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda to the stained area and allow mixture to fizz. Remove stain and leftover residue with a dampened towel using a blotting method. You may need to rinse/blot several times. Vacuum any remaining residue and allow mattress to dry thoroughly.

Try to avoid soaking memory foam, but if you should find your mattress full of liquid, use the blotting method and refrain from wringing or twisting the memory foam as it may damage the integrity and structure of the foam.

If you choose to accelerate drying time by using a hair dryer, be aware that high heat may also cause damage to the memory foam.

This is a review of the Natural Latex Mattress by Rocky Mountain Mattress

Howard Stern’s studio was hit with bed bugs and Stern’s paranoia kicked in, “I was scratching every minute.” Bill Clinton gets mocked on late night TV for having yet another guest besides his wife in bed with him, which is only fitting that a politician gets lumped together with other blood suckers.  From Abercrombie and Fitch in New York to airplanes and movie theaters, bed bugs are back with a vengeance.  New York being a very transit city and having mass numbers in skyscraper apartment complexes is perhaps at the epicenter of this bed bug pandemic. Reports from New Zealand are now flowing in about their country experiencing a rapid rise in these creepy crawly blood suckers. There is no doubt, that the old rhyme has found a new time.

Where do bed bugs hide?

These parasitic insects feed on the blood of mammals. They were so named bedbugs due to fact that they are most commonly found in bed mattresses. Bed bugs being nocturnal would make the bed of the un-expecting host their home, for easy access. Prior to the invention of electricity, many more hours were spent in bed at night. In today’s fast paced open 24 hours for business, bed bugs nocturnal life style has hit the streets as well.  Your mattress no longer matters.  Bed bugs will infest couches, the cushions of transit vehicles, the movie theater’s recliners.  If there is a night life, a little fabric, and enough to drink, bed bugs can and will invade.

How do bed bugs spread?

Bed bugs primarily spread from the clothing or fur of the host as the host travels.  Hotels are frequented by mass volumes of visitors, and are even the retreat of individuals whose homes are being treated for bed bugs.  Bed bugs also spread as laundry is being moved.  Large apartment complexes are rapidly infested by the proximity of the residents.  Bed bugs will also drop to the carpet, and slip through cracks.  So they can spread by crawling from room to room, contaminating multiple dwellings in apartments. Bed bugs are difficult to control because most people do not know when the intrusion begins.

Signs of bed bugs.

Bed bugs will often go undetected for the first week or two, allowing time for the population to grow.  Their bites carry no sting to them, so most will only begin to notice bites as the numbers increase. The multiple bites will look like a rash. Bites may also line up in a row, which is a distinctive characteristic to bed bug bites. Spots on sheets from blood or brown spots of bed bug fetus are good signs to look for. Bed bugs can also be found hiding in the corners of the mattress. Or in the crevices of screws on the bed posts. Checking your hotel mattress isn’t a bad idea when traveling. Look for blood spots on the mattress itself and check the corners. It may even be wise to carry your own protective bed bug cover or stay in hotels that use mattress covers.

How to protect yourself.

Prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Get mattress covers. While this will not guarantee protection of your home, it is the best deterrent you have. And with bed bugs they are far easier to prevent than cure. You should also wash all of your clothes, used or not after traveling.  Storing your suitcases away from your bed is also advisable. If your home becomes infested, you can attempt to treat your home for bed bugs yourself.  There are do-it-yourself pest control solutions for bed bugs but due to the tenacity of these creatures, it is best to call a professional pest control service. Treatments for bed bugs will take time and effective solutions are not cheap. Find a company that will guarantee their work and that will continue to come back until the problem is solved.  Cooperate with the company you employee as well.  You may be asked to wash all of bedding, on a regular schedule.  You may be asked to keep clothing of the floor and away from beds. Bed bug treatments may even require that the premises are vacated for a few weeks until the site is sterile.

In conclusion, if you don’t want the bed bugs to bite then learn to protect yourself. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Regardless of the type of mattress that you are looking for, comfort is essential and you may find that you were limited in your custom mattress choices in the past, but that is no longer an issue especially if you are looking to replace an RV mattress. Possibly the standard issue mattress that came with the particular brand of RV you are driving did not necessarily match your criteria for what you require in a decent night of sleep so here are some tips to getting your the comfort you deserve.

Your RV has a custom mattress and with that being said the measurements are unique. Knowing how to take these accurate measurements is your first step in ordering properly. Start with measuring the width by going from the inside rail to the opposite inside rail where it sits on the foundation. For the length, again measure where it sits on the foundation from the inside of the headboard and foot board. Be sure to note if there are height restrictions with your model.

Next, since you are looking to build a custom RV bed you have a choice on the type of comfort and product that want to sleep on. There are many customized options available to choose from considering your needs. You have moisture reducing fabric, those made specifically for lumbar support, medical beds and heat reducing options. You are not limited in your custom fabric requirements.

With all of this being said about your mattress choices there are also a variety of suppliers depending on your special issues and even regarding the type of Airstream that you own. Consider the type of options that you are looking for and perhaps what problems may arise. You have a choice between suppliers that offer free shipping or even free repair so pick according to what you may have need of after your purchase.

Enjoying your ride in your RV during the day is just as essential as to how you enjoy your sleep at night. You are no longer limited because of the exact specifications that your unique transportation have afforded you in the past. There are suppliers of a custom mattress that not only are made for recent models but any type or age ride that you have.

• Please call or email Dave with the information below:
• By phone: (801) 360-9009
• By email: dmink@rockymountainmattress.com

Latex Topper by Rocky Mountain Mattress

Latex mattresses and Latex toppers have become some of the most popular products on the market.  Some customers have appreciated the health benefits associated with talalay latex mattresses.  Some customers prove their loyalty due to the product’s ‘green’ characteristics.  Whatever your reasoning, these products are sure to become a fast favorite of yours.

Latex toppers are known to be longer-lasting than the memory foam toppers. Rather than being composed of metal coils that can create pressure points, talalay latex mattresses are made of 100% natural latex. Although the talalay process is extremely intricate, it provides high-quality latex materials.

The main processing steps include: compounding, molding, washing, drying, quality testing, and fabrication.  Each step is vital in creating resilient and consistent latex products.  Technology is the main ingredient for creating talalay latex products.

During the first phase of processing, compounding, several products are mixed together to create a foam-like substance.  These products are, namely, natural liquid latex, synthetic liquid latex, rubber curing agents and soap.  All four products are mixed together using computer technology.  Once the mixture has been whipped into a foam-like substance, it is tested. The temperature, pH levels and viscosity has to be exact in order to move forward with the manufacturing process.  If these levels aren’t exact, the mixture is again whipped until it is pristine.

After the mixture has been whipped into the desired consistency, it is moved via specially designed pipes into the mold.  Each pipe is monitored with a computer system to ensure that certain elements, such as the product’s temperature, remains intact.  Each aluminum mold contains thousand of pins.  Once the mold has been closed, the pins are injected into the mixture to create and ensure an aerated cell structure.  The pins also serve another very important purpose.  Heat is transferred through each pin.  This sub-step of the molding feature allows the mold to be filled evenly.  Then, a vacuum is introduced.  The vacuum allows foam to entirely fill the mold.  From here, carbon dioxide is used to ‘flashfreeze’ the product.  Immediately following, heat is again used to set the material.  Heat allows the latex to bond and form a solid and consistent structure.

Once the latex has been cured using heat technology, it is washed.  The washing process ensures and improves durability.  This step is similar to a vehicle going through a car wash, meaning that the latex is placed on a conveyor belt and washed.