Mattresses have come a long way
The earliest humans slept in caves, on the rough floors of their homes. Soon, they started using grass and other leaves to make some kind of soft rests where they could plant their bodies. Gradually, humans became more and more advanced and moved from caves to homes. Among the amenities they got themselves to adorn their homes were these rests. After all, at the end of the day, who doesn’t want something soft to rest the weary body? Thus, mattresses came into being.
The first proper mattresses were used in the Neolithic period when leaves, grass, straw and animal skin were used. The Persians made the first water bed around 3600 BC by making mattresses with goat skin and putting water inside them. As time progressed, mattresses became more and more advanced during the reigns of the Egyptians and the Romans. Cotton and wool mattresses first came into use in the 18th century and by the mid 18th century, linen found its place to make attractive mattress covers. By the 1930s, mattress makers started using other artificial stuff to make better mattresses that were less lumpy and more comfortable. Materials like spring and foam found use in making mattresses. The modern mattresses are made using vinyl, memory foam and vulcanized rubber.
The name mattress is derived from Arabic which means to throw, a place where something is thrown and mat or cushion. When the English, during the Crusades, started sleeping on the cushions thrown on the floor, then along with these cushions, they also adopted the name to be used in their language.
The <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.comfyzone.com”>modern mattresses</a> are made using artificial stuff that makes them more comfortable and also easier on the body. Mattresses now are designed to adopt the shape of the body so that the ups and downs of the body get nestled within the mattress and there is no stress on any part. Mattresses come in various shapes and sizes and the quality varies according to the prize one is willing to pay for them.
The largest mattress size is called Grand King. It is followed, in order of diminishing size, by Super King, King, Double, Small Double, Single, Small Single and so on. The smallest mattress size is called Crib or Toddler.
Some of the parameters that define mattress quality are called pressure distribution, hygiene, edge support, skin microclimate and long term stability. When Dr. Duncan Bein worked for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom, he developed these parameters.
The maintenance of mattresses is a must. Without proper maintenance, mattresses become out of shape and persons sleeping on those mattresses may wake up with a back ache more often than not.
Mattresses are one of the greatest discoveries that humans have made. At the end of a tiring day, when the body completely gives up on us, there are few better pleasures than sinking into the folds of a comfortable mattress. Since humans don’t stop inventing, let us hope that even better mattresses are just round the corner.
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