Home / FAQ's
Send your question to our panel for an expert opinion.
It’s a pliable, new-formula viscous elastic foam that returns ever so slowly (called ‘slow recovery’) to its original shape,
unlike most traditional foam that returns quickly.
Memory ™ foam tends to cushion and spread the load evenly so that there is no one point of your body taking a disproportionate amount of
pressure. Dispersing pressure is the key to this foam.
Not at all. Conventional foam, so long as it's a quality grade offering the correct density and foam softness and is married to the product application, then it is equally as
effective in dispersing or diffusing pressure, as well as providing optimum comfort.
It gets down to an issue of personal preference. There are many users of Memory ™ foam who simply love its unique feel, that ‘sinking’
feeling, and they are quite happy to pay the extra to experience that. There are also thousands of people around Australia who use,
and love, our conventional foam contoured pillows and back supports etc in their many varying densities and shapes. You really
cannot say that one has a comfort or support edge over the other. It’s a matter of personal preference.
It will soften in time, just like any pillow no matter the material used, but the better the quality the longer it will last. We cannot give estimates because individual head weights and restless sleepers (more head movement during the night) come into the equation, but you should enjoy years of usage.
The same applies to conventional foams …. it is a matter of the quality of the foam in the first place. If you rub your
finger across conventional foam, and you can feel a slight lubrication or ‘wetness’ to the surface, then this is often an indicator
that it is of good quality and will stand the test of time and do everything you ask of it. The same applies to Memory ™ foam.
A very interesting question with numerous answers! This is because the formulas used by foam producers to make viscous elastic foams
vary from country to country, from climate to climate (the air temperature in the factory when it is poured), and from chemist to
chemist. You will not get two viscous elastic foams performing the same in respect to their softening properties when placed next to
the warm human form.
Depending on the formula used, the foam may be quite ‘hard’ in its natural foam, and then when you sleep on it will soften to some
degree. Some soften more than others when in contact with body heat. Some are fairly soft to start with even before being exposed
to the body’s warm or the environment. There is simply no benchmark! But most viscous elastic foams will react (soften) when exposed
to your body’s warmth. Heat sensitive in other words. And this allows the foam to mould to your shape, which is usually advantageous
in respect to balanced support.
The key to optimum balanced support – and therefore optimum comfort -- is that you shouldn’t continue ‘sinking’ as your body warms
the foam. If this happens there will be nothing left to support you, and compression will enter the high load areas. This is a
difficult thing to control, but it can be achieved if the marriage of foam density, softness, and product design are compatible.
Therapeutic Pillow International endeavour to achieve these three elements with all its Memory ™ foam comfort products.
No warmer than sleeping on a regular inner spring, foam or latex mattress. It’s just another layer, and there’s no earthly reason
why you will warm up any more. In fact all foam mattresses contain layers of foam, so there’s no change in temperature if you are
adding more foam. In fact foam, whether it be Memory of conventional foam, is comprised of a network of thousands of cells that
allow the material to ‘breathe’ to some degree.
Viscous elastic foam was said to have been inspired by NASA (North American Space Agency) to help astronauts counter G-forces. Other sources say the formula for this type of foam evolved here and there in its many varied forms. The association with NASA appears to be the popular one, but we are uncertain.
Memory Foam densities do NOT reflect comfort!
There’s a bit of banter going about from the odd producer of heavy density Memory Foam saying things like "more foam means a better pillow and better support". This could not be further from the truth!
Our experience is that a heavy foam density of say the Tempur variety of around 5lbs plus is anything but comfortable. One’s head and neck continues to sink into this density, and within a minute there is little or no neck support where you need it. If there is 'support' it is too compacted due to the subsidence factor. Thus continued comfort and support is in our opinion sacrificed!
A lighter weight memory foam on the other hand, so long as the composition of the network of cells is maintained and the foam doesn’t feel 'dry' (rub your fingers across the foam’s surface and if you feel a slight moistness or lubrication, then you know you have a good quality foam), then the pillow shouldn’t subside to anywhere near that of the Tempur style product and will continue to provide you with comfort and support…where it’s needed under your neck.
The lighter weight Memory Foams, in our opinion, also 'breathe' a lot better and this has to be advantageous for hygiene and therefore healthier sleep.
In Summary: Weight and density of Memory Foam has absolutely nothing to do with comfort and support. More foam does not reflect ongoing comfort. We believe it is exactly the opposite!
All our foam products, including viscous elastic Memory Foam, are treated to inhibit allergenic reaction by creating an inhospitable environment for dust mites and other foreign matter (that may be attracted to the skin that we all shed from our bodies while in bed) to thrive on.
You can, but we don’t recommend it because it will take days to dry due to the thousands of cells within the structure.
If you do wash it, then do it by hand, gently, in a bath of warm water with mild detergent. Rinse out, gently, with pure water, and then dry on a flat top. Do not expose it to direct light.
Never use a washing machine, or tumble, or spin dry because it may break up the cell structure and as well foam can heat up and catch fire if in a spin dryer!
The question is asked do these make a difference? They do!
They enhance the 'feel' of the pillow, and eliminate high compression zones as found on most smooth surface pillows. You might say that such convolutions 'spread the pressure' by cushioning and diffusing pressure zones under the neck in particular. Such undulations are put there for a reason. End of story!
Yes. Many (most) contoured pillows have in our opinion got it wrong! The contours are poorly thought out, and only allow for the smaller percentage of folk with long necks. The curved area under the neck needs to be quite short in order to allow your head to comfortably reach the shallow area. This not only ensures the natural alignment of the spine, but also avoids 'ear crush' which is a common problem with most contoured pillows, as well as traditional pillows of course.
Different sizes? Why would you bother when CompleteSleeprrr Adjustable suits everyone!
We see some companies produce multitude sizes to suit different physiques and sleeping positions. What utter confusion!
Why would you bother when CompleteSleeprrr Adjustable means you adjust it to suit your own comfort and support requirements. It takes seconds to manipulate the inserts to find your optimum comfort needs. Very simple, very smart, very good, and priced for everyone to enjoy!
Yes. The unique properties of Memory foam allow your body to adjust no matter whether you are sleeping in the side, back, or front position.
(The CompleteSleeprrr adjustable pillow in particular takes this even further and caters as well to all physiques).
Memory foam will encourage your spine’s natural alignment in a relatively pressure free environment. Of course it is impossible to be totally pressure free, but Memory probably gets you closer to such a situation than any other material on the planet!
No warmer than a feather or wool or polyfibre or latex pillow.
All pillows soften over time. It’s the price you pay if you want a pillow that is beautiful to sleep on from the first moment you put your head on it!
If you want a pillow to last a lifetime, then it will feel like a rock the first time you put your head on it, and quite simply you won’t be able to use it.
It’s the degree of softening over a given period of time that is the issue at hand. You simply have to be fair and sensible about it, and if you think it has softened too fast, then call us. But it would be unusual.