Can You Put A Fitted Sheet Over A Heated Mattress Pad

How to Properly Use a Mattress Topper

A new mattress is a major investment that most people only make every 10 years or so. Whether you've just bought a new one or you're looking to breathe new life into your existing one, a mattress topper can make a world of difference. Still, like many other mattress accessories , it can be challenging to understand how to use it the right way.

Do you put it below or on top of your sheets? What kind of material works best? Is it even necessary, anyway?

Today, we're here to answer all of these questions and more. Read on as we share everything you've ever wanted to know about the best-kept secret to a great night's sleep.

What is a Mattress Topper?

Before we explain how to use one, let's cover the basics. What is a mattress topper, and why do you need one?

In short, a mattress topper is a removable, cushioned layer that's designed to fit above your mattress and underneath your sheets.

They vary in material type, amount of cushion, sizes, and more. As you'd expect, the feel from one mattress topper to another can vary wildly from one to the next.

And just like the mattress, it goes on top of; there's no one-size-fits-all mattress topper that's going to cater to everyone's comfort level.

What Is the Point of a Mattress Topper?

Inside of mattress topper Despite the wide variety of mattress toppers on the market today, they're all designed to serve one central function: to provide an extra layer of luxury and comfort to your mattress.

They can be made up of multiple layers of material and help provide support, plushness, or both to your mattress.

Mattress toppers are simple to slip on and are a great way to get a better night's sleep without having to buy a whole new bed.

Compared to purchasing a new mattress, investing in a mattress topper instead can be a much more cost-effective solution.

There are a few primary reasons why it's smart to add one to your bedding collection. Let's explore them here.

Transform a Too-Firm Mattress

Even if you appreciate the level of support that a firm mattress can provide, you still don't want to sleep on a bed of rocks. If yours feels too firm, it can lead to serious back pain that can keep you up all night and leave you feeling achy all day tomorrow.

Luckily, just because your mattress is too firm doesn't mean you have to forfeit the purchase altogether.

Instead, adding a mattress topper can be a great remedy. This helps you keep your existing mattress while making it softer and more comfortable to lie on, leading to a more restful night's sleep.

Remedy a Worn Mattress

Has your mattress seen better days? It might be time to buy a new one ! However, if you're not quite ready to make that decision yet, you can try a mattress topper first.

Providing a uniform layer of comfort, a mattress topper the perfect way to breathe new life into a shabby mattress for a fraction of the cost. While it might not transform a super-saggy mattress, it can be a smart and economical way to add a few years to your investment.

Mattress toppers are also perfect for students sleeping in a dorm since many students don't have the luxury of bringing their own mattresses to school. As a result, adding a dorm mattress topper can bring new life to outdated mattresses and give college students the comfort and support they need.

Add Skeletal Support

Although our spines have a natural curve to them, we tend to spend most of our day exaggerating this form, hunched over our keyboards or smart devices, and straining our skeleton in the process.

As such, it comes as no surprise that Americans are wrought with back pain. In fact, 80% of people will experience it in their lifetime. As an unexpected benefit, your mattress topper can help alleviate some of this discomfort.

Many models provide strategically placed cushioning that can relieve pressure along with your hip and shoulder bones while still providing incredible support.

Keep Your Mattress Clean

A mattress protector isn't the only layer that can keep allergens and dust mites away!

A high-quality mattress topper can also do the trick, warding off all kinds of bugs and bacteria so you can sleep in peace. If you've ever broken a sweat in bed without anything between your sheets and your mattress, all of that perspiration is still trapped beneath you.

The same goes for any bed-wetting that occurs, as well as liquid spills. You don't have to breathe any of those vapors in if your mattress topper works as it should.

Keep Your Bed Cool

That memory foam felt great when you first laid down on it. Now, you're noticing it's doing the very opposite of the job you expected. Rather than cooling you off, it's trapping your body heat and making you humid and sticky!

Trading your mattress topper up for one made with breathable wool is a wise move. The wool naturally wicks away excess moisture, while the cooling gel on top keeps you comfortable all night long.

Mattress Toppers Versus Mattress Protectors

Mattress topper with straps

Though the two terms sound similar, it's important to understand that a mattress topper is not the same as a mattress protector .

A mattress protector is a thin layer of material that fits over your mattress. While it can add a thin layer of cushioning, that isn't its main purpose. Rather, it serves to prevent unwanted moisture, bacteria, and dust mites from entering your bed.

On the other hand, a mattress topper is a thick layer that adds both comfort and protection, allowing you to achieve the same level of protection as a mattress protector while also adding a layer of softness.

Different Kinds of Mattress Toppers

When you begin your search for the best mattress toppers, you might find that it's easy to become overwhelmed. It seems as though everywhere you turn, there's a different model to try out!

A few of the main kinds of mattress toppers you'll encounter include:

Bamboo Knit
Latex
Memory Foam
Down Feathers
Polyester Blends
Wool

In our shop, we offer three different kinds of mattress toppers. They include:

The Basic Mattress Topper
The Premium Mattress Topper
The College Mattress Topper

For years, both egg crate and basic memory foam toppers reigned supreme in this sector, heralded for their ability to contour to your body and add an extra layer of support throughout the night.

Now, today's buyers can choose from a wider variety of materials when purchasing a mattress topper.

Take our handmade designs, for instance. Featured materials include New Zealand wool, gel-infused memory foam, and bamboo quilting. We chose all of these materials for their unparalleled comfort, durability, and natural resistance to allergens, mold, and odors.

Each layer works in tandem with the other, providing thick cushioning and optimal airflow, wicking away moisture, and encouraging your best night's sleep yet. The bamboo knit fabric on the top layer is the icing on the cake, smoothening the topper into a silky surface you can't wait to dive into.

Does a Mattress Topper Go Under the Sheet?

Yep, sure does!

Since your mattress topper will likely be a standalone stretch of cushioning, it needs to be held in place somehow. Otherwise, toss and turn sleepers may shift the structure of the mattress topper, eliminating its benefits altogether.

Some mattress toppers come with elastic loops in the corners that you can hook around your mattress. Others may not.

Placing a fitted sheet over your mattress topper ensures it will be less likely to clump up in the middle of the night.

On top of that, a sheet will typically be made of much more comfortable material than a mattress topper. And without a sheet on top, you may find yourself waking up scratching in the middle of the night.

How Do You Put a Mattress Topper On?

Before you can slip under the sheets, you need to know exactly how to make your bed with a mattress topper. Let's take a look.

Position Your Topper

First, remove all of the sheets off of your bed, along with your mattress protector, if you use one.

Next, lie the mattress topper right on top of your mattress, positioning it until it's centered and where you want it to be.

Add Your (Optional) Mattress Protector

While your mattress topper will provide some level of moisture resistance, you might want an extra layer of protection. That's where a mattress protector comes in.

A mattress protector serves as a barrier (typically liquid resistant) between the rest of the world and your mattress.

It can help prevent spills from soaking into your mattress or topper. Plus, it can also help prevent the general wear and tear your mattress will go through over the course of its lifecycle.

If you use a mattress protector, you can stretch on top of your mattress topper before putting on your sheets.

You can skip this step if you aren't using an additional mattress protector too.

Fix Your Fitted Sheet

With the topper in place, you're ready to add your sheets back on.

For the best results, make your bed with a deep-pocket fitted sheet. This way, it will be able to stretch all the way to the opposite corner without tugging one side upward. Most deep-pocket sheets can accommodate a mattress that's up to 22 inches in height, while normal ones can stop as short as 11 inches.

Carefully stretch the fitted sheet on top of the mattress topper. Once all four corners of your bed are secure, tuck the fitted sheets into the side of your mattress.

Add Your Flat Sheet

Now, your layers should go as follows: mattress, mattress topper, mattress protector (optional), fitted sheet, flat sheet.

Don't forget that all-important last step! Pull your flat sheet in line with your mattress and tuck it in the sides. You can simply fold the corners under or watch this tutorial to learn how to make neat hospital corners!

From here, you're ready to make up the rest of your bed as usual. Add some fun throw pillows, toss on some other sleep accessories , and get ready to take a deep dive into comfort.

Mattress Topper Vs. Mattress Pad

Despite how often these two terms are used interchangeably, the fact is that a mattress topper and a mattress pad are not actually one and the same.

They're similar . But there remain some key differences between the two.

A mattress topper, for example, is usually thicker than an inch. It provides comfort by adjusting either the firmness or the softness of your mattress.

That's why certain mattress toppers can be used to soften up a firm bed, or they can be used to provide structure to one that's far too cushioned.

On the other hand, a mattress pad is typically thinner than an inch and is designed to add plushness only .

Most of the time, a mattress pad will also be contained within a fitted sheet. Mattress toppers tend to be standalone or have corner straps to hold them in position.

And last but not least, a mattress pad may also provide some protective qualities while toppers aren't usually spill-resistant.

Does a Mattress Topper Go Over or Under the Mattress Pad?

mattress topper angle Your mattress topper should always go under your mattress pad.

Think of your mattress pad as a mattress protector (especially since some mattress pads do actually have protective qualities).

That way, your mattress pad is protecting both your mattress and your topper at the same time.

Plus, if your pad comes in a fitted sheet, it can help keep your topper from shifting while you sleep too.

Find Your Favorite Mattress Topper Today

You have enough on your plate. Searching the ends of the Earth for the best mattress topper shouldn't be one of them.

We've made this step as easy as possible, providing three top-tier models for you to consider.

The best part? All of our products are made by hand right in the United States. If you live near Beloit, WI, or Rockford, IL, stop in and visit us in person.

You can also shop securely online !
Looking for a custom mattress topper? We got your back. Learn more here.
Any questions? Contact us , and we'll set you down the right path.

Looking for a new mattress? First, head over to our new Mattress Match to find your perfect mattress today.

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