Sensing the Difference with a Sensus Mattress Topper
Written: Jun 11 '05 (Updated Jun 11 '05)
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Pros: comfortable – molds to body and springs back to original shape when not in use
Cons: at first the topper has a smell but it disappears – a heavy product
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line is sleeping much better these days. No aches, no pains make the Bottom Line much easier to live with, too!
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Sensus 3-inch Deep ViscoElastic Memory Foam Mattre... |
Getting a good night’s sleep had become more and more of a challenge. Still, the ten-year-old mattress is in great condition. At first the mattress was firm but comfortable. Not a single sag, which still amazes me. If anything, the mattress had become even firmer with age and harder to sleep upon. That’s when I started to research options, which lead me to purchasing a Sensus 3" Deep Mattress Topper.
Description
The Sensus mattress topper is a memory foam product manufactured by Foamex International Inc. Sensus foam is created in a vacuum chamber. Foamex uses a process called Variable Pressure Foaming, which, according to the manufacturer, means that this mattress topper will outperform other memory foam products.
Memory foam is designed to "remember" its original shape. You’ve probably seen the commercials where someone presses their hand into a foam mattress, and after the hand is removed, the mattress springs back into its original shape. That is how the Sensus mattress topper works.
The dense pink foam feels soft to the touch. It has a strange texture that I prefer not to handle. My cat doesn’t like the feel of the mattress topper either. When I was making the bed for the first time, the cat hopped onto the uncovered Sensus mattress. I wish you could have seen the cat’s expression. You would have thought it had hopped onto something awful. The cat lifted one paw and then the other, trying to lift all four paws off the mattress at the same time. When it realized gravity wouldn’t allow that solution, the cat bolted off the Sensus mattress and has never hopped onto it again unless sheets or blankets are covering it.
In case you are wondering, I purchased a twin-size (38" x 75") 3"-deep 5-pound Sensus mattress topper from Absolute Comfort On Sale.
When the Topper Arrived
The Sensus mattress topper arrived via UPS on my doorstep in a cardboard carton. I very carefully opened the carton, not wanting to damage the contents inside with a knife. The packaging even states not to use a sharp object to open the carton.
Inside the box was a mattress topper vacuum packed inside a plastic bag. This required a bit of effort to pull from the box. I can only imagine how heavy and ungainly a queen- or king-size topper must feel! The instructions that came with the topper said to gently unfold it and lay it on a flat surface for 48 to 72 hours. I threw a bed sheet over the dining room table. Then I began the exhausting exercise of prying apart the memory foam. (The mattress had been folded in half lengthwise and then folded in thirds before being vacuum packed inside the plastic bag.) Thankfully I had another pair of hands to help me. By the time the two of us finished unfolding and separating the layers, my hands and wrists ached.
I'm glad the instructions said to let the product rest for 48 to 72 hours. This not only allowed the memory foam to straighten itself and expand to its full dimensions, but it also offered time for the chemical odor to dissipate. While the smell was not obnoxious, I definitely noticed it.
Making the Bed
The old mattress was covered with a mattress pad. I left the mattress pad on the old mattress figuring that the Sensus mattress topper would be less likely to slip on the fabric pad. (The old mattress has an outer cover that is silky to the touch.)
At first the two of us tried grabbing each short end of the twin-size mattress topper to carry it. Forget that! The Sensus foam is heavy and difficult to move. Instead, we left the foam mattress topper on the sheet that covered the dining room table. Each of us grabbed opposite ends of the sheet and carried the mattress topper that way. Using the sheet to hold the mattress topper worked great.
Once we had the mattress topper in the bedroom, we flipped it so that the foam topper landed on the mattress. Then we shifted the heavy topper into position so that it covered the mattress and lay smooth. It fit the mattress as if it had been custom made for it.
I’m glad I purchased the 100% cotton quilted cover for the Sensus mattress topper, too. It’s recommended that a mattress cover be used over the memory foam for several reasons. 1) Gives the foam mattress topper "breathability" so that the user sleeps warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. 2) Keeps body oils away from the foam mattress topper, which is important since body oils can degrade the foam. This mattress cover has 15" deep pockets that fit perfectly over the Sensus 3" deep mattress topper and my mattress beneath it.
I also purchased new sheets for the bed. Hey, doesn’t a new mattress topper deserve new sheets? I thought so. Most of my old sheets did not have deep enough pockets for the added 3" depth of the Sensus mattress topper. In case you want to know where I purchased the sheets ... I bought them at Kohl’s department store on sale for $14.99 a set (flat sheet, fitted sheet, one pillowcase). The brand name of the sheets is "The Big One" since the sheets have extra deep pockets for deep mattresses.
Does the Topper Smell?
When I first opened the Sensus mattress topper and flattened it on the dining room table, I noticed an odor. The smell did not offend my nostrils, and I am sensitive to some scents (seasonal allergies). The manufacturer says the odor will dissipate within 24 hours. I found that within a week, the odor vanished.
Ahhhh ... Sleeping
Before I had the mattress topper, I tossed and turned trying to find sleeping comfort. I awoke with aches that had no right to ruin a good morning.
I love my Sensus mattress topper! In case you are wondering, I sleep on my side. I cannot begin to describe how terrific it felt to drop off to sleep and awake free of pain. The Sensus topper cushions my body, providing a comfortable sleeping surface. When I awake in the morning, the mattress gradually returns to its original shape, erasing all body impressions. The 3" depth is perfect for me.
A friend of mine owns a Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress. She and her husband both say the Tempur-Pedic mattress retains body heat and "sleeps hot". During the winter, I noticed that my Sensus mattress topper offered a bit more warmth than the regular mattress. It was like sleeping in a cozy nest. The warmth was not excessive, and I never perspired. As a matter of fact, sometimes when it became real cold, I had to throw an extra blanket on the bed. Now that the warmer months are here, we’ve had some 80-degree nights. We don’t use the air conditioning every night, and I sleep fine.
Now that the Sensus topper is six months old, I notice that it has spread out a small amount. It still fits well on the mattress; however, the topper is now slightly wider than the mattress it rests atop. The manufacturer recommends turning the foam mattress topper "head to foot" once every three months. I do not flip over the mattress topper, but I do make sure to turn the mattress topper about every two months.
Laying on the mattress topper, I find it easy to turn in any direction (to switch sleeping sides, which I do several times a night). I have never become mired in the topper. It is also easy to roll out of bed in the morning to greet a new day.
More About Memory Foam Density
Memory foam is designed to shape itself to the body by sensing body weight and temperature, reducing pressure points during sleep. NASA invented memory foam in the 1970's to help protect astronauts from the pressure of G-forces. Hospitals began using memory foam mattresses to aid patient comfort.
It’s important to pay attention to the depth of the memory foam mattress (2", 3", 4") and the density (ex: 5 pounds). Not all memory foam is the same. Sensus memory foam is crafted in a way that makes it smoother to the touch and allows it to breathe.
I didn’t want the thickness of a 4" deep mattress topper, and I had a feeling that the 2" deep foam toppers (usually found in department stores) would not be deep enough. I’m glad I settled for the 3" deep Sensus topper. It offers just the right amount of cushioning for me.
After I purchased the Sensus topper, I stumbled across an article that suggested the following guidelines for memory foam mattress depth:
2" depth – for stomach sleepers only
3" depth – for side and back sleepers
4" depth – for heavier people who are not stomach sleepers
Also, the higher the density, the higher quality the memory foam. A higher density also provides a higher cushion. This Sensus mattress topper has a 5-pound density. Translated into "English", this means that a 12" cube of this foam weighs 5 pounds.
Purchasing
I bought my Sensus 3" Mattress Topper from Absolute Comfort On Sale (www.absolutecomfortonsale.com). I had never purchased a mattress topper online before, so didn’t know what to expect. I wrote a review of Absolute Comfort On Sale that you can read by clicking on this hyperlink.
A twin (38" x 75") 3" Sensus mattress topper cost me $159.00. I had the option of purchasing a 100% cotton quilted cover (only available with purchase of the mattress). So I opted to pay $199.00 for both the Sensus mattress topper and the 100% cotton quilted cover.
Summary
I love this Sensus Mattress Topper. Instead of paying around $1,000 for a new mattress, it only cost $199.00 for the topper and quilted mattress cover. I’ve been enjoying sound sleep and wake up in comfort. For me, this was an excellent buying decision. I would do it again!
I hope that you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
There is a 10-year Limited Warranty for Sensus foam products manufactured by Foamex. "Guaranteed to retain at least 90% of original loft for a period of up to 10 years, covering the average life of a mattress topper." If a warranty claim is filed, product inspections take place "at the designated customer’s manufacturing facility".
Meets California TB 117 for flamability.
Foamex International Inc.
Phone: 877-319-9224
Please read my other reviews:
Memory Foam Pillow
Cush Pillow for comfort and stress relief
American Textile Aller-Ease Cotton Pillow Cover
Westclox Commander Alarm Clock
InterDesign Over-the-Door Valet
Sterilite Ultra Storage Drawer
Rubbermaid 50-Gallon Jumbo Roughtote
Sterilite Hinged Storage Box
Lite On DVD Player/Recorder
Ott-Lite True Color Floor Lamp
Ott-Lite True Color Flex-Arm Plus Lamp
Ott-Lite True Color Desk / Bedside Lamp
Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
Mattress Size: Twin
Mattress Firmness: Somewhat soft
Amount Paid (US$): 159.00
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