I’m a bit nervous about asking this question, because it deals with one of the most important purchases I’ll make this year. I know that my memory foam mattress will last many years, but I also know that I can buy it new if I want too. So what can I put underneath it, though? I want to get a new mattress before my current one starts to show signs of wear and tear.
My first thought is to go out and buy some plywood. But that’s not really what I’d recommend. Plywood is cheap and not very comfortable, at least not for me. Even if I used some strong glue to fasten my plywood down to the mattress, I’m still worried that I might damage the surface underneath.
So what else can I do? There are actually two options: fill it in or replace my memory foam mattress with another material. And while filling it in is a good idea, it’s not usually a very safe or optimal choice. Many people have discovered that certain fillers and even some types of down have caused health problems in users. (There’s a whole book on that topic, I should write about it sometime.)
So what else can I do? My next step is to take some time to explore what’s available out there. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for all kinds of unique, interesting things that claim to be able to help memory foam mattresses retain their shape. But I’ve found that when it comes to actually helping to reduce my “stuffiness”, the simplest solutions are usually the best. So I went to my local hardware store and asked for advice.
The clerk I spoke to suggested I put plywood under my memory foam mattress. Plywood was lightweight and inexpensive – much cheaper than memory foam itself. It would also add some structural support to the mattress, keeping it away from stress points. That meant two things. First, it would make it much easier to move. And second, it would make it much quieter, as well.
So now I have my new memory foam mattress, and it’s still getting some use. And I’ve learned that if I need to sleep, I can, and that it’s much easier to do so when there’s some support underneath. So that’s how I ended up with my 2-inch thick memory foam mattress all the way back in the Midwest.