Latex pillows

Sleep is necessary for a person to restore strength and strengthen immunity, well-being, performance and mood depend on its quality, so it must be comfortable and healthy.

One of the ways to make your night's rest as effective as possible is a latex pillow - an accessory that is gaining more and more popularity among people of all ages and recommended by leading medical specialists.

The wide and increasing popularity of the universal latex pillow owes its numerous merits, among which:

• The ability to quickly absorb moisture, which allows you not to experience discomfort even with increased sweating.
• Hypoallergenic.
• Environmental friendliness and safety for the health of children and adults.
• Good breathability due to the spongy structure of the material. Due to this, the absorbed moisture also evaporates quickly, and the pillow does not require additional drying.
• Thermoregulation. The latex pillow does not heat up.
• Durability. The minimum service life of the product, guaranteed by the manufacturers, is 10 years.
• Prevent the reproduction of pathogens, dust mites.
• Dust repellent properties.
• Silence - the product does not rustle and does not interfere with restful sleep.

At the same time, a latex pillow is able to "adjust" to the shape of the body, providing an orthopedic effect, and is able to quickly restore its shape.

To the disadvantages latex models of sleep accessories, most often, are attributed to their high cost.

Another disadvantage is the specific milky smell of the new product, which can irritate people with a particularly sensitive sense of smell. However, after a few days or after thorough ventilation, the smell disappears.

Before answering this question, it is necessary to consider in detail the characteristics of polyurethane and polyurethane foam models.

Both are fully synthetic products. The more well-known name of polyurethane foam in everyday life is foam rubber. True, modern material differs significantly in its characteristics from foam rubber known to older generations.

Dust mites will never start in polyurethane and polyurethane foam, which means that the materials can be classified as hypoallergenic. In addition, products made from them are much more affordable at the price of latex models.

Otherwise, the comparison turns out to be by no means in their favor:

• The orthopedic properties of polyurethane and polyurethane foam products leave much to be desired. The new pillow with these fillings is quite resilient to support the head and neck in the correct position. However, after a while, it loses its elasticity, deforms and becomes uncomfortable.
• The maximum service life of standard inexpensive polyurethane foam models is about 5 years, that is, two times less than that of latex counterparts. Over time, the polyurethane foam product does not just lose its shape, the filler begins to deteriorate. To a large extent, this is facilitated by sunlight (the more it gets on the bed, the faster the pillow will deteriorate).
• As well as latex, foam rubber is highly hygroscopic. At the same time, despite the statements of the manufacturers, polyurethane foam does not belong to "breathable" materials. Therefore, unlike latex, it does not allow the accumulated moisture to evaporate quickly. This increases the likelihood of sleeping on a wet pillow.
• In addition, due to the constant absorption of moisture, a product made of polyurethane foam and polyurethane quickly becomes dirty and requires cleaning and drying. Cleaning such products is not always easy - most of them are practically not washed in a washing machine, so you will have to resort to dry cleaning services.

The assortment of latex sleep accessories includes products of various shapes. The most popular and demanded are:

• "Horseshoe". A model that allows you to relax the cervical muscles as much as possible during sleep. Many people think that it is intended solely for travel, however, it is quite possible to use it at home, for a night's sleep and daytime rest in an armchair or on a sofa.

• Rollers. Provide the most correct body position during sleep. Recommended for sleeping in a lateral position. You can put this accessory not only under the head, but also under the lower back. This will significantly reduce the risk of back pain and discomfort.

• For back and body support. These pillows completely envelop the body, supporting not only the head and neck, but the entire torso. You can not only sleep on them, but also rest comfortably like in an armchair. Such products are especially popular with pregnant women and young mothers, as they allow you to get better sleep in late pregnancy, and are very convenient when feeding babies.

• Classic square and rectangular. In such models, the orthopedic effect is achieved due to the elasticity of the material and a small depression in the center.

• Contour. They have a recess for the head and are equipped with two rollers of different sizes. The different heights of the rollers increase the comfort when using the product in different positions. The lower cushion is ideal for those who like to sleep on their backs, and the higher one is for those who prefer to rest on their side. Such a comfortable pillow for overweight people.

The choice of form is a matter of exclusively taste and wishes of the buyer, although sometimes orthopedists and surgeons recommend certain types of products to their patients for the treatment and maintenance of the spine, back and neck muscles.

The sizes of orthopedic latex pillows, as well as their shapes, can be completely different. When making them, the manufacturer takes into account the width of the shoulders and the height of the sleeper's neck.

The assortment includes standard squares 70x70 cm, and elongated models 50x70 or 60x40 cm.The dimensions of the rollers, as a rule, are 38x40 cm.On average, the length of the product can vary from 40 to 80 cm, and the width - from 30 to 50 cm ...

The size range of models designed for the head and body is represented by the following parameters:

• 170x30 cm;
• 190x35 cm;
• 280x35 cm;
• 340x35 cm and others.

In addition to the width and length, models of latex sleepwear differ in height. The standard height of orthopedic latex pillows is from 10 to 16 cm. At the same time, children's models have their own standards - their thickness is much less than that of adults.

Latex can be natural or synthetic.

The first is a substance known as rubber and is derived from the juice of hevea. Natural latex is practically devoid of disadvantages.

In terms of its physical and chemical characteristics, synthetic material is close to natural, but differs from it in structure. At the same time, it has increased rigidity, which allows products to withstand increased loads. However, due to the peculiarities of production, its service life is significantly reduced.

An artificial material is made from a complex foamed polyester. Despite the great similarity, it is quite simple to distinguish natural from artificial material.The first is characterized by a yellowish tint and a slight smell of milk powder, the second is white with a flavored odor.

Currently, there are several different technologies for the production of natural and synthetic latex pillows.

Natural material. In fact, the natural filler is not entirely composed of the milky sap of hevea. It contains up to 37% juice, 52-60% water and a small amount of additives from minerals, resins, proteins and sugar. All of these additives are necessary to improve the quality of the material and extend its life, since pure rubber can be exposed to temperatures and change its properties.

The production process begins with the collection of the milky juice. For this, an incision is made on the tree trunk. The collection is carried out at night in order to start processing it in the morning. Otherwise, the rubber will harden and become unsuitable for making orthopedic pillows.

At enterprises, the milky juice is cleaned of impurities, after which ammonia is added to its composition as a preservative, and formic or acetic acid as a coagulant. The thoroughly mixed mass is smoked, dried and straightened further in the form of crumbs or sheets.

The subsequent process can be different:

• Dunlop is a production classic. The method has been known since 1929 and is based on mixing liquid latex with air, after which it is poured into perforated molds and heated. With such a system, the finished material practically does not have the ability to "breathe".
• Talalay is a more advanced system that appeared in the second half of the last century. Its fundamental difference is the evacuation of air from the molds, after pouring liquid material into them and subsequent freezing. As a result of such manipulations, the structure of the raw material changes, air bubbles burst, and the product becomes "breathable". This process takes longer. But on the other hand, pillows made using this technology have much better quality characteristics.

There are also two different methods that can be used in the manufacture of artificial latex:

• Periodic (box). Here the necessary components are mixed in special boxes that can be completed with vacuum chambers. This method is suitable for the manufacture of small quantities of goods. At the same time, the final product will not be of very high quality.
• Continuous (conveyor). With this method, the chemical mixture is continuously fed to a conveyor, at the end of which it is cut into blocks and undergoes a solidification process. This method makes the structure of synthetic latex more uniform and of better quality.

Depending on the technology used, the cost of finished products also changes. The most budgetary ones will be synthetic "box" ones, and the most expensive - natural ones made according to the Talalay system. Here, as they say, everyone is free to choose according to their taste and wallet.

A high-quality latex pillow is able not only to maintain a person's musculoskeletal system in the correct and comfortable position, but also to improve blood supply, restore uniform breathing, relieving spasms. In addition, it is comfortable to sleep on it in any conditions - even in hot weather in a stuffy room.

Therefore, doctors often recommend the use of such pillows for people suffering from:

• snoring;
• violations of blood flow in the cervical spine;
• excessive pressure in the intervertebral discs;
• chronic diseases of the neck and spine;
• regular migraines.

Such a product would be a good option for those who suffer from insomnia and wake up feeling tired and dizzy. Pregnant women and the elderly are also among those recommended for these sleeping accessories.

However, latex orthopedic pillows are intended not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of many diseases, so there are no restrictions on their use.

A latex pillow will be most beneficial only if it is correctly matched.

When choosing, you should pay special attention to quality, which largely depends on the type of filler. If the seller claims that natural latex was used as the latter, then it would be useful:

• Get acquainted with the product certificate, having previously verified that the document number matches the one indicated on the pillow.
• Make sure that the product is made in a country where hevea really grows (due to the nature of the raw materials, most enterprises are located near the place of extraction).
• Try bending the pillow and pushing hard on it. The natural filler will quickly straighten without the formation of creases.
• Sniff the product. It smells like milk - natural, another smell - artificial.

No less vigilance should be shown when choosing a model made of synthetic material, since some manufacturers may well add all kinds of impurities to the chemical composition that have a negative effect on human health.

The complete composition of synthetic latex must be indicated on the product documents.

An equally important selection criterion is size. A pillow with a height of 10-14 cm is considered universal. However, when choosing this parameter, it is important to take into account the width of the shoulders. The larger it is, the higher the product should be.

For men, for example, the highest pillows are suitable, for women - no higher than 10 cm.For a teenager, the ideal height will be from 8 to 9.5 cm, and for a younger child - from 4 to 8 cm.

In the latter case, the age of the child plays an important role in the choice:

• newborns require the lowest models up to 3 cm high;
• from 0.5 to 2 years - 3 cm;
• from 3 to 5 years old - 3.5 - 4 cm;
• from 5 to 9-10 years old - 7-8 cm high.

Due to the peculiarities of latex products, it is quite easy to care for them. It is only necessary to wash the removable cover, the pillow itself, if dirty, can be wiped with a damp sponge without pressing or rinsed in cool water and let it drain.

When washing the latex model, do not use powders, soaps, bleaches or other chemicals. Such pillows are dried in a well-ventilated room without direct sunlight, since ultraviolet light can damage the structure of the material.

Subject to these simple rules, the pillow will give its owners a healthy sweet dream for many years.

The vast majority of reviews about latex pillows are positive.

At the same time, many users note that with a sharp transition from voluminous down, synthetic winterizer and other soft products, latex at first seem not comfortable enough. However, having got used to it, you simply will not want to sleep on others.

For some people, latex products have become a real salvation. There are especially many positive reviews from those who previously suffered from headaches and discomfort in the cervical spine.

Having bought a latex model, they completely forgot about their problems, and every morning they wake up completely rested, vigorous and full of energy.

The convenience and benefits of such pillows were also appreciated by pregnant women.They note that even in the last stages of pregnancy, sleep thanks to latex products can be quite comfortable and strong.

Young mothers are no less satisfied. For them, the biggest advantage of such products is a calm sleep of the child - even the smallest children wake up on such pillows much less often than their peers.

And, of course, such characteristics of latex pillows as durability and ease of use are not overlooked. Among the disadvantages of latex pillows, many buyers note their high cost, however, those who decide to buy are sure that health and comfort during sleep are worth it.

The following video will tell you about the production of latex pillows and mattresses.