What Is an Innerspring Mattress: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

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Searching through the plethora of bed mattresses can be quite a challenge if you don’t know the ins and outs of mattress construction. When it comes to comfort and budget, the innerspring mattress is the primary choice! But what is an innerspring mattress made of? Also, how does it differ from other types of mattresses? Continue reading to know all about innerspring mattresses!

What is an Innerspring Mattress?

The innerspring mattress is the most traditional type of mattress. Also known as an open coil system, it uses a network of interconnected metal coils or springs as its supporting layer.

What is an Innerspring Mattress Composed Of?

To fully understand how useful and comfortable an innerspring mattress is, it is necessary to identify each of its components. These are the supporting layer, comfort layer, and cover.

The supporting layer of an innerspring mattress is the bottom layer, which serves as the bed’s foundation. This is where the interconnected metal coils (which we’ll talk about in the next section) are located, giving the innerspring mattress a bouncy feel. The main purpose of the supporting layer’s flexible coils is to promote proper body alignment.

Another part of an innerspring mattress is the comfort layer. It is made up of one or more layers of foam atop a supporting core. Foams that are commonly used for this layer include memory foam, latex foam, and even natural fibers. This is also the layer that cradles and supports the body, relieving pressure and adapting to one’s sleeping position.

Above this comfort layer is the fabric cover which is usually made with cotton, wool, and polyester.  It is also available in quilted or knitted styles. This layer not only protects the mattress’s inner layers but is also designed to provide maximum firmness and body contour support.

Types of Innerspring Mattresses

You can find the answer to the question of what is an innerspring mattress by looking at its various types of coils – the open coil and encased coil.

Open Coil Innerspring Mattress

The open coil system is the first type of innerspring mattress. These coils or springs are typically made of high-quality, heavy-duty steel and have a helix design.

The three types of open coils are continuous coil, Bonnell coil, and offset coil. Of the three, the Bonnell coil is the oldest and most common. This structure, distinguishable by its hourglass and helical style, was created in the 1800s and is still popular today.

Another type is the continuous coil. In contrast to Bonnell, a continuous coil uses a single wire to support the entire mattress. It also appears more like an S-shape rather than the traditional helical style.

The offset coil, on the other hand, is a derivative of the Bonnell spring and bears many similarities to it. It can also be seen in the shape of an hourglass. Its top and bottom wire edges, however, are squared rather than round. This design gives the mattress a hinge effect, which is ideal for achieving comfort when using daybeds or your standard bedroom mattress.

Encased Coil Innerspring Mattress

Aside from the open coil system, innerspring mattresses are also available with encased coils. These are independently encased tempered coils that serve as the mattress’s base support. They are also known as wrapped coils and pocket coils. This type of design conforms to the contours of the body and allows for equal weight distribution.

Pocket coil mattresses may also be considered separate or a major type of mattress altogether due to their different construction compared to the traditional open coil innerspring mattress. We’ll go over pocket coils in greater detail in the sections that follow.

Hybrid Mattress

A hybrid mattress, on the other hand, is essentially an evolved innerspring mattress. The reason for this is that its construction differs from that of a traditional innerspring mattress.

Unlike open coil innerspring mattresses, hybrid mattresses are constructed with encased spring coils and multiple layers of foam (including memory foam) on top. This is in contrast to the former’s coil system and its typical use of a single layer of foam.

Despite its different design, a hybrid mattress effectively fuses the traditional system of an innerspring mattress and that of the modern memory foam. For example, its independent pocket springs move freely on their own, thus evenly distributing body weight and minimizing motion transfer.

Apart from employing pocket coils, a hybrid mattress also uses layers of memory foam for maximum comfort. You can get a hybrid mattress with four layers of comfort and soft memory foam like some of the products featured above. These hybrid mattresses also come in various sizes that will suit your personal needs.

Innerspring Mattress vs. Pocket Coil

Comparing innerspring mattresses to their counterparts is important to help you decide whether it suits your needs. To do this, let’s look at how an innerspring mattress is up to par with a pocket coil mattress.

Construction

As mentioned previously, a pocket coil mattress differs from innerspring when it comes to its construction. A pocket coil uses cylindrical tempered coils that are individually wrapped in a fabric sleeve. These wrapped coils are of uniform height and width, creating a more stable construction than that of the traditional innerspring mattress.

Additionally, these encased coils are in the core of the mattress tucked under the layers of foam and fibers. As such, pocket coils are mainly used in the production of hybrid mattresses.

Comfort

When it comes to comfort, both open coil innerspring mattresses and pocket coil are great choices for your bedroom. Both have multiple layers that provide sleepers with a peaceful resting experience.

The interconnected spring system of the traditional innerspring mattress, for instance, offers more general support. This system specializes in giving support to the back, thus relieving pressure on the body. Its wire grid also allows air to pass through to regulates body heat.

The same goes for pocket coil mattresses. Its encased coils moved independently which reduces motion transfer and is suitable for restless sleepers. Also, these pocketed coils facilitate airflow and prevent your body from overheating. Both open-coil innerspring mattresses and pocket coil employ foam or cushioning material with medium to firm qualities. This lets sleepers feel more on top of the mattress in a comfortable way.

Lifespan

With proper maintenance, both traditional innerspring mattresses and pocket coil mattresses can last for more than 10 years. Innerspring mattresses, for instance, have a typical lifespan of five to eight years which can possibly be longer with excellent care.

Pocket coil, on the other hand, has a longer life span of eight to 10 years. Still, these numbers depend mainly on how well these mattresses are taken care of.

Cost

One thing that sets an innerspring mattress apart from its counterparts is that it is more affordable. The reason for this is the innerspring mattress’ simpler (yet durable) construction, whereas the pocket coil has a complicated design.

Although the pocket coil has been around for almost the same time as the open coil innerspring, it is more costly. This is due to the pocket coil being mainly incorporated into newer hybrid mattresses innovations.

Despite traditional innerspring mattresses and pocket coil sharing lots of similarities and differences, both are durable and worth your time and money.

Innerspring Mattress vs. Memory Foam

Another type of mattress that is worth comparing with an innerspring mattress is memory foam.

Construction

Memory foam is different from innerspring mattresses when it comes to its design and mechanism. For instance, memory foam does not employ springs. Instead, it consists of layers of foams and fibers.

Comfort

Both memory foam and innerspring mattresses offer comfort with their qualities.

As memory foam has an all-foam construction, it has a soft to medium firmness. This gives sleepers the feeling of being “in” the mattress rather than being on top of it. This sinkage suits side sleepers and people suffering from joint pains as the mattress adapts better to body shape. As a result, the mattress acts as a softer cushion or cocoon, making it an ideal mattress for a baby’s crib.

However, it is important to note that memory foam has its drawbacks too. Without gel or cooling features, memory foam could overheat. It is also made of dense materials that trap body heat. These factors make it the least ideal mattress for sweaty and restless sleepers.

Lifespan

Memory foam, in general, has an estimated lifespan of eight to 10 years. This is longer than that of an innerspring mattress.

Cost

As mentioned in the previous sections, an innerspring mattress is a durable and budget-friendly choice. It generally costs lower than any of its counterparts (albeit some brands tend to be more expensive depending on the design). This is ideal if you’re hoping to save a buck.

In contrast to innerspring, memory foam is more expensive. This is because memory foam is considered the latest innovation in the mattress industry and currently has a great demand.

Pros and Cons of an Innerspring Mattress

While an innerspring mattress is a great choice to incorporate in your bedroom and also a versatile product that may suit your DIY bed frame ideas, it comes with drawbacks too. Knowing the pros and cons of using this type of mattress is important to buy the best one for your needs.

Best Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses have been around for more than a hundred years now, and they are still considered top-notch choices. The following products are proof of why these mattresses are still on the top of the game:

As mentioned above, an innerspring mattress comes in various sizes as well as levels of firmness. Whether you’re looking for a twin-size or queen-sized mattress, there are lots of high-quality innerspring mattresses that you can choose from.

Take the Modway Jenna, for example. This mattress is firm and helps reduce pressure from your body. It also comes with a charming quilted top.

The innerspring mattresses from Zinus and Beautyrest, on the other hand, may be just what you need if you’re looking for queen-sized mattresses. Durable and with extra firm quality, these products are made of high-density foam and motion-isolating pocket springs. The Beautyrest mattress even has gel memory foam to keep you cool while sleeping!

How to Clean an Innerspring Mattress

The innerspring mattress isn’t only economical and comfy, it’s also easy to clean! Just gather the necessary cleaning essentials and follow the steps below.

How to Remove Marks and Stains

The best way to clean beddings and mattresses is through spot cleaning. This method requires special attention to the part of the fabric where there is a stain.

The first step is to vacuum the entire mattress surface, including the sides. For a quick and easy solution, use a handheld vacuum like the one from Housmile.

Second, squirt some mattress cleaner onto a clean white cloth. Never apply the enzyme cleaner directly to the mattress as it may be harmful to the fabric and internal components of the mattress. For this step, you can use the Simple Solutions Enzymatic Cleaner Spray. This product contains a unique enzyme formulation that effectively removes stains such as vomit, urine, and feces. It also freshens and deodorizes the mattress.

Next, blot the stain with the cleaning cloth until it lifts. Once the stain has been removed, sprinkle baking soda on both sides of the mattress to remove any excess moisture. Use a multipurpose baking soda, such as the one from Milliard. It has no odor and is designed to clean a variety of surfaces in your home. For best results, allow the baking soda to sit on the mattress. Finally, vacuum the mattress to remove any remaining baking soda powder.

Without a doubt, an innerspring mattress is still a great option for a long-lasting and comfortable use. Whether for a large or small bedroom, an innerspring mattress ensures a peaceful slumber.