The mattresses manufactured in recent years have little in common with the classic rigid spring or foam types. Do not confuse them, respectively, with pocket spring mattresses, which are the most complete, nor with memory foam or other newly created materials.
With a new, high-quality mattress, there are many advantages, although there is a small inconvenience: it is necessary to flip the mattress at least 4 times a year. This leads us to discuss the existence of mattresses with the same side on both sides, having identical compositions and thicknesses, and mattresses with a summer side and a winter side. Imagine flipping the mattress incorrectly and feeling cold in winter and hot in summer. To prevent this from happening, let's see how to differentiate the sides of a mattress.
Do all mattresses have two sides?
No, not all. There are mattresses with the same layer on both sides that are not reversible. Generally, they are waterproof and, despite having a symmetrical composition from the core when viewed in a cross-section, they also need to be flipped.
To know how often to flip the mattress, you should read the manufacturer's instructions and the warranty that legally accompanies new mattresses. The frequency depends more on the material or materials that make up the mattress than on whether it has a double side or not, but it is generally recommended every 3 to 6 months.
Speaking of double-sided mattresses, you can find them in two different types. The most common features two different surfaces on the covers, so you need to pay attention when flipping it, especially when the seasons change.
But there are also mattresses with a removable cover that, depending on the external side you choose, will modify your thermal sensation. In the case of this latter group of mattresses, it can be more complicated to know which side is the summer side if it is your first time using a double-sided one.
Don't worry, it's not difficult once you know what to look for. We believe it is important to distinguish between the winter and summer sides of a mattress to not miss out on the additional comfort and improved rest that double-sided mattresses provide for people living in climates with significant differences between summer and winter, as well as for overweight individuals.
How to distinguish the summer side and the winter side of your mattress
All medium to high-quality mattresses are constructed in layers, even if they are made from the same material and a cover.
In the case of pocket spring mattresses, the presence of layers is more intuitive for the user, who notices how the sensation changes when lying down by changing the external materials, in models that feature the same type of core. They are the most versatile, and it is worth paying a little more attention when choosing them to ensure a 100% correct choice and, in turn, enjoy a longer lifespan.
Returning to the topic at hand, to know which external side of a mattress is the winter side and which is the summer side, note the following tips:
It is usually indicated
When you get a new mattress, it is normal for it to be marked on it or in the warranty which side is for winter and which is for summer, if we are talking about double-sided mattresses or external covers. But you might lose the documents or remove that sticker where the indication was thinking it is useless.
If this has happened to you, don't rush and keep reading.
Materials
It is common sense; in winter, we want the mattress not to transmit cold. For this reason, the materials of the winter external sides are usually made with warm fabrics, so to speak: wool, cashmere, silk, microfiber, or fibers, as is the case with the Gaudí mattress by Sonpura.
In summer, what matters is that the mattress does not suffocate us and does not retain the moisture from sweat, which leads us to discuss textures. As for materials, cotton and linen usually top the list of the most used for summer covers, without losing sight of some state-of-the-art memory foam materials that help dissipate heat effectively, unlike traditional memory materials, which provide a feeling of warmth.
Texture
Silk is a material that protects against both cold and heat, and there are microfibers with different thermal properties. There are also many memory foam materials that, to the touch, may not present significant differences for the non-expert user, who might wonder: "What should I do? Use it for a week on each side to see which is cooler?".
This leads us to the fact that, when in doubt, when both external covers are made of materials that seem identical, to know which is the summer side of your mattress, you should look at the texture: the summer side of a mattress has more micro-perforations on its surface to increase breathability.
Remember that if you buy a one-sided mattress and, for whatever reason, you do not rest well in winter or, conversely, in summer, it is possible to add an additional cover, either double-sided or single-sided, to alter the thermal sensations and not have to discard your mattress prematurely. If you have any doubts, consult us.
There are climates and individuals with particular needs who appreciate the use of double-sided mattresses, one for the cold months and another for the warm ones. Knowing how to differentiate the sides of a mattress is not always as intuitive as it may seem, because, although sometimes materials we recognize well are chosen, such as wool for the winter side and linen for the summer side, if the external sides are made of memory foam materials, it is not so easy just by touch. In that case, to know which is the summer side and which is the winter side, you should look at the external surface: the one with a higher density of micro-perforations will be the summer side, as it allows for greater breathability compared to the protection against cold that the winter side provides.