Have you ever woken up moodily because you couldn’t sleep properly? Have you ever woken up full of happiness and energy because you slept like a log? Few things can affect our mood like the quality of our rest.

That’s why we need to pay attention to what kind of mattress and pillow we choose and we shouldn’t make such an important decision randomly. Most of the time we can see adverts where it’s said that this or that mattress or pillow is the best one. Nothing further from the truth!

Each person is different and, therefore, needs a specific mattress and pillow in order to rest properly. So, don’t fool yourself and make the decision according to your needs and not according what you are said.

In order to assist you to make the right decision, Velfont has developed a new app available on their website which is really useful and, above all, appealing. With this app, you can discover which pillow is your best match in order to save money by not wasting your money on pillows you’ll never use.

This app, which can be found at http://www.velamen.com/ideal/, will ask you several questions in order to get the key information to offer you the pillow which suits you the best.

Which questions you need to ask in order to know which your ideal pillow is?

1. Your position: it’s not the same to sleep on your side than face up
2. Your constitution: obviously your physical constitution will have a direct impact on the pillow you need
3. The filling: pillows can have memory foam, latex or fiber fillings and it’s up to each person to choose one or another
4. Outer cover fabric: you can choose between 100% cotton fabrics or mixtures; they can be anti-dustmite or thermo-regulator too
5. Price: if you have expensive tastes, you may need to find the right balance between your needs and your budget

In any case, thanks to this new Velfont’s app, you can answer all your questions you should ask yourself before buying a new pillow in order not to make the wrong decision.

As we spend a third of our lives in bed, our resting equipment needs to be in perfect conditions to properly fulfill its main function: to provide a comfortable and healthy sleep. So, when we have to change any product, we have to bear in mind that we are making an investment in our health and quality of life.

It is important to get an advice from experts in the field to decide which our ideal equipment is. When we talk about the resting equipment we are not only referring to a good mattress, but also it is essential to choose the appropriate mattress base, the right pillow and the protection products that will keep those products intact over time.

There are many varieties of mattresses, so we need to know our preferences and needs in order to choose the mattress that better meets our needs. Since not all materials have the same features, and considering that none is better than another, we must take into account our preferences and get pieces of advice to choose the mattress whose characteristics suit the best our needs of comfort and relaxation. Depending on the chosen mattress, the mattress base will need to be one or another as not all the mattresses bases are valid for all mattresses. For example, for memory foam mattresses that need to have a higher air flow to properly breathe and eliminate the moisture gathered inside it overnight, it is highly recommended to acquire a slatted mattress base rather than an upholstered one.

Second of all, we need to choose the pillow that best suits our body and resting needs. We have to consider mainly two factors: our constitution and the position in which we sleep most of the time. In addition we need to determine if we have any preferences regarding the fillings, outer fabrics and/or pillow properties since there are many combinations. Because a good rest is the basis of a good health and also because to enjoy from a healthy rest we need to choose well, from Velfont we have developed a test which will help our customers to choose the pillow that best suits their requirements: The ideal pillow test (http://www.velamen.com/ideal/).

Finally, Velfont has also developed a wide range of mattress covers and protectors, fitted sheets, quilted mattress protectors, pillow cases and toppers to keep the resting equipment properties intact over the time. Thus, Velfont is by our clients’ side to ensure we provide a healthy and comfortable sleep anytime anyplace.

There are several types of pillows to suit the resting needs of each one and there are also several types of pillowcases that guarantee a full protection to prolong their lives. A pillowcase is needed to keep the properties of the pillow intact and to protect it from stains, dirt and other external agents that can damage the pillow.

Among the wide range of Velfont’s models, we have pillowcases made with 100% cotton fabric, others made with bamboo fibers or with anti-dustmite treatment which ensure the hygiene of the pillow while protecting it against allergies.

The main difference between the Velfont’s pillowcases is the tissue which those are made of and the properties they provide with it. Some examples are: the pillowcase made of bamboo fabric which provides natural antibacterial properties and a higher degree of breathability; the 100% Outlast® Adaptive Comfort® pillowcase which buffers the temperature changes that we experience overnight relieving the intense heat sensation; or the pillowcase with Acarsan® anti-dustmite treatment which turns to be antibacterial and antifungal and, therefore, prevents the proliferation of dustmites (agents responsible for allergies).

Another difference can be found in the inner cover membrane which some pillowcases have. This membrane provides the pillowcase with different degrees of waterproofing and breathability. The bamboo pillowcase, for example, has a polyurethane inner membrane which makes the pillowcase waterproof and breathable; however, the Respira pillowcase has an inner membrane made with hyper-breathable polyurethane which makes this pillowcase waterproof and at least 4 times more breathable than the traditional waterproof protectors. Thus, Velfont has a wide and diverse range of pillowcases to meet different needs and tastes in order to satisfy all our customers; it’s only a matter of trying them to see that those are exceptional and high quality products considered the best ones in their field.

Bedding protection products were not only developed to protect the mattress but also to provide comfort. Besides protecting the mattress from dust and dirt with a mattress cover, we can increase the comfort if we use a topper placed on it. It’s a complementary element to any bedding product which provides comfort by reducing the pressure in the contact points with the topper and by avoiding the discomfort caused by the mattress where we are resting.

If you have a mattress that is not as comfortable as when you bought it or you’re just looking for something to improve your too-soft or too-hard current mattress, you can opt        for one of the Velfont’s toppers. A topper reduces feeling of contact with the mattress grooves and springs improving the resting quality. Velfont has a wide range of toppers that can meet different needs but all designed to increase comfort and getting a better sleep.

The Velfont’s Conforter Topper, made with double outer trim, has 4 elastic bands (one in each corner) for an easy arrangement. Moreover, its filling made with Neotherm® fiber, besides providing the topper with a down-touch feeling, promotes air circulation therein which allows the appropriate elimination of perspiration and humidity accumulated overnight.

The Velfont’s Memory Foam Topper joins maximum comfort and adaptability all-in-one product. This topper with memory foam core includes a double-sided cover (summer – winter), easy to take off and wash. Finally, the Velfont’s Memory Foam Topper 7 provides an ergonomic support of maximum height for total comfort. This product includes a cover with a non-slip base to prevent possible shifts once the topper is placed. Its inner core of 7 cm height, formed by a layer of memory foam material and another of polyurethane foam, reacts to temperature relieving the pressure on the contact points with the mattress and leading to a natural resting position, distributing the weight uniformly. So, if you are looking for an improvement in your rest because your mattress is not as comfortable as used to be or should be, Velfont offers the solution with its range of toppers.

A recent study made by researchers from Duke University in North Carolina states that women need more sleep than men and that they tend to suffer more, mentally and physically, than men If they have to wake up suddenly. When women don’t sleep enough or have to wake up without having rested properly, their body swells which makes them to be in pain. According to the research, the quality of rest is directly related to the risk of suffering from heart diseases, depression and psychological problems.  However, they also state that men health doesn’t seem to be connected to the length or quality of their sleep.

Other studies say that all these differences between men and women come from women brain’s activity. Women have a multi-tasking brain which is able to perform multiple activities simultaneously; that’s why their brain requires from more time to rest and recover which makes obvious why the recovering sleep is so vital for them. One of the main functions of sleeping is that, while resting, the cerebral cortex (the outermost sheet of the brain and the one in charge of thought, memory, language, attention and consciousness) disconnects from the senses and moves into a recovery stage.

Thus, in general women tend to perform several activities at the same time, which means that they use a wider part of the brain than men. That’s why they need to sleep more than them. Generally speaking, women tend to need at least 20 more minutes of sleep than men, though it depends on each one’s lifestyle and body. In case of not getting enough rest at night, specialists recommend to have short naps (25 to 90 minutes) to compensate it.

A memory foam mattress usually gives more heat than a spring one because of its viscoelastic composition. Memory foam mattresses (due to its properties and composition) are more adaptable to the shape of our body and because of our weight we get a bit drowned on them. That’s why the feeling of heat can be more pronounced when sleeping on a memory foam mattress. In order to choose the most appropriate protection product, we have to bear in mind that it needs to be breathable otherwise the moisture that our body releases during the night will not be evaporated and that will ruin the core of the mattress.

For this type of mattresses, the most recommended mattress covers are the ones made with natural and breathable fabrics such as cotton or bamboo. A fully enclosed mattress cover offers an integral protection to the mattress from dust and stains. If you also want to protect the memory foam mattress with a waterproof mattress protector, it needs to be breathable too, that is, the protector needs to have a breathable polyurethane (PU) or hyper-breathable (HPU) membrane. With it, the mattress will be protected against liquids and stains while obtaining a complete level of breathability. In addition, this protector will not only allow the mattress to breathe, but it will also let our skin to breathe freely, avoiding the sensation of heat and sweat that other waterproof and non-breathable products offer.

If the heat sensation is very high and it makes impossible to sleep without sweating, it is recommended to use the Velfont’s THERMO-Regulator Quilted Mattress Protector which combines a 100% cotton filling with an Outlast® Adaptive Comfort® outer fabric which buffers temperature swings and maintains a suitable body temperature all over the night. This is the best option to combine mattress protection and regulation of temperature, avoiding the sensation of intense heat and sweat.

Even though is not required to do it as often as with pillow covers, pillows can (and should) be washed once or twice a year to kill the dustmites, fungi and bacteria which are stored in them. We shouldn’t forget that, on average, we spend between seven and eight hours per day breathing directly on the pillow. That makes it the ideal place where fungi, dustmites and some bacteria can create its own ecosystem.

It is recommended to avoid washing duvet, memory foam and latex pillows at home because they need to dry completely, making sure that any moisture in them is totally evaporated. However, fibre pillows can be washed at home in the washing machine without any problem. It is recommended to wash them with hot water to kill all the microorganisms in them, and use a small amount of detergent and softener. To hollow out the pillow during the washing process it is recommended to introduce into the drum one or two tennis balls which will be in charge of moving and redistributing the filling of the pillow as the washing program goes. Once the pillow is clean, it shouldn’t be drained or twisted.

To get it perfectly dry, first of all, the pillow has to be slightly smashed on a smooth and clean surface and then pressed with a dry towel to remove as much moisture as possible. It can also be left on a flat surface, on a couple of towels, turning it periodically in order to prevent the accumulation of moisture on one side. After that, it can be also aired or dried with the tumble dryer.

If we are reluctant to put the pillow in the washing machine, they can be also washed manually, though more time and effort will be needed. In any case, if we are not sure about how to wash our pillow, we can always take it to the laundry where they will perfectly know how to take care of it.

Spring has finally arrived; a season loved by many but complicated for all those who suffer from allergies. As it is well known, the risks for allergic people are not only outdoors but we can find many agents that cause allergies at home: there are food allergies, animal allergies or people who are allergic to dustmites. No matter how clean we want to have our home, it becomes very difficult to avoid having dustmites on it; and those are the responsible for causing certain allergic reactions. The dustmites are most commonly found in warm and moist environments or areas from our homes such as mattresses and pillows, as well as in the domestic dust.

To reduce the presence of dustmites, it is important to take a few precautions:

• Ventilate your home properly and in a regular basis, keeping your it dry and at a medium-low temperature, avoiding environments with smoke, air fresheners or insecticides.

• Remove elements which tend to gather dust (like curtains, carpets or teddies…).

• Clean daily with wet or synthetic microfiber cloths to keep dust under control.

• Vacuum your home with HEPA or water filters.

• Wash the bedding products and curtains frequently and at high temperatures (at least 60°C).

• Avoid animal hair or feathers at home.

• Protect mattresses and pillows with the Velfont Anti-dustmite products.

The Velfont Anti-dustmite line includes pillows and pillowcases, fitted sheets, mattress protectors, mattress toppers and duvets. This product line was specifically designed and developed to work against dustmites, protecting our bed and our health. It should be also highlighted that bacteria can be removed with the conventional washing process but dustmites cannot. We can only effectively eliminate them by using a product which has a specific anti-dustmite treatment, such as the Acarsan^® one. This is the treatment that the Velfont Anti-dustmite products have. It is washing resistant and incorporates antifungal and antibacterial additive in fibers and fabrics which prevent from the survival and development of dustmites. The Velfont Anti-dustmite products are recommended by Al·lergo Centre, a medical center specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.

In a previous post we talked about the fact that what we eat before going to bed can affect the length and quality of our rest. Besides food, we need to consider other factors which may affect our sleeping time quality, such as stress, environment or physical and/or mental activites.

Several studies state that between 10% and 15% of adults have some troubles falling asleep and a third of them turn to use pills to solve this problem. What is not so well known is that most of the prescribed pills against insomnia have side effects such as lack of attention or memory. That’s why it is very important to reduce as much as possible (if not avoid) its consumption and try to fall asleep on the traditional way.

Specialists in sleeping medicine say that the key factor to sleep well is in the two hours before going to bed. To enjoy from a restful sleep, you should not use your mobile phone or computer just before going to bed. It is not recommended either, the everyday more common habit of taking work home as it creates stress and a lack of work disconnection which ultimately affects our rest. It is also important to set some limits such as consider the bedroom as a place where to sleep, not to work. Therefore, it should be a comfortable place, electronics-free.

Finally, it should be also said that for a proper rest, establishing a routine is very important: we should try to schedule (and follow) our going to bed and waking up time and other daily activities such as dinner. Following a routine of relaxing activities the hours before going to bed will help us to unwind and relax. Therefore, it is highly recommended to practice yoga or take a warm bath while it is not to practice strenuous exercise or consume stimulants before going to bed.

When choosing the perfect pillow, besides considering the outer and filling fabrics, it’s highly recommended to consider how firm do we want or need it. Pillows can be classified depending on their firmness in: soft, medium and firm.

To choose a pillow properly, the general rule is the same as the one for choosing the proper mattress: the right one is the pillow that feels more comfortable and keeps our backbone in a natural position. The choice of one degree of firmness or another should not be random but be directly related to our physical constitution and our usual sleeping position. Therefore, the first thing to determine, after considering our level of corpulence, is which this common position is. To identify it, we just have to think about what is the position in which we find more often when we wake up: face up, face down or on our side. Depending on the response, we will have a starting point for choosing our perfect pillow.

If we sleep on our side, the pillow should allow us to keep the neck on a horizontal position, aligned with the backbone, neither higher nor lower. It will be recommended, therefore, a thick and firm pillow to counteract the height of our shoulder. If we sleep face up, we need a medium pillow that fits the natural curve of our neck, not too thick or too thin because it would make us acquire an unnatural and forced position.

If we spend most of the night sleeping face down, then we should choose a soft pillow where the head and neck could keep rotated in a natural, comfortable and not harmful position. For the ones that have ants in their pants, the medium pillow will be their best fit. Therefore, if you are curious about knowing which of the Velfont’s pillows is your best match, you can start our test clicking on: www.velamen.com/ideal/