Glossary

• Fibre Most mattresses will have layers of fillings under the surface to increase comfort and separate the spring units from the surface. The most common fillings used in mattresses are cotton, wool and polyester among others. Mattresses require fillings to create a soft surface tension on which to sleep. The fillings normally compliment the internal spring unit by adding comfort to the support offered (by the spring unit) The tension of the surface fillings can be tuned by the density in which they are packed as well as by the method in which they are bound together. Tufting results in a slightly firmer feel than quilting.
• Open Coil

  An Open Coil spring unit is made from a continuous piece of wire. This wire can be made from various different gauges of wire, ending in differing firmnesses. The idea behind an Open Coil spring unit, or Continuous Springs as they are sometimes known, is that the spring unit can be made quickly, efficiently and therefore for little cost. Open Coil spring units tend to be the reserve of the entry level models on the market. However, some manufacturers have perfected the technique and the end result is extremely successful.
  
  A single piece of wire will be placed in a machine, bent into coils. Each coil will be joined at the top, the bottom or both and the result is a spring unit made of one wire. The reason this works well, is that the springs can support one another and share any weight or pressure across the surface. Other methods of spring units include Twin Sprung or Pocket Sprung.

• Quilted / Micro Quilted

  Quilting is the stitching technique used to join or attach the mattress' surface layers of fibres to the surface material (the ticking). There are various different techniques which can be used to join these layers, but Quilting is common. Traditionally, Quilting offers a softer surface feel than Tufting as the layers are not held together so tightly. Also see Diamond Stitching or Micro Quilting for variations on Quilting.

• Rotate

  Some mattresses require rotating, meaning turning over completely. This can also be combined with rotating the mattress.

• Turn / No Turn

  Some mattresses require turning over, to aid even settlement. Others do not require turning, but will still require rotating.