5 Best Sofa Bed Mattresses (Review) In 2021

Yes, sofa bed mattresses vary quite a bit from the regular sort of mattress that you will find on your bed. They are much thinner - as a matter of fact, most sofa bed mattresses are only half as thick as a regular mattress. But there is a good reason for this! Unlike with a regular mattress, your sofa bed mattress will need to fold easily when you fold up the frame of your sofa bed. If the mattress is too thick, then this would be very difficult. It is not a good idea to use a regular mattress on a sofa bed. In part, this is because you would no longer be able to fold the sofa bed away with the mattress inside it, but the other reason is that it would probably void the warranty on the mattress. Most mattresses designed for regular beds are meant to be used on a certain type of base, to ensure that they have the proper support and won't sag. A regular mattress on a sofa bed frame would be unlikely to get the support it needs and would very likely begin to sag in the middle, making it uncomfortable for you or your overnight guests to sleep on.

The best sofa bed mattresses should be around 4.5 to 5 inches thick. This is about half as thick as a mattress designed for a regular bed. As explained above, this thin size is necessary so that the mattress will easily fold into the frame of the sofa bed when you close it down after use. However, you should avoid any sofa bed mattresses that are thinner than 4.5 inches. They will probably be lacking in terms of either comfort or support, giving the occupant a less than comfortable night's sleep! The exact thickness of the mattress you'll need will depend on the space available for it within your frame, but a thickness of 4.5 to 5 inches is usually just right for most standard sofa beds on the market.

People with back problems tend to shy away from sofa bed mattresses, but this doesn't have to be the case. Often, people's experiences with an uncomfortable sofa bed mattress tend to come from the thin, low-quality mattresses that often come with the actual sofa bed when it's first purchased. But replacement sofa bed mattresses - like the ones in this review - are usually a lot more comfortable and far better designed. These mattresses are made from memory foam, which is one of the best mattress materials for people who suffer from back pain. Whilst the top layer may be soft in order to provide a 'pillowy' and comfortable feeling, the bottom layer is usually made from high-density foam. The density of the foam makes it feel a lot firmer, so it provides much better support. This support is important for people who suffer from discomfort in their backs as it helps hold the spine in proper alignment and cradles the body just where it needs it! If you or your overnight guests suffer from back problems, then the best type of sofa bed mattress for you is one that is advertised as being at least medium firm, rather than soft.

You certainly can! In fact, whereas some people wait until their sofa bed mattress is worn out before replacing it, others choose to replace their mattress almost immediately. That's because the type of mattress usually supplied with sleeper sofas tends to be very thin, or they may be innerspring mattresses which are often uncomfortable. Swapping an innerspring or coil mattress for a memory foam one can make a huge difference in terms of comfort! Replacing the mattress is very easy - you simply need to check the dimensions and the thickness as described above to ensure that your new mattress will fit comfortably into the frame and will fold up properly for storage.

When choosing a new sofa bed mattress it's a good idea to look for one with a removable cover that unzips from the mattress itself. It's even better if the cover is machine washable because all you'll need to do is take off the cover if it ever becomes stained, pop it in the washing machine, and easily get it looking and smelling as good as new! If, however, you can't remove the cover from your sleeper sofa mattress, you still have a few options for freshening it up! If a stain is fresh and quite a lot of liquid is involved, the first thing you need to do is dab up as much of it as you can. If you try to wipe or scrub a wet stain, chances are it will spread and become a lot bigger! Next, get a vacuum cleaner and vacuum the area of the stain, which may help remove a little and will also take away any dust. Now you are ready to tackle the stain itself! The best way to remove the stain will depend on where it came from - but if you're not sure of the source then just make a simple cleaning solution with either diluted white vinegar or diluted dishwashing detergent. Use a sponge to dab it directly onto the stain, leave it for 10 minutes, then blot it with a cloth. You may have to do this a few times to get rid of the stain altogether. 

If there has been a bedwetting incident, you will need something a little more powerful to eliminate the odor. Mix together three tablespoons of baking soda, a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Stir until the baking soda has dissolved, then spray the mixture straight onto the stain. Leave it for at least an hour, then cover the whole stain with baking soda and wait another 10 hours. At the end of this time, vacuum up the baking powder, and you should find that the odor has gone.

One of the hardest stains to remove from sofa bed mattresses is blood!   If you need to clean a bloodstain, try to do it whilst it's still wet - it is harder when dry. Try spraying 3% hydrogen peroxide straight onto the stain and dabbing it off. Lemon juice can sometimes be an acceptable alternative.

If you don't have any luck in successfully removing stains from your sofa bed mattress, then it might be worth hiring a steam carpet cleaner. These usually come with an upholstery attachment that you can use to clean your mattress.

To keep your sofa bed mattress odor-free long term, it's a good idea to sprinkle baking powder over it after use and vacuum it up at least an hour later. We'd also recommend airing it for a few hours before folding it up in its frame.