You should know this:

Memory foam pillows come in Standard and contour shapes. Contour shaped pillows provide more neck support and pain relief. Standard shaped pillows are usually more comfortable. As all other memory foam products, pillows have an initial chemical odor and heat retention potential.

ADVANTAGES

• Above average comfort
• Above average neck pain relief ability
• Good snoring reduction potential
• Good for back sleepers
• More restful sleep

DISADVANTAGES

• Bad odor for several days/weeks
• May feel hot
• Average durability
• Not very good for side and front sleepers

Firmness and comfort.

The firmness of memory foam pillows depends on the model, but according to the research most of the customers find these pillows much more comfortable than latex or regular pillows.

Safety and Health Risks

According to the research emissions of memory foam caused various combinations of upper-airway irritation (i.e., sensory irritation), lower-airways irritation (pulmonary irritation), and decreases in mid-expiratory airflow velocity in mice.
This doesn’t mean that these pillows are toxic or dangerous and bad for your health, but we don’t recommend using them for babies.

Pain reduction.

Memory foam pillows provide better neck support and more pain relief than other types of pillows. More than 20% of owners report neck pain relief after sleeping on these pillows.

Sleeping position.

These pillows provide the most benefits for back sleepers. They are not very comfortable for side and stomach sleepers, so if you like to sleep on your stomach or side, you should look at the other types of pillows.

Sleep apnea

According to the report of Kathy R. Gromer, MD., sleep specialist with the Minnesota Sleep Institute, despite the fact that memory foam pillows improve sleep, they don’t do anything for sleep apnea or other sleep-breathing disorders.

Dust mite resistance and hypoallergenic properties.

These pillows are hypoallergenic, but they may cause airway irritation because of the emissions of memory foam. Dust mites consume skin particles, which is why they exist in pillows. Even without the natural fibers of a feather pillow, they can still consume the skin cells that slough off onto your memory foam pillow.

In fact, a 2002 study published in the “European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology” revealed that foam pillows have as many dust mites as usual pillows, which is likely because of their more “open cell” structure.

Cleaning and replacement.

Memory foam is constructed of tiny, porous foam cells. These cells will hold water particles long after it comes out of the washing machine and has been rung out to dry. This can facilitate fungus growth and also destroy the memory foam’s compression properties.

Therefore, putting a pillow in the washing machine is not recommended. Most foam pillows have a lifespan of 2.5 years. They lose their properties after that time and should be replaced.

How to clean a memory foam pillow?

Sprinkle some baking powder on your pillow and let it stay for 1 hour. It will give it a bright and fresh smell. Remove the powder with vacuum. This will also clean other debris, such as dust or pet hair. If you have a stain, wet a washcloth with warm water and a little bit of dishwashing liquid.

Gently rub the stain in a circular motion. Use a fresh damp wash cloth to press against the area to help dry and blot the liquid out of the foam. Spot clean any stains with a small amount of mild laundry detergent and water on a clean cotton cloth.

Gently dab at the stain with the solution. As for drying your memory foam, you can air dry it outside, use an electric fan, or place it in a well-ventilated area.

Is Memory Foam Pillow Good For Your Neck?

Considering the price of a memory foam pillow, it is supposed to be the most comfortable not just in the head but the full body. The neck specifically, is always the most affected part when you sleep, in case your pillow is too hard or too soft for comfort. Memory pillow is good for your neck when the room temperature is balanced. The memory foam pillow depends its softness or hardness on the temperature of the room and your body. Below are scenarios when a memory foam pillow becomes a sore to your neck:

• The room is too hot or too cold.

Memory foam pillow is designed to adjust to the temperature of the surroundings. If the room is too hot, pillow becomes too soft, while when it’s too cold, pillow becomes too hard.

• When you are ill, the pillow mimics your temperature so it will harden or soften.

Memory foam items are designed to complement a typical body temperature so it adjusts itself for ultimate comfort.

• When there is too much pressure on the pillow or there are other things atop it.

A memory foam pillow is pretty sensitive according to the pressure applies on it. It becomes a neck sore when you sleep right onto it.

• Pillow materials react to room’s temperature so it becomes too heavy or too light.

Memory foam pillows have gel on one side so you can choose what type you prefer at a specific time. If you want it soft, sleep on one side. If you want it hard, simply reverse it.

You surely do not want any drawback at all when you purchase a memory foam pillow. When your pillow scrunched up or it gets too heavy, your sleep is at risk of getting disturbed. A memory foam pillow is extremely good to your neck as long as you know how to balance temperature and your bed stuff.