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Glossary

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Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary.

A

Abdomen - The lower part of the trunk of the body, the belly.

Accessibility - The basis of accessibility is that every Web user should have access to the information and experiences available online. The nature of the Web and the tools used to create and access the information it offers means that some users, for instance, those with visual, auditory, or other physical impairment, have difficulty accessing Web content. The tenets and practice of the accessible Web aim to ensure these users' impairments do not prevent them from finding the Web a valuable resource, and that they have access to the same content that other visitors enjoy.

Access keys - Access keys are a means by which Web users can jump immediately to a specific part of an HTML page. Users press ALT (PC) or CTRL (Mac), followed by the appropriate key on the keyboard, to access a particular part of the page or to a particular page.

Achilles tendon - Thickest and strongest tendon in the human body, extending from mid calf to the heel.

Acrylic - A soft, hypo-allergenic synthetic fibre. Used in blankets; warm and less expensive than wool, but lacks breathability.

Air Flow - Amount of air expressed in cubic feet per minute, that can be drawn through foam sample

Allergen - A substance that causes an allergic reaction, for example dust.

Allergies - 25% of all allergies are due to dust mites, with up to 85% of people with asthma allergic to dust mites. This allergy has a significant effect on the development of asthma, and the severity of its symptoms and has also been shown to be a trigger for hay fever, rhinitis and eczema. See Asthma, Dust Mites, Ultra-Fresh.

AMES test - The Ames test was developed by a Dr. Ames as a screening test for cancer causing chemicals. Briefly, the test works like this: A specific type of bacteria are mutated in a certain way. These mutated cells are then exposed to the chemical being tested. If the cells mutate back to their original state it is concluded that the chemical has the potential to cause DNA damage, a precursor to causing cancer. A more detailed explanation is available in many biology textbooks.

Anti-inflammatory - Reduction of swelling.

Antimicrobial - A generic term referring to a substance or treatment that inhibits the growth of microorganisms.

Arthritis - Inflammation of a joint.

Associate - A Health Care Professional or Retailer specialising in rehabilation and home healthcare equipment.

Associate's Program - a free service for Health Care Professionals and retailers specialising in Rehabilation and Home Healthcare equipment who have registered with us.

Asthma - A very serious health problem in Australia that affects one in four children, one in seven adolescents and one in ten adults - over two million Australians. Asthma kills over 400 people per year in Australia and is the major cause of hospitalisation in Children.

Acrylic – Man-made fiber that feels like soft wool. Acrylic products are machine washable and hypoallergenic. durable and moth-resistant.
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B 

Bacteria: - Harmful bacteria can live in bedding under the right conditions. See also Ultra-Fresh.

Baffle: - Internal three-dimensional fabric wall boxes allow maximum thickness and comfort while maintaining even distribution within the boxes. Obstruct the movement of fill for maximum comfort and support.

Baffling - The best quality construction found in down comforters. Sewn-in cloth walls, rather than sewn-through stitching, keeps down from shifting and prevents cold spots. Baffling allows the down to loft to its fullest for maximum insulation.

Bed frame: - A frame that maintains the position of the foundation, headboard and footboard.

Bedding: - A general term to describe all the sheets, pillows, comforters, etc. used on a bed.

Bed riser: - Separate blocks or cones placed under the bed to raise it higher off the floor.

Bed sores: - These painful ulcers are caused by restricted circulation at various pressure points, and result in deterioration of the skin. They can start within 8 hours of immobility. For More Information see Pressure Ulcers

Bedding: - A general term to describe all the sheets, pillows, comforters, etc. used on a bed.

Bipolar Magnets: - Both poles are on one side.

Body Alignment: - The relational positioning and balance of the spine, muscles and joints.

Bonding: - The combination of two or more components into a multiple-layer composite. In furniture applications, flexible polyurethane foam is often adhered to other flexible polyurethane foam grades or to polyester fibre.

Bottom out: - Lack of support under full weight load. This characteristic is often found in low-density foam. This term is very subjective, as a foam may bottom out with a heavy person, and be very comfortable to a lighter-weight individual. The problem can be reduced by specifying foam with higher density and/or greater compression modulus value.

Box Spring: - A foundation that contains springs.

Baffles – A construction feature feather and/or down doonas / comforters / duvets, baffles are small fabric walls sewn in between the top and bottom of the shell. Filling enclosed in the baffles is prevented from shifting to maintain even distribution.

Bed skirt – A bed skirt is a flat piece of fabric to which a skirt is attached on three sides. Typically it covers the top of the box spring or bed frame and drops to the floor at the foot of the bed and on both sides; usually used with a comforter or coverlet; also called a dust ruffle.

Bedspread – A decorative bed covering that covers the entire bed and reaches to the floor on each side and the foot.

Binding - Also called edging or piping, this is the decorative trim detailing on the fold-down portion of a flat sheet or pillowcase or slip. Usually contrasts the bed linen so detailing stands out. A nice extra touch to feed your senses.

Blend - A combination of two or more different types of fibers woven together to make a distinct cloth. Like polyester is blended with cotton so the sheet is warmer and less wrinkle prone than cotton alone.

Brushing - a mechanical fabric finishing process that raises the nap of the fabric, sort of like combing, giving it a softer feel. Flannel is a brushed fabric.
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C

Canopy: - A fabric covering suspended above the bed, usually with posts.

Cell: - The cavity remaining in the structure of flexible polyurethane foam surrounded by polymer membranes or the polymer skeleton after blowing is complete.

Chamber: - Term used in pillow and bed construction. Indicates walls of fabric sewn inside the basic shape to contain filling separate from other filled portions, enabling various support characteristics and shape creation.

Chronic: - Continuing for a long time, deep seated and lasting.

Closed Cells: - Flexible polyurethane foam cells having intact cell membranes thereby reducing or eliminating passageways for airflow.

Closed Construction: - Term used to describe comforter construction where the filling is not allowed to move between chambers.

Coil: - A spring to provide resistance to applied weight.

Coil Configuration: - The arrangement of coils in a specific pattern.

Colour change: - All polyurethane furnishing foams turn yellow when exposed to light and air. This only affects the appearance of the foam and in no way affects any of its other properties.

Combed Cotton - A standard grade cotton which has gone through an extra manufacturing step called "combing", reduces the number of short, uneven fibres and leaving longer, stronger staples for weaving

Cotton - An all natural fibre. 100% cotton will be the softest and most breathable fabric. The quality of cotton is measured by the length of its staple (or fibre). The longer the staple the more luxurious and durable the cotton.

Cotton / Poly Blend - Blended sheets are most commonly comprised of 50% cotton and 50% polyester. 50-50 blends are not as soft as all-cotton fabrics, but will wrinkle less. More moderately priced, cotton/poly blends do not breathe or absorb moisture as well as all-cotton fabrics.

Comfort: - The ability of the cushioning structure to deflect at the surface and to conform to body shape, preventing a concentration of pressure on the body without bottoming out.
A general term to describe the overall "feel" a mattress.

Contouring: - The ability to follow or fit the natural curves (contours) of the body.

Conventional Flexible Polyurethane Foam: - Polyether type polyurethane foams made by the basic manufacturing process without other additives.

Convoluted foam: - A type of synthetic foam that includes patterned raised cones and valleys that resemble an egg-crate. This design adds additional pressure relief and contouring support an so has therapeutic benefits.

Convoluted: - A foam fabrication process involving the use of a special cutting equipment to produce a foam sheet with peaks and valleys.

Corduroy: - A pile fabric with the pile usually cut into ridges.

Cotton: - A vegetable seed fibre grown in many areas of the world. Used world wide in the production of cotton yarns and cotton fabrics. Cotton is versatile, blends well and lends durability, absorbency, abrasion-resistance and excellent pilling-resistance to other fibres in the mixture. Often blended with rayon, Dacron, or wool.

Cotton Fibre: - The fibre produced in the boll of the cotton plant and harvested to produce cotton yarns and cotton fabrics. The length of the fiber is the major determining factor in the relative quality of the cotton.

Cotton: - vegetable seed fibre grown all over the world. When woven this all natural fabric is the softest and most breathable fabric. The length of its fibre, the staple, is the major determining factor in cotton quality.

Types of cotton include:

  • Combed cotton – Cotton fibres which have undergone an additional manufacturing process called "combing". This reduces the quantity of uneven, short fibres, leaving stronger, longer fibres for weaving.
  • Cotton sateen – A soft and luxurious fabric weave in which most of the threads are placed on the surface of the sheeting, creating a satin-like sheen.
  • Egyptian Cotton – Considered the finest grade of cotton, with the longest fibres, resulting in an exceptionally soft and luxurious fabric and hand.
  • Percale – From the Persian "pargalah", percale is a smooth woven fabric of combed or carded cotton yarn.

The length of the fibre is the major determining factor in the relative quality of the cotton. The best quality cotton is Egyptian.

Chamber: - Term used in pillow, comforter, and feather bed construction. Indicates walls of fabric sewn inside the basic shell that contains down or feather separate from other filled portions, enabling various support characteristics. See the definition of baffle box above for more details on this.

Combing: - A yarn preparation for removing all short fibers and impurities from cotton. Combed yarn is superior to carded yarn in that it is more compact and has fewer projecting fibers. The finest cotton fabrics are made from combed yarns.

Comforter: – A fiber filled or quilted bed covering which spreads over top of mattress but does not cover pillows or hang all the way to the floor; often paired with a bed skirt and pillow slips. A comforter is smaller than a bedspread and larger than a coverlet.

Comforter Set: – A pre-assembled bedding ensemble usually consisting of a decorative comforter, matching pillow slips and bed skirt.

Comforter Cover: - See: Duvet Cover
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D

Damask: – Originally referring to a Belgium cotton import, is now used for any cotton, 3 colour, woven design.

Decubitus Ulcers: – These painful ulcers are caused by restricted circulation at various pressure points, and result in deterioration of the skin. They can start within 8 hours of immobility. For More Information see Pressure Ulcers

Deluxe Foam: – Our name for our premium-grade traditional foam (non visco elastic foam). Using open-cellular technology, it is widely known for its longevity and reasonable price. Regarded by many health professionals worldwide as the benchmark for achieving the ideal 'marriage' between comfort and good posture.

Density: – A measurement of the mass per unit volume. It is measured and expressed in kilograms per cubic metre or pounds per cubic foot.

Discoloration: – Any foam exposed to natural light will discolor. Over time the foam color will 'yellow'. The gradual yellowing of foam due to a photochemical reaction. It is faster in sunlight than in artificial light, although it occurs in both. This will not affect product performance or foam longevity.

Dish: – Description of what occurs when a weight is placed on the centre of a cushion or mattress and the corners rise up in response.

Down: – Is the lightest most effective insulator. Soft, fluffy puffs of down grow under the breast feathers of geese and ducks keeping them warm and cosy in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.

Down - Down is the undercoat of the bird that traps warm air next to the bird's skin. The highest quality down provides light-weight, year-round warmth, and serves as a natural insulator.

Down Alternative - A synthetic material used in blankets. Provides levels of comfort and warmth that are comparable to down.

'Dry' test: – An easy test to tell good foam from foam that will collapse? Just rub your finger along the foam, and if it feels dry then you know you will have a problem with a density that will not stand the test of time (go to some discount stores and you will see what we mean!) If it doesn't feel 'dry', and as well has some substance and weight to it, then you know that you have a premium product that will stand the test of time.

Durability: – How well a foam retains its comfort, support and shape with use. As applied to flexible foams, the term refers to how well a foam retains its load bearing capacity and shape with use.

Dust mites: – Microscopic animals (related to spiders) that live in our homes and feed on dead skin flakes. Most prevalent in bedding, carpets and soft furnishings. Up to two million dust mites can live in a mattress. Their faeces (droppings) are major a major trigger of allergies and asthma.

Dust mite Covers: – Soft Cotton/Polyester fabric with a Dust Control Barrier. This provides an effective barrier for dust and dust mites for allergy sufferers.

Dust Ruffle - Also known as a "bed skirt", a dust ruffle covers the empty space between the mattress frame and the floor, offering visual unity to a bedding ensemble.

Duvet: – A warm, soft bed covering that is filled with down or feathers.

Duvet Cover - A comforter cover. The best protection for a down comforter, a duvet offers an easy way to change the look of a room.

Daybed Set: – Pre-assembled bedding for use on a daybed; usually includes a comforter or fitted cover, a split corner bed skirt and either two king pillow slips or three standard slips.

Down – The soft hairy clusters found under the feathers of a goose or duck that trap warm air next to its skin. With its naturally insulating properties, high quality down will provide lightweight warmth year round.

Down comforter - A fabric shell filled with goose or duck down.

Down alternative – Synthetic or natural filling material used in comforters and duvets, with insulating and warming properties similar to down. Polyfill is the most popular hypoallergenic synthetic fill; wool and silk are popular natural fills.

Duvet Cover/ Comforter Cover - A large protective and usually decorative casing for a fiber-filled comforter, A duvet/comforter cover is open at one end and is easily removable. Ties, buttons, zippers and snaps are typical closures.

Duvet Set – A pre-assembled set of bedding that includes a duvet comforter cover, one or two pillow slips, and sometimes a bed skirt

Damask - glossy jacquard-patterned fabric. Gorgeously detailed intricate patterns can be found in damask bedding. Damask is similar to brocade but flatter and reversible. In general, any piece of dyed (single color) cloth with a woven pattern is called damask.

Down - an excellent insulator borrowed from water fowl. The soft, fluffy tufts of down grow under the breast feathers of ducks and geese keeping them warm and dry.

Down Comforter - A shell filled with the small insulating down feathers of either geese or ducks.

Duvet - The same as a Comforter, Doona, or Continental Quilt ...no matter what the fill is.

Duvet cover - What you put a down comforter inside of to protect it and keep the dirt away. Some comforters need to be professionally dry-cleaned, so keeping your more expensive comforters inside a duvet cover will be a smart investment. They also come in a wide variety of really awesome colors and designs so you can freshen up the look of your bedroom with a nice new duvet cover and some matching bed linens and pillowcases.
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E

Edema - (also spelled oedema, formerly known as dropsy) is swelling due to accumulation of excess fluid in any biological tissue. Edema has many root causes, but the mechanism is simple; fluid is drawn from the blood into the tissues when there is a higher osmotic pressure in the tissues than in the blood. (Blood normally has a higher osmotic pressure than the tissues due to the contribution of the oncotic pressure).
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Egyptian Cotton - The world's finest cotton, it has the longest, strongest staple, resulting in the softest, most luxurious fabric and feel.

esophagus, oesophagus - or gullet is the muscular tube in vertebrates through which ingested food passes from the mouth area to the digestive system. Specifically, in mammals, it connects the pharynx, which is the body cavity that is common to the digestive system and respiratory system behind the mouth (buccal cavity), with the stomach.

The esophagus is lined with mucous membrane, and is more deeply lined with muscle that acts with peristaltic action to move swallowed food down to the stomach.

The junction between the esophagus and the stomach is not actually considered a valve, although it is sometimes called the cardiac valve, cardia or cardias, but is actually more of a stricture. Many people experience acid reflux, where stomach acid gets pushed up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation, commonly termed heartburn.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Egyptian Cotton - The longest staple cotton fiber grown, no doubt the best quality cotton you can get. The next best cottons are from the Southwest US like Supima and Pima which are just tiny bit shorter than the Egyptian kind.
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F

Featherbed: – A soft, thick mattress topper filled with down or feathers.

Feathers: – Are the durable springy neighbour of down on geese and ducks. Feathers have a quill that give them a supportive spring while still providing a soft support.

Fibre: – Any tough substance, natural or man-made, composed of thread-like tissue capable of being made into yarn.

Fibre content: – The make up of the yarn content of any given fabric (eg 60% cotton and 40% polyester).

Fibrefill: – Soft, synthetic material used as cushioning in upholstered furniture and bedding.

Fill Power - The measurement of the quality of down. The higher the fill power, the greater the loft and fluff of the down comforter, resulting in light-weight, year-round warmth.

Filling (Fill): – The material used to occupy (fill) an empty space. Filling provides the support, firmness and comfort of mattresses, pillows, comforters, etc.

Firmness: – A general term to describe how much resistance the mattress applies to body weight and the resulting "give".

Fitted Bed Sheets: – Sheet used to snuggly cover the mattress. Also called the "bottom sheet". Fitted sheets usually have gusset corners with some type of elastic sewn around the bottom edge to provide fit and holding attributes around the mattress.

Fitted Mattress Pad - A mattress pad that covers the top and sides of the mattress, but resembles a fitted sheet with elastic on each of the corners. It will be quilted only on the top of the pad and will provide a good fit.

Flat Bed Sheets: – Also called the "top sheet", a flat sheet is placed on top of the fitted sheet and is typically tucked around the mattress at the sides and the bottom.

Flux density: – The magnetic flux per unit area of a section normal to the direction of flux. Also known as magnetic induction. Measured in Gauss, in the cgs system of units.

Flux: – The condition existing in a medium subjected to a magnetising force.

Foam: – A cellular material made from polyurethane, latex, polyethylene, polypropylene, or rubber etc. Can be soft, firm or completely rigid.

Foam Density: – The first misconception. Density has nothing to do with the firmness of foam. Density only equates to quality of the foam. Lower grade foams are 1.2lb density mid-grade foams are a 1.5lb density and higher quality foams are 1.8lb and up.

Foam discoloration: – Any foam exposed to natural light will discolor. Over time the foam color will 'yellow'. The gradual yellowing of foam due to a photochemical reaction. It is faster in sunlight than in artificial light, although it occurs in both. This will not affect product performance or foam longevity.

Foam mattresses: – Mattresses that have cores made entirely from polyurethane foams (without springs). These are very popular in Europe, but in australia are mainly used for holiday homes or camping. Can be extremely comfortable when made form combinations of high quality foams with soft or low resilience foam toppers.

Foam types: – Foams come in various types. Standard Urethanes, High Resiliency (HR), and Visco Elastic Type all in different weights and densities. Colour is used to identify a specific grade, hardness of a foam or resilience.

Footboard: – A board or panel that sits at the foot of a bed.

Foundation: – A base that supports the mattress. It absorbs the weight and pressure applied to the bed.

Futon: – A thin mattress placed on a frame that can covert to a bed or sofa/chair.

Feathers – In bedding, plumage from a goose or duck. Though also lightweight, feathers are heavier than down, with quills that give them a resilient spring.

Feather bed - A mostly-feather-filled mattress, heavier than a down comforter, and meant to used on the top of the mattress for sleeping upon; always use with a protective feather bed cover.

Feather Bed Cover - Similar to a protective comforter cover or duvet cover; used to protect feather bed from dirt and oils.

Fill - Material used to stuff comforters, feather beds and other similar cased bedding items. Goose down, silk and Primaloft® are types of fill.

Fill Power – In down bedding, the measurement in cubic inches than a single ounce of down will fill. Quality down comforters have a fill power between 550 and 650 cubic inches; the higher the fill power number, the warmer the comforter.

Flannel - While it can be made from wool or a blend, cotton is the most common type of flannel. Brushing of the fabric results in a very soft, fuzzy feel. Flannel is popular for its warmth and comfort.

Feather Bed - feathers contained within a fabric shell and laid on top of a mattress as a mattress topper. The featherbed will normally have elastic straps or even have a fitted sheet on it so it fits over your mattress and stays put.

Feather Bed Cover - this is a large covering for a feather bed to protect it from body oils and dirt and will help everything last longer.

Fill Power - The measurement in cubic inches that one ounce of down will fill when placed in a glass tube and allowed to loft for up to 3 days.

Fitted Sheet - Sheet used to tightly fit over your mattress. Bottom sheet. Fitted sheets usually have the corners with some elastic sewn around the edges. The cheaper versions will feature elastic on only 2 sides, while better quality fitted sheets will have elastic all the way around the bed. Helps keep that sheet on the bed so you don't wake up on the floor.

Flat Sheet - Also called the "top sheet", a flat sheet is placed on top of the fitted sheet and is typically tucked around the mattress at the sides and the bottom
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G

Gusset: – A triangle insert that adds strength to edges and corners (such as a seam).

Gusseted: – Items that are reinforced with gussets.

Gauss: – Lines of magnetic flux per square centimetre, cg's unit of flux density, equivalent to lines per square inch in the English system, and Webers per square metre or Tesla in the SI system.

Gauss meter: – An instrument that measures the instantaneous value of magnetic induction.
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H

Hand: – The feel of the foam as the hand is rubbed lightly over the surface. In home furnishings, foam with a good hand has a springy, velvet feel.
For most furniture, bedding and textile applications, foam with a stiff or hard feel to the touch is described as having poor hand.

Hardness: – A measure of the foam's ability to support a load - an indication of the suitability of the foam for various applications and its initial feel - not a measure of quality. If a foam is too soft, it will bottom out; if it is too firm it will be uncomfortable.

Hardness Loss: – Softening of foam in use - an indication of foam durability. Most of it occurs within the initial period of use.

Headboard: – A board or panel that sits at the head of a bed.

Helical: – A small helix or spiral shaped wire that is used to connect coils.

Hevea brasiliensis: – The source of virtually all the world's rubber production. Cutting the bark of this tree releases the latex which is then collected, preserved, and stabilised.

HD Foam: – High Density Foam

High Density: – Referring to the solidity or amount of give, usually in a foam product.

High-density foam: – A general term to describe foam that is especially dense and thick.

High Resilience or HR Foam: – Foams that have a resilience of above 50% are considered HR - these foams generally offer superior comfort and durability and are more expensive. HR foam has a less uniform (more random) cell structure, different from conventional products. The different cell structure helps add support, comfort, and resilience or bounce.

House brand: – A retailer's custom brand that is only available through their store.

Hypoallergenic: – A term to describe objects that have a decreased likelihood of provoking an allergic reaction.

Hand - Refers to how you'd describe the feel of a fabric like bed linens. The qualities of fabric like soft, cool, fine, stiff and the like.

Hand – Term for how a fabric feels to the touch; for example, cashmere has a smooth hand.

Hemstitch - A way of embroidering sheets and pillowcases.

Hypoallergenic – Indicates a product that is largely allergen-free or with little chance of causing allergenic reaction.
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I

Insomnia: – Chronic sleeplessness.

Incontinence: – When control over the bladder and bowel is lost or diminished. People of all ages suffer from incontinence, it can be caused as a result of childbirth, temporary illness, bladder infection or spinal injury/disease.

Therapeutic Pillow International has continent products available to provide protection and peace of mind. We can help with products, special covers, protective fitted sheets for beds and cushion covers.
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J

Jacquard – In fabrics, an intricate, complex type of weaving and the cloth it produces. A loom outfitted with a "jacquard attachment" produces jacquards which are detailed designs woven directly into the fabric by weaving differently coloured threads together.
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K

We don't have any words starting with this letter.
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L

Laminating: - The bonding of layers of foam and/or other materials together into a single composite. This may be accomplished through adhesives or through heat processes like flame lamination.

Latex: - In its pure foam, natural latex is the milky white liquid consisting of minute rubber particles that is tapped from the trunks of mature rubber trees. The natural latex is usually blended with other additives. This blended mixture is then turned into latex foam in giant mixers using the Talalay production process. Products are then moulded. This natural rubber product is not related to polyurethane foam.

Latex Foam: - A natural instant response foam. Conforms to the body for extra comfort.

Ligaments: - Strong fibrous tissue bands connecting the bones of the body.

Linen: - Fabric made from the flax plant.

Loft: - The height or "lift" gained by the depth of the filling material.

Low resilience (LR) Foams: - Low resilience foams are often called "memory" or "visco-elastic" foams due to their slow recovery after compression force is removed, leaving a temporary imprint. These foams provide superior comfort by reducing pressure points.
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M

Matelassé: - A fabric finish that suggests or imitates the indentations of a quilt.

Mattress: - The actual sleep surface of the bed; a bed's support, firmness and comfort are supplied by the mattress.

Memory ™ Foam: - A type of elastic, viscous synthetic foam with exceptional contouring abilities. See Low resilience or visco-elastic

MEMORY FOAM: - Deeply contoured high density foam which conforms to your body.

Moulded Foam: - A cellular foam product having the shape of the mould cavity in which it was produced.

Moulding: - The process of producing a finished foam shape by pouring liquid chemicals into a mould, where they react and fill out the inside shape of the mould.

Matelasse - Soft, double cloth or compound fabric with a quilted surface. Often, heavier constructions are made on a Jacquard loom and used for coverlets.

Muslin - Plain-weave fabric made of cotton or poly/cotton blends not less than 128 threads per square inch. Typically won't last too long for use in bed linen but acceptable if you know that going in. Sooner or later you'll be able to see right through muslin.
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N

Natural Fibres: - Those fibres which come from cotton, wool, silk and flax (linen).
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O

Open Cell Structure: - A permeable structure in flexible foam in which there is no barrier between the cells, and air can pass through the foam. Most cell walls have been ruptured to varying extent.

Osteoarthritis: - Degenerative disease characterised by inflammation of the joints between bones

Osteoporosis: - Bone condition characterised by a decrease in mass, resulting in bones that are more porous and more easily fractured than normal bones.

Overlay: - A (usually) convoluted foam pad that can be placed on top of a mattress to enhance its comfort and / or reduce pressure points.

Open Construction - Term used to describe comforter construction where the filling is allowed to move around. This will prove to be a poor choice in the long run. The comforter will get lumps of fill in the corners and then get thin in the middle where you'd like to have it. Then your fill will get smashed down and not be able to keep you as warm as when it was new. Typically you'll also find that your shell on such a comforter will be made with a less tighter weave ...which means that before you know it you'll have annoying little feathers poking you here and there.
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P

Pacemaker: - Electrical device designed to stimulate regular beating of the heart, using electrodes implanted in the body.

Peel foam: - Thin continuous sheet of foam produced by slicing off or "peeling" a layer from the outside of a cylindrical block of foam.

Pill - Over time, the surface of a cotton-blend fabric with a lower thread count can develop these tiny, frayed balls of fabric.

Pilling: - Formation of fibre fuzz balls on a fabric surface by wear or friction.

Pillows: - Foam pillows can be produced by cutting the shape from a block of by moulding. Latex pillows are usually moulded.

Pillow Case: - A functional pillow covering to protect your pillow from body oils and soiling.

Pillow Protector: - A basic covering for a pillow to protect the pillow from dirt and oils. Can also be made in waterproof or moisture proof material.

Pillow Sham: - A decorative covering for a pillow, typically with a trim, either tailored or ruffled.

Pillow Slip: - A functional pillow covering to protect your pillow from body oils and soiling.

Pillow Top: - The type of design whereby an extra layer of comfort padding is added to the surface of a mattress.

Plush: - Velvet-like fabric

Polyester: - A synthetic (man-made) fibre used in textiles; durable, wrinkle and shrinkage resistant. Polyester fibre is often blended with cotton or other fibre to produce blended cloth.

Polyfill: - A synthetic (man-made) fibre used in pillows and cushions.

Poly foam: - Short for polyurethane foam, used in almost all bedding as either an insulator pad or comfort pad that provides extended durability and comfort.

Polyurethane foam: - The most common foam used in bedding and bedding accessories - It is a synthetic resin simulating latex foam rubber produced by a chemical reaction, usually in a continuous process.

Polyurethane foam: - A type of synthetic, flexible foam.

Practitioner: - A Health Care Professional or Retailer specialising in rehabilation and home healthcare equipment.

Practitioner's Program: - a free service for Health Care Professionals and retailers specialising in Rehabilation and Home Healthcare equipment who have registered with us.

Pressure points: - Points on the body that bear the most weight and pressure when lying down; common pressure points are the shoulders, hips and knees.
Areas of the human body (e.g. hips, shoulders, heels, etc) where, depending on sleeping position, the soft tissue is squashed between the mattress and the bone preventing blood flow. This causes discomfort and numbness, and results in tossing and turning, which leads to poor quality sleep. In elderly or bed-ridden, it can lead to pressure ulcers (also called pressure sores or bed sores). Low resilience foams help to reduce pressure, thus improving comfort and quality of sleep and reducing the risk of pressure ulcers.

Pressure Ulcers: - A pressure ulcer is a new or established area of skin, or tissue discoloration, or damage which persists after the removal of pressure.
These painful ulcers are caused by restricted circulation (unrelieved pressure) at various pressure points, and result in deterioration of the skin. They can start within 8 hours of immobility.
More information on Pressure Ulcers.

Percale - A closely woven plain-weave fabric, generally 180 thread count or better. Percale is soft, cool and light to the touch. Some of the best hotels feature Percale bed linens like the ones made by Anichini and others.

Pilling - The tendency of fibers of bedding like sheets to eventually work loose from the sheet surface and form little balls that remain attached to the surface of the fabric. I hate when that happens. You'll typically find pilling in bedding with lower thread counts. If you want to avoid pilling, try and stay at thread counts of say 180 or more generally speaking.

Pillow Protector - A little zippered cover to put your pillow into. This keeps your pillows fresh and away from body oils and stains. Make sure you use a pillowcase over it.

Pillow Slip - Basically just a fancy pillowcase. You can find them with tassels, with brocade, velvet or ruffles.

Pillowcase - A functional pillow covering to protect your pillow from body oils and soiling. It's good to have several to always have a nice, clean fresh one on the bed.

Plied yarns - Yarns that are twisted together after spinning to create a new yarn. Plied yarns don't increase the durability or strength of the fabric and will exhibit a different feel, or hand than a cloth woven with single yarns. Plied yarns should be counted as only one yarn.

Polyester - A man made synthetic fiber. Durable, wrinkle and shrinkage resistance, non-breathable. Polyester fibers are often blended with cotton or other fibers to produce blended cloth.

Polyester – Man-made fiber often blended with cotton or other fibers

Pre-Shrinking - Most pre-shrinking of cotton cloth is done on a compressive shrinkage range which is a mechanical process that allows cotton cloth to shrink naturally in its length. There is minimal residual shrinkage after this process

Print - this is the image, illustration or pattern applied or transferred to the cloth. You'll find an absolutely huge variety of patters on any and all bedding. Thin or thick stripes, geometric patterns, flowers or any other image or picture on bed linens and bedding is called a print.
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Q

Quilt: - A bed covering made of scraps of fabrics sewn together with a decorative cross stitch design

Quilting (fabric): - Where several layers of fabric, with wadding in between, are joined together with lines of stitching.

Quilting (foam): - Peeled foam is usually put through a quilting machine between two layers of fabric to create the outer casing of the mattress.
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R

Resilience: - An indicator of the surface elasticity or "springiness" of foam. It is measured by dropping a standard steel ball onto the foam cushion and measuring how high the ball rebounds. Foams with resilience above 50% are classified as high resilience and those with resilience below 10% are classified as low resilience.

Repol or Rebond: - Multicolored foam of high density and hardness made by combining shredded foam scrap into blocks using a special adhesive.

Rubber: - coagulated, elastic latex. Plants that produce elastic latexes are largely tropical. Commercial rubber is produced from latex from Hevea brasiliensis.
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S

Sacroiliac: - Lower back between the lumbar vertebrae and the coccyx

Sateen Weave - Woven with four stitches over, one stitch under. Because this weave places the most threads on the surface of the sheet, sateen fabrics are very soft and luxurious.

Satin: - A basic type of weave where warp threads float over up to eight weft threads, then are tied down with one weft thread.

Sciatica: - Pain traveling the length of the sciatic nerve, the longest in the human body runs from the lower back through the pelvic region and down back of the leg.

Sham - A large, often widely fringed or bordered pillow, for display as part of a bedding set.

Slabstock Production Process: - One of the two basic procedures used to manufacture foam. A continuous process in which the reacting foam chemical mix is dispensed on to a moving conveyor belt where the foaming process is completed. This foam is subsequently fabricated into useful shapes.

Sleep Apnoea: - Sleep Apnoea pronounced (app-nee-uh) is a condition in which fat deposits in the tongue and cheeks obstruct breathing, affect sleep quality that results in tiredness during the day.

Sleep set: - A general term to describe the combination of foundation, mattress, headboard, footboard and bed frame.

"Supersoft" flexible polyurethane foam: - flexible polyurethane foam that has an IFD measurement with the 7 to 10 pound range with a softness comparable to the feel of fibre.

Support: - A general term to describe how the mattress distributes and stabilizes body weight and maintains proper body alignment.

Support Factor: - Seating foams with low support factor are more likely to bottom out under load.

Synthetic foam: - A polymerised cellular material made from an organic base other than rubber.

Synthetic: - A term to describe any material that is artificially created (not found in nature).

Synthetic Fibres - Man-made fibres such as polyester, vellux, acrylic, etc.

Sateen weave - weave that has more yarn surface on the face of the cloth than other basic weaves giving a softer hand and more lustrous, shiny look. Cloth made with combed yarns that are usually mercerised and have a very smooth, lustrous surface effect

Synthetic – Any man-made material used in manufacturing; examples: micro suede, polyester, acetate, etc.
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T

Therapeutic: - To have healing abilities or benefits.

Thoracic: - Chest region

Ticking: - The protective fabric cover that encases the support and comfort layers of the mattress.

Torso: - Trunk of human body

Traditional flexible polyurethane foam: - Polyether type polyurethane foams made by the basic manufacturing process without other additives.

Thread Count - The number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the softer and more durable the fabric. Thread counts range mainly from 180 to over 300; luxury linens have 300 and higher.

Tweed: - Upholstery weight textile in plain balanced or variation weave from Scotland. Today/s tweeds may be natural and/or man-made fibres in solid colours, also heathered effect or plaid.

Thread Count - The actual number of threads going in either direction in one square inch of cloth.

Thread-count – A measurement of fabric density reflecting the number of threads per square inch. A high thread count results in finer, smoother weave, and can extend the life and increase the value of your bedding.
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U

Ultra-fresh: - An international brand used on a large variety of consumer products to signify anti microbial protection. Supplied in Australia by Protective technology.

Upholstery fabrics: - have to be sufficiently durable to take daily wear and tear as well as retaining its shape.

Urethane Foam: - The standard foam - a very high percentage of all foam products are manufactured with this type of foam.

Urethane: - Actually a misnomer as applied to polyurethane foam. A colorless, crystalline substance used primarily in medicines, pesticides, and fungicides. Urethane is not used in the production of urethane polymers or foams. The urethanes of the plastics industry are so named because the repeating units of their structures resemble the chemical urethane.
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V

Velour: - A pile fabric with a soft, velvet-like texture.

Vinyl: - Extruded polyvinyl chloride synthetic fabric flowed onto a woven, knitted, or non-woven base cloth. Medium to heavy weight upholstery fabric that imitates leather.

Visco-elastic: - The characteristics of a material that combines viscous and elastic behaviours; the scientific term to describe memory foam.
Visco-elastic, or memory foam is a temperature and pressure sensitive material used in mattresses and pillows to relieve pressure, ease and prevent back and neck problems. Visco-elastic foam is made of thousands of tiny cells which mould to any shape and revert back to their original form. Visco-elastic foam is also highly resistant to bacteria, mould and mildew, and dust mites.
Visco foams have the unique ability to respond to temperature and mould to a person's body. It is this unique property that allows it to relieve resting pressures. This makes it ideal for use in mattresses, chair cushions and pressure care products.

Visco Elastic Memory Foam: - Slow responding body heat sensitive foam that conforms to the body.
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W

Warp yarns - The yarns that run the length of the woven fabric.

Wool - A superb natural insulator, providing maximum warmth in blankets. Extremely durable, wool absorbs and evaporates moisture quickly, providing dry warmth. Naturally flame retardant, too. Dry cleaning is recommended.

Wrap Mattress Pad - A mattress pad that covers the top and sides of the mattress with elastic all the way around the bottom. Quilted on both the top and the sides, a wrap pad provides a secure fit for your sheets with all-around padding.
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X Y Z

We don't have any words starting with these letters.
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