Information on Soft-Side Water Beds

Appearance

• Soft-side water beds are mounted on a metal frame and feature a foundation that resembles a traditional box spring. The mattress looks just like a regular mattress when assembled, but the top portion unzips for ease of setup. Unlike the old-style water-bed frames, soft-side water beds are the same size as a traditional spring or foam mattress and do not require special sheets or comforters.

Components

• The interior of a soft-side water bed contains a heating pad, plastic liner and two or more mattress bladders. Traditional water beds, in contrast, are typically equipped with a single mattress, no matter the bed size. Bladders are held inside the soft-side mattress by foam rails. A padded mattress cover provides increased comfort.

Setup

• Soft-side water-bed setup is much different than hard-frame setup. The metal frame is assembled in the same fashion as a regular mattress frame, and the foundation rests on top of the metal frame like a box spring. Then, the foam frame is inserted into the mattress, and the heater and mattress liner are situated and smoothed. The bladders themselves can be filled to the printed fill line in a bathtub or with a hose, but they must be laid flat to ensure they are each filled to the same level.

Maintenance

• Soft-side mattresses don't last as long as hard-frame water beds due to the foam construction. The foam rails must be sturdy enough to support the mattress and your weight as you get in and out of the bed, but they also must be soft enough to provide comfort. Some components of a soft-side water bed may need to be replaced eventually, though at a rate similar to the replacement of a regular mattress. Add water-bed conditioner to the mattress bladders every six months and clean the mattresses with a vinyl-safe cleanser at that time.