Jan 18 2012

Gone the way of the waterbed

Posted in All Posts, Design Elements, Everyday Life, Home Life, Misc.

So the CPA and I were watching TV last night when a memory foam mattress commercial came on.  My sweet husband turned to me and asked, “whatever happened to waterbeds?”  Hmmm… that is an excellent question, isn’t it?

It’s random, I know, but we then proceeded to have a five minute conversation about waterbeds and our experiences with them.  The CPA had never had the luxury of sleeping on one but, if memory serves me correctly, we had not one, but two in our house.  I believe one was in the basement (where it probably belonged) for my brother to use.  I remember it being “rolly” if that’s a word.  I have no other way to describe it – the water literally rolled from one end of the bed to the other as soon as you sat on it.  It was cold too.

I don’t know that I would want to sleep on it all the time, but once in it was kind of fun.

Not to be outdone, my mom had one too but it was one of the “firm” water mattresses.   In fact, you couldn’t even tell it was made of water which begs the question: why did we have one in the first place?

So many questions, too few answers.

But now I’m curious.  What did happen to water mattresses?  Was it just an 80s fad much like leg warmers and blue eyeshadow?  (Both of which have made a come back, btw.)  Were they too expensive to upkeep?  Or did people just get tired of the constant motion-sickness and the need to use a crane to get out of bed?

I have to know, if for no other reason then to ensure that they don’t make a return.  Shudder.

Have you ever used a water mattress?  Do you know what happened to them?  Please share…

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13 comments

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Urban Wife - January 18, 2012 - 7:48 am

Hmmm…great question! I’m so glad we didn’t have a waterbed growing up, although a few friends had them and I hated them. Curious to see what you find out.

Bonnie - January 18, 2012 - 7:54 am

We had a full motion waterbed that sloshed every time one of us moved, but I loved our waterbed! The exceptions being — when the heater went out it was cold and when it got a leak and you woke up to either a drip, drip, drip or an OH NO, I’m wet!!
I’m thinking that the exceptions probably caused the demise of the waterbed.

Sue - January 18, 2012 - 7:57 am

My parents have had one for as long as I can remember. It’s very 70′s/early 80′s looking, but they love it! They can adjust the temperature, so they make it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, which is nice I guess. Not sure I’ve ever actually slept on it, but it doesn’t appeal to me at all.

Susanne Nielsen - January 18, 2012 - 8:51 am

They aren’t all dead . . . my waterbed is still alive and kicking! We bought it right after we got married in 1975, and just two mattresses later it’s still going strong. I think we’ve invested all of $600 in our sleeping spot in 36 years of marriage, and have LOVED our bed the entire time. Definitely a good return on our investment, I’d say!

BTW, the secret to the sloshing is the right amount of fill, and regularly ‘burping’ it so air doesn’t build up is important, too. Ours has hardly any wave at all. We developed a leak a couple of times, but since we have a liner it didn’t cause undue problems. We repaired them and continued on. We also regularly add solution to it that prevents algae growth.

I’ve never had a more comfortable night’s sleep anywhere than I’ve had every single time I sleep in my wonderful waterbed. :) I hope I never have to give it up. :)

Chantelle - January 18, 2012 - 9:19 am

Can’t say I have any idea what happened to them – I remember they used to be very popular, then all of a sudden, noone talked about them any more!
A family friend has one and has done for years – she lives in the US and I remember spending summers with her growing up. I always thought it was fun to roll around on for a little while but I couldn’t have slept on it. She has it because she has terrible back problems, and apparently it’s the best kind of bed for her to sleep on.

Lisa @ Floating Along... - January 18, 2012 - 9:23 am

My parents had one and it was cool to lay on it every now and then. But I would never want one for myself. They got rid of it after moving for the third time, which was a pain. I know my mom hated it because my dad rolled around a lot in his sleep, and she would get the after-wave effect. Pretty sure that would drive me nuts!!
Lisa @ Floating Along…´s last [type] ..Nurse Bo

Janice - January 18, 2012 - 9:25 am

My sisters had one and it had a heater that heated the water. I LOVED sleeping in it.
Janice´s last [type] ..Politics: Meet Dan Liljenquist

RJ (Kids and Cast Iron) - January 18, 2012 - 10:13 am

They aren’t gone. We have one in our bedroom and it is heated so it isn’t cold. My guess is just that they aren’t as popular since they have devised ways to make beds more comfortable. It used to bed water or springs were the only choices.
RJ (Kids and Cast Iron)´s last [type] ..Mushroom Soup

Mindee@ourfrontdoor - January 18, 2012 - 12:25 pm

Our first married bed was the waterbed from my husband’s college days. I hated it because every time he rolled over, I did too – involuntarily.

Ours was the heated kind though and I have to say that on cold winter nights, sometimes I do miss that aspect of it.

HeatherM - January 18, 2012 - 5:04 pm

People learned they are bad for your back

Carl Peter Allen - January 18, 2012 - 8:00 pm

Very interesting question. I am surprised there seems to be so many still out there. I don’t see them advertised however.

Carl

Mom of 5 - January 19, 2012 - 8:35 am

When we had them I loved them. Heater kept the temperature just where we wanted and ours was the “firm” one – no roll. I did however not like the bedstand we had because I always felt that I had to “get out of the bed”. Had we kept it and purchased a different stand I’m sure we’d have enjoyed it longer. We went with all the advertising that some of the new mattereses promised in back support and have enjoyed our choice although we were discussing just a few weeks ago that now we may look into the foam mattereses…ahhhh choices!!! But great back support is key and that’s what will drive our final choice.

Here’s what is available about waterbeds, and yes they’re still around for those that desire and/or need them.

Longevity: Spring mattresses lose their shape over time, leaving uncomfortable lumps and bumps. Waterbed mattresses don’t have this problem; you get the same even support all night, every night resulting in a more comfortable sleep.

Hygiene: Both spring and memory foam mattresses can double their weight in 10 years as a result of collecting dead skin particles, sweat, dust, dirt and allergens that can’t be removed; this is the perfect breeding ground for dust mites or “bed bugs” who further add to the problem with their droppings.

A motionless waterbed mattress feels like it is filled with a thick liquid gel and reacts slowly to your movements. The temperature of the waterbed mattress is set by you with the built in heating system.

I’ve seen where it’s been said that waterbeds are especially helpful to Asthma sufferers and people with arthritis.

Courtney - January 22, 2012 - 11:18 pm

I slept on a waterbed, minus the 4 years away at college, for 25 of my 32 years. Then I grew up and upgraded. My parents, however, still sleep on a waterbed and don’t intend to change. :)
Courtney´s last [type] ..Engagement: Treva and Patrick

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