King Size Kapok Quilt Mattress

King size kapok quilt mattress: a soft Illavam Panju bed for the whole family

A king size kapok quilt mattress makes the family floor bed soft. It is a slim, quilted layer of kapok fibre, the hollow, springy fill Tamil homes have long called Illavam Panju, across a full 72 × 78 inches. Roll it out on the floor on a warm night, lay it over a hard king bed or two joined cots, or keep it ready for relatives. It weighs about 7 kg, has a 100% cotton cover, and comes without pillows.

Why kapok for a family floor bed

On a hard floor, the people who feel it most are side sleepers: shoulders and hips press into the ground. Kapok's hollow fibres cushion those points and spring back when you move. We describe the kapok quilt as medium-soft, and our product notes list side, back and combination sleepers as the best match. If anyone in the family sleeps mainly on their stomach, or you want a flatter surface, compare the king size cotton quilt mattress.

Size and space

At 72 × 78 inches it is as wide as two single beds. Two adults and a child sleep comfortably; on a sleepover, three or four children fit across it. Leave walking room around it on the floor, so nobody steps on a sleeping child at night.

Softening a king bed or joined cots

Two single cots pushed together often leave a ridge in the middle. A kapok quilt laid across both softens the surface and hides the join. Tuck a king bedsheet around both layers to hold it in place, and pat it flat as you make the bed each morning.

Quilt or full king kapok mattress?

The king size kapok mattress holds more fibre, weighs about 9 kg and comes with two pillows, for an everyday bed. The quilt weighs about 7 kg, rolls away, and is the choice for floors, toppers and guests.

Children and a soft floor bed

Children love a big floor bed. Keep the youngest in the middle, give each child their own small, low kids pillow, and keep a sheet on the quilt so spills land on fabric you can wash. If something soaks through, lift the sheet, blot the cover dry, spot clean gently, and let the quilt dry completely in a breezy, shaded spot before rolling it up.

Handling and storage

Roll it from the foot end; at 72 inches wide it is easier rolled than lifted flat. Two people can lay it out straight in a minute. Store it rolled loosely, wrapped in a clean sheet or cotton bag, on a shelf where air can reach it. Do not fold it tightly for long periods, because kapok settles along a crease.

Caring for kapok

• Pat it flat each time you set it up.
• Air it in shade and breeze after use, and regularly in humid months.
• Keep it dry. Never wash or soak it; never lay it on a damp floor.
• Turn it head to foot so the fill settles evenly.
• Repair seams early; kapok is a fine, loose fibre.

Natural kapok compresses gradually with regular use; patting and airing restore much of its loft.

Kapok quilt or foam floor mattress?

A foam floor mattress is uniform and springs back on its own, but many people find it holds heat and feels enclosing on a humid night. A kapok quilt gives a softer, more open feel, because much of each fibre is air, and it responds to your hands: pat a flat spot and the fibre comes back. The trade-off is care. Kapok wants regular airing and patting, and it must be kept dry. If you are happy with that routine, a natural kapok quilt makes a softer, more breathable family floor bed than a thin foam mat.

Laying it out for the night

Pick the coolest room, sweep and dry the floor, and lay a cotton mat underneath on stone or tile. Unroll the quilt, pat it all over, and wrap it in a king bedsheet. Put the youngest child in the middle and the fan where it reaches everyone.

Unpacking a new kapok king quilt

Kapok travels compressed. When the parcel arrives, unroll the quilt fully across a clean floor, then work across it with flat hands, lifting and patting so the hollow fibres separate and spring up again. Leave it open in a breezy, shaded room for a few hours. Over the first few nights it softens further as the fibre settles into an even layer; a quick pat each evening speeds that along.

King kapok quilt mattress questions

Is it softer than the cotton quilt? Yes: kapok is medium-soft, cotton is medium.

How heavy is it? About 7 kg on our product sheet, about 1 kg more than the cotton king quilt.

Does it include pillows? No.

Can I wash it? No. Air it, keep it dry, and spot clean the cover.

Sunning a king quilt

Sun it in two halves if space is short: fold it once, sun one side, then turn it.

Covering a king quilt

Use a king bedsheet over the quilt on the floor, tucked underneath, so the quilt stays clean and the sheet does not slide off.

Price and delivery

Orders are dispatched within 1 working day; cash on delivery is available, and unused products can be returned within 7 days.

Part of our Quilts range. Also see King Size Cotton Quilt Mattress, Queen Size Kapok Quilt Mattress, Queen Size Cotton Quilt Mattress, Single Bed Kapok Quilt Mattress, Double Bed Kapok Quilt Mattress, Single Bed Cotton Quilt Mattress.