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The Daily Insight

Why are waterbeds discontinued?

Author

Sarah Oconnor

Updated on March 01, 2026

If the water is not treated with a chemical like Clorox, you could end up with a mattress full of algae. There was also the problem of having beds spring a leak. These issues caused waterbeds in general to fall out of popularity, as people weren’t willing to take the risk of filling their homes with unwanted water.

Are waterbeds still available?

By the time the 1990s rolled around, waterbeds had fallen out of popularity because of the maintenance required. But, waterbeds can still be found today, mostly online, but also in some storefronts.

Is water bed harmful?

That’s because waterbed bladders are vulnerable to inadvertent punctures and prone to cracking on the fold lines. The baffles of waveless mattresses are also subject to damage during storage.

When did waterbeds go out of style?

Water bed popularity soared in the late ’70s and into the ’80s, but quickly declined by the ’90s. The LA Times reported in a 1989 article that water beds were a $2-billion-a-year industry. But by the ’90s, their popularity quickly declined.

Are waterbeds still a thing in 2021?

Do They Still Make Waterbeds? Yes, it turns out there are still some sleep manufacturers producing and selling waterbeds. They’re not nearly as popular or common as they were in their hay day, but they’ve still got a presence.

Are waterbeds cold?

You should ideally warm up in one of these types of mattresses because they can get downright cold, but these rules aren’t set in stone. While gel and ventilated mattresses can regulate your body temperature, the water in a waterbed will keep you cool as a cucumber. It’s time to stop suffering through the night.

What was the point of waterbeds?

A form of waterbed was invented in 1833 by the Scottish physician Neil Arnott. Dr. Arnott’s Hydrostatic Bed was devised to prevent bedsores in patients, and comprised a bath of water with a covering of rubber-impregnated canvas, on which lighter bedding was placed.