These days, it seems like they’re making everything organic, even mattresses. Organic mattresses are made with all-natural latex and organic wool and cotton, but are those materials really better than the ones used in traditional mattresses? Is it really worth spending the extra money on an organic mattress?
The answer to both questions is yes. Whether you’re concerned about keeping your family healthy and safe from exposure to dangerous chemicals, or reducing your carbon footprint with more sustainable choices, or both, an organic mattress has a lot to offer. Here’s what a green mattress can do for your family.
Keep Dangerous Chemicals Out of Your Home
Are there really that many chemicals in your conventional mattress? There could be, especially if your mattress is more than a few years old. It seems like every few years, it’s discovered that some chemical that’s ubiquitous in household products is found to be carcinogenic otherwise harmful to humans and the environment. In 2017, for example, Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs), a common flame retardant chemical used in mattresses, can actually cause serious health problems. Other flame retardant chemicals have been found to be toxic or environmentally harmful in the past, too. But natural latex and organic wool are already flame resistant due to their inherent properties, so you can buy an organic mattress that won’t expose your family to toxic flame retardant chemicals.
It’s not just the flame retardants that are the problem, although they are a big problem. Conventionally grown cotton and wool are practically soaked in pesticides during the production process, and some of those chemicals remain in the fibers even after you’ve brought your new bed home. Synthetic memory foams can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), either through off-gassing when the material is new, or as the material breaks down. Natural latex doesn’t contain any VOCs, so it won’t release toxic chemicals into your indoor air. Organic wool and cotton are produced without pesticides and with few, if any, harsh chemicals, including dyes and bleaching agents.
Relieve Allergies and Respiratory Symptoms
If someone in your household has any kind of chemical sensitivity, an organic mattress can help relieve it, because it can really drastically cut down on the number of chemicals in the bedroom environment. Organic mattresses are also hypoallergenic, since natural latex and wool both discourage the growth of dust mites, a common allergen. Conventional mattresses can retain moisture and encourage the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria, while organic wool wicks moisture away from the body and releases it, and organic latex repels fungus, dust mites, bacteria, mold, and mildew with its natural hypoallergenic properties.
Give You a Better Night’s Sleep
Will you sleep better on an organic mattress? If you tend to sleep hot on conventional mattresses, you might find that an organic wool mattress wicks moisture away in the summer and insulates in the winter to keep you at the optimum sleeping temperature throughout the year. If you’re someone who needs a lot of spinal support to avoid painful pressure points, an organic latex mattress provides all the comfort and support of memory foam, with a natural elasticity that keeps the mattress bouncy long after synthetic memory foam would have become pressed down and compacted.
Save You Money
Organic mattresses cost more up front, but the all-natural materials they’re made with are much more durable than those used in conventional mattresses, so they’ll last a lot longer. For example, an organic latex mattress can last up to 20 years or more before the foam has lost its elasticity. And because organic mattresses are naturally hypoallergenic, a mattress protector should be enough to protect them from dust mites and debris.
Protect You From Fires
Every mattress sold in the U.S. must meet a federal standard of flame resistance, and organic mattresses are no exception. However, rather than dowsing organic mattresses in dangerous chemical flame retardants, organic mattress manufacturers rely on the flame resistant properties of materials like wool and latex.
Wool is naturally fire resistant due to its high keratin content and tendency to attract moisture into the center of the fibers. The lanolin in wool also makes it hard to set alight. All of these qualities mean that organic mattresses covered in wool meet federal flame retardant standards without the need for chemicals.
If you want a mattress that can really improve your life, it’s time to go organic. The higher upfront cost is worth the years of deep sleep you’ll enjoy on a durable, comfortable, chemical-free organic mattress.