Did you know that we spend over 25% of our lives in bed? That is why mattresses selection are an important investment when detoxing your home.
Unfortunately, mattresses are loaded with noxious chemicals, including:
Various petrochemicals. Indeed, MOST of what makes up a conventional mattress are petroleum-based.
Plastics or vinyls.
Flame retardant chemicals
Synthetic latex, which usually made from styrene, a human carcinogen.
This chemical cocktail releases VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are linked to a host of health problems, from respiratory irritation to cancer.
So what should you look for when selecting a mattress:
✅Organic wool (untreated) is naturally flame and mildew/dust mite resistant.
✅100% natural latex (made from rubber trees) is safer than latex blends, which may contain petroleum-based polyurethane.
✅Organic cotton (grown in untreated soil, without pesticides) can be used for batting or mattress wrapping.
✅Trusted certifications, from third-party certifying bodies, mean that some ingredients in the mattress have been vetted by organizations committed to improving air quality. This also means a safer sleeping surface for you.
However, all certifications are not created equal. Most certifications are of SOME value, but they can be used sneakily by mattress manufacturers. Manufacturers may claim to have a certification that they don’t actually have. So you really need to ask to see the actual signed certification, keeping in mind that if it’s out of date, it’s worthless.
So let’s breakdown the toxin-free certifications down to best, good, ok, and sneaky:
▪️BEST: GOLS (for latex) and GOTS (for textiles).
▪️GOOD: Oeko-Tex Standard 100
▪️OK: Greenguard and Organic Content Standard 100
▪️SNEAKY: NAOMI (National Association of Organic Mattress Industry) and CertiPUR Ok, ok enough dorking out on the details.
Here is how the mattress brands stand up:
▪️BEST: Soaring Heart, Naturepedic, and LifeKind
▪️GOOD: Bella Sera, Cozy Pure, Lotus Travel Crib, Metta Bed, My Green Mattress, Savvy Rest, and White Lotus
▪️OK: Avocado, Brooklyn Bedding, Coco-Mat, Eco Terra, Essentia, Hastans, Natural Mat, Plush Beds, Sleep on Latex, and Vivetique
▪️BAD: Ikea, Sealy, Simmons, Newton Wovenaire, and Tempurpedic
▪️SNEAKY: Colgate, Casper, Eco Dream, Intellibed, Keetsa, Layla, Moonlight Slumber, Natura World, Nectar, Nest Bedding, Nook, Saatva, Loom and Leaf, Sealy Naturalis, Swiss Dreams, Tuft and Needle, Yoga Bed and Zen Heaven
Reference: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/