Buying an organic mattress is a great choice if you’re someone who actively tries to minimise your exposure to artificial chemicals, or who prefers to buy products which don’t harm the environment as part of their manufacture. But what exactly is an organic mattress, and how can you go about choosing one?
What is an Organic Mattress?
An organic mattress is essentially a mattress made of natural, organic certified materials such as cotton, coconut fibre (coir) or wool. Many also use natural latex for cushioning, as an alternative to pocket sprung designs. (There is no official organic certification for natural latex, but is distinct from synthetic alternative which can be toxic). Organic mattresses are great for those with sensitive skin or allergies, but shouldn’t be restricted to just those people. A cotton wrap or cover is usually a big part of an organic mattress. Roughly 25% (!) of the world’s insecticides and pesticides are used on cotton crops. Do you really want you or your children to breathe in these potentially harmful chemicals every night?
As well as the health benefits of avoiding the chemicals used to make artificial materials, there are environmental benefits. Unfortunately, there an awful lot of mattresses out there, which claim to be entirely organic but actually have synthetic, artificially made components. Memory foam is the ‘flavour of the month’ when it comes to mattresses, but an awful lot of potentially harmful chemicals are used to make just one mattress.
Organic Mattresses: Where to Start?
There are so many mattress retailers out there, selling so many mattress, with all of them trying to tell you that THEIR mattress is the best. Trying to find your ideal mattress can be an overwhelming task if you don’t know what to look for. In reality there is no one ‘best’ mattress as everyone is different! It’s unlikely that a 15 stone rugby player and an 8 stone 80 year old will have the same preference, and so there are special mattresses to cater for both sizes.
What Type of Sleeper am I?
It’s probably never occurred to you to assess what ‘type’ of sleeper you are, but it’s really important to know when you’re looking for a mattress. The ‘type’ of sleeper you are refers to how you sleep – i.e. do you sleep on your side, back, front or a combination? Once you know what kind of sleeper you are, you can start the process of finding the perfect organic mattress for you.
Organic Mattresses: Which is the Right One for Me?
As you explore the world of organic mattresses you will stumble upon dozens of different styles, all claiming to be beneficial in different ways. Where possible, visit the mattress showroom and give the mattress a good test (if you’re lucky the people in the mattress showroom will let you have a cup of cocoa to send you off!). If you have had back, neck or shoulder problems in the past, you should take this into account when choosing your mattress. Mattresses aren’t just comfortable slabs of latex or springs anymore. There are specific mattresses designed to give specific types of support, so you no longer have to suffer aches the aches and pains of a generic mattress.
Make sure that any mattress claiming to be made from organic components is able to provide the relevant certifications to prove so. Many mattresses which claim to be organic, actually have one or two non-organic, synthetic components. Another thing to look out for is the length of warranty. If an organic mattress comes with a 10-20 year warranty, you know that the manufacturer has 100% confidence in the quality and durability of its product. If a mattress retailer isn’t offering any kind of warranty, it might be a good idea to find out why.
If you sleep on your side, then it’s likely that your shoulder isn’t quite getting a healthy blood flow during the night. Lying on your side can also potentially mess with the alignment of your spine as it is not a natural resting position for the spine. Have no fear. There a special natural latex organic mattress which have a small channel drilled horizontally within the mattress, in the same area as the shoulder. This means that instead of one of your arms being awkwardly squashed by your torso, it is able to slightly sink into the mattress, giving you a far healthier blood flow and a healthier spinal alignment.
If you suffer from back aches and pains, a slightly firmer mattress might help distribute your weight and prevent too much pressure from being exerted on one particular area. Natural latex naturally moulds its surface to the shape you your body, which is how the pressure can be alleviated from specific areas of discomfort. If you have serious back issues, it may be advisable to consult a doctor before changing mattress, especially if the change is relatively drastic
4 Living is a retailer of high quality organic mattresses, with entirely natural and organic ingredients. Where possible every single millimetre of their mattress collection is organically certified. Their collection is even free of any chemical fire treatment, as every one of their mattresses has an organic wool wrap, which is naturally fire retardant. Their showroom features multiple organic natural latex and organic pocket sprung mattress, so why not drop by and give them a try. 4 Living’s mattress experts will answer any questions you have.
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