Good sleeping habits are crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Thus, a toxin-free mattress is vital if you consider incorporating a healthy lifestyle. Non-toxic mattresses ensure healthy sleep while reducing allergies and dust mites. Moreover, their manufacturing takes place in an eco-friendly and conscious way.
This article will provide you with detailed knowledge of what is a non-toxic mattress. It will also talk about its benefits, some non-toxic mattress types, and the mattress additives that can be dangerous for you and your family's health. So, let us dive deep into non-toxic mattresses.
What Is a Non-Toxic Mattress?
A non-toxic mattress consists of more natural products such as latex, cotton, and wool instead of synthetic ingredients. In other words, a non-toxic mattress is void of harmful chemicals and other substances.
Several mattress manufacturing companies have adopted organic components, in recent times, as the raw material of all-natural, chemical-free mattresses. The term non-toxic means not having toxic or poisonous substances in a particular material.
Now, the question is, how will you know whether a mattress is all-natural and toxin-free or not? Commonly, a non-toxic mattress comes from raw materials such as latex, cotton, and wool, minus all the chemicals. The properties of a non-toxic mattress or any other non-toxic product claiming to be so are:
Green Mattresses
Nowadays, many brands endorse the concept of organic or green mattresses. Only components certified by credible organizations such as Global Organic Textile Standard or GOTS and Global Organic Latex Standard or GOLS are organic components. The mattress must have at least one natural element to be labeled organic.
Non-toxic/Chemical free
Companies use various petrochemicals, polyurethane foams, flame retardant chemicals, synthetic latex, and other chemicals while making mattresses. These are potentially harmful chemicals. An organic, non-toxic mattress has successfully eliminated the need for any of these chemicals and uses more natural components to make it a chemical-free mattress.
Organic
An all-green mattress must adhere to untreated organic wool, 100% natural latex, organic cotton, and other natural fibers. Moreover, there must also be an acknowledgment from a reputable organization like GOTS. Most companies use chemicals to make the mattress flame resistant. Organizations can use organic wool instead. Also, the presence of individual coils and low levels of pollutants is a must.
Eco-friendly
Often firms engage in an environment-friendly way of mattress manufacturing. Thus, why while manufacturing them, they cause less pollution and produce a fewer waste. The manufacturing process where this eco-consciousness is involved often results in the production of eco-friendly mattresses.
Benefits of Non-Toxic Mattress
While using conventional mattresses made from harmful substances can cause danger to your health, a non-toxic mattress is always a safer option for its health and other benefits. Let us see how.
Reduce Allergies
The best non-toxic mattress repels dust mites. Dust mites are there in almost every household. They are capable of triggering allergic reactions. Residents suffering from allergies or asthma can suffer from such toxin materials to a great extent. A toxic-free mattress keeps most allergy agents away.
More Breathable
Air circulates freely through natural mattresses, making them cooler and breathable. Natural fabrics are always good for our skin and lungs. Thus, this particular property is highly notable with other great qualities.
Environmental Impact
A non-toxic mattress is made from natural materials and procedures. So, naturally, these mattresses do not affect the environment negatively. Also, these materials are sustainable and biodegradable, reducing the planet's carbon footprint.
Longer Lifespan of Mattress
Conventional mattresses are known to have a lifespan of around seven years. On the other hand, a chemical free bed such as a mattress made with natural latex can last much longer than that, say for 20 years and more. Thus, natural latex mattresses are an investment worth making in the long run.
Other Health Benefits
Sleeping on chemical-free beds is much safer because you are the most vulnerable when sleeping, and people heal while they sleep.
Best Non-Toxic Materials For Mattress
You must be aware of the non-toxic materials that make a great organic, non-toxic mattress if you want to buy an organic, chemical free mattress.
Plant-Based Memory Foam
A non-toxic memory foam mattress consists of plant-based memory foam containing non-toxic plant-based oils, whereas the traditional foam has harmful petrochemicals. Plant-based foams also have low VOC emissions and create a more breathable environment where you can comfortably sleep.
Natural Latex Foam
It is entirely eco-friendly as it consists of the sap of rubber trees, which does not require pesticides and can be tapped several times before being used. In addition, natural latex is a much safer option as it is antimicrobial, biodegradable, prevents the growth of molds, and has the durability of a much longer time.
Organic Cotton
You must look for certified organic wool while buying a non-toxic baby mattress. Even though cotton is an all natural element yet is most heavily saturated with different kinds of pesticides. Thus, a certification will ensure the safety of the product.
Organic Wool
A mattress made with organic wool is a mattress without flame retardant. Hence, it is mostly chemicals. Organic wool is a natural flame retardant. Thus, products made with certified wool are assured to be free from chemical additives or preservatives.
Coils
Pocketed spring coils are a much safer option as they do not allow the accumulation of dust and allergens. In addition, hybrid mattresses have a spring coil support base and thus are a much safer option.
Flammability Standards
Harmful flame resistants like PBDEs, TCEP, antimony, boric acid, and others might cause severe health conditions such as cancer, hormonal dysfunctions, genetic disorders, fertility issues, and many more. The best non-toxic mattress must contain natural elements like pure wool silica and Kevlar as natural flame resistance. Here are some of the listed harmful flame retardants and non-harmful organic retardants.
- Harmful Flame Retardants PBDEs: This chemical used in mattresses might cause learning disabilities, hyperactivity, and hormonal and liver dysfunctions.
- TCEP: It is also known as a carcinogen. The chemical is responsible for causing infertility, hormonal disbalance, and neurotoxicity.
- TDCPP (Chlorinated Tris): This chemical is responsible for altered hormone levels, cancer, and reproductive issues.
- Brominated Flame Retardants: Bromine hinders the natural functioning of endocrines and reproductive systems.
- Antimony: It irritates the eyes, heart, and lungs along with stomach aches, diarrhea, and vomiting.
- Vitamin B6: It is toxic to the human reproductive system, liver, and thyroid functioning.
- Boric Acid: Exposure to this chemical leads to mild to severe skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation.
Safe Flame Retardants
- Pure Wool: It is naturally fire-resistant and is used just under the mattress surface to make the best non toxic crib mattress and other mattresses.
- Silica: A natural mineral found in water, soil, and plants, is dehydrated and reduced to use as a natural flame retardant.
- Kevlar: It is a synthetic material, not treated with harmful chemicals, and is entirely safe for household usage.
7 Potentially Dangerous Mattress Additives
You must be aware of the harmful additives applied to conventional mattresses. These affect our health adversely and negatively impact the earth's atmosphere. They are:
Ozone-depleting compounds
These are harmful gaseous compounds, and long exposure to these can cause respiratory diseases and harm the planet's environment.
Mercury, lead, or heavy metals
Added to the foam of a mattress are capable of causing brain and kidney damage.
Phthalates
Kidney and liver dysfunction, impaired childhood, cancer, and reproductive complications are some severe side effects of this industrial chemical used to soften PVC.
Formaldehyde
Nasal and throat infections are frequent for this chemical used in conventional mattresses and can even cause asthma and severe allergies in case of prolonged contact.
Pesticides
Spayed on fabric, mostly cotton, can lead to cancer and organ failure after prolonged exposure.
Benzene
This commonly used chemical can reduce bone marrow function and the count of red blood cells when coming into human contact.
Toluene
The adhesive used in the mattress usually contains toluene which when inhaled might cause nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
Certifications for Non-Toxic Mattresses
Know the certifications that determine a non-toxic mattress and check for them while buying. They are,
CertiPUR-US
It tests the mattress foam for harmful chemicals. Check for this certification if you want a non-toxic memory foam mattress.
GreenGuard
This test ensures minimal or no Volatile organic compounds or VOC emissions from the product. It is safe for household usage or at other healthcare facilities.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
GOTS certification ensures the fabric used in the mattress consists of at least 70% organic material, and its manufacturing takes place under sustainable manufacturing practices.
Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
GOLS guarantees that the latex foam used in the mattress is 95% organic and does not contain harmful additives.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Products that go through several tests receive this certificate labeled organic with every material used while manufacturing the mattress.
Eco-Institut
Eco-Institut tests mattresses and other household items like bedding, flooring, and furniture. It confirms the absence of VOCs, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde.
Made Safe
Made safe checks the overall mattress and certifies the absence of health or ecological risks.
How to Choose a Right Mattress
Not all products are for every need. Certain factors might influence your buying of a dream mattress, and they are:
Certification
Certification from a credible organization like GOTS ensures that the product is toxin-free. Thus, it contains limited pollutants and has minimum or no heavy metals and other volatile organic compounds.
Size
Various sizes are available in the market for mattresses. Always choose the one that fits on your bed or go according to your sleeping requirements. For example, for couples, queen-size mattresses are ideal.
Materials and fills
Go for organic materials such as memory foam, cotton, wool, silk, cashmere, mohair, bamboo, and latex that are safe to use.
Budget
Chemical-free mattresses are available at varied prices across the market. Choose according to your pocket.
Firmness
A range of firmness options is made available for various health requirements. There are extra soft, soft, medium soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, and extra firm mattresses available. Identify your type and choose accordingly.
Sleep Trials
Try out the products that offer sleep trials. Sleep trials will give a closer look at the product's functioning.
Warranties and Return Policies
Always check for the warranties and return policies against the product. If anything goes wrong, you can take go for them.
Conclusion
Toxins like various petrochemicals, polyurethane foam, and flame retardant chemicals in mattresses do not allow a safe environment to sleep in and might cause severe health conditions. They also cause harmful carbon footprints and cannot be termed as eco-friendly. The solution to this problem is to go for an organic non toxic mattress over a conventional one. Using natural elements like cotton, wool, natural latex, and other safety components makes the mattress sleep-safe and diminishes the chances of severe health conditions. So, before buying a mattress, look for certified products acknowledged by credible sources like GOTS, GOLS, Eco-Institut, and others.
