Should You Sleep on an Organic Mattress?

Considering how much time we spend in our beds a good mattress should be a serious priority. We spend like 1/3rd of our lives in it! With a family history of back problems I’ve actually never slept on a spring mattress and, every time I have, I’ve regretted it lol I was spoiled as a kid. I had a sleep number bed for YEARS until it finally bit the dust on me.

From there I ended up with a memory foam mattress and pillows and the majority of my back and neck problems literally disappeared over night.

This article is interesting because it mentions memory foam often in the amount of chemicals used to create it. Not to mention it is really odd when it comes to how it holds heat.

I learned that the hard way when I threw my old mattress pad/topper away and went without it for a few weeks. I would wake up, no matter how cold it was in my room, so hot I could barely breathe.

It took awhile but I finally figured out what was going on (and not that I was actually going into early menopause lol!) Memory foam does NOT breathe. I added a thick, organic mattress topper and I have a happy relationship with my bed again.

(The following is a contributed article all about the new options out there in organic mattresses!)

While I would always encourage you to re-purpose and revive old objects, when it comes to mattresses, this is not a good idea. According to the specialists, a mattress should be changed every 8 to 10 years (if you’ve been using it regularly) or when it starts to feel odd.

When it comes to getting a new design, many users will choose a bed they’re used to. For instance, if you’ve been sleeping on memory foam, there’s a huge chance that your second bed will also be of the same material.

But today I want to challenge you to think outside of the box.

Since I tend to get in touch with lots of cool materials for various projects, I recently got to learn about the benefits of organic beds and why they’re so important for good sleep habits.

Hypoallergenic materials

Materials that get into such a bed are obtained from natural sources, which makes them perfect for anyone living with mild or severe allergies. Manmade materials don’t regulate heat that well (memory foam is the first that comes to mind) and, in time, they allow allergens (pollen, dust, bed bugs, dust mites) to grow.

On the other hand, materials such as latex, wool, or feather don’t have any heat retention issues and allow air to take any humidity away, maintaining a dry environment.

(Also, natural fibers don’t allow allergens to set shop in your mattress.)

I also learned on Mattress Matchers that organic beds use organic cotton for their covers. This is a fantastic material for adults and children suffering from allergies and it feels amazing!

No Weird Chemicals

In reference to memory foam, which is known to contain all sorts of weird chemicals in order to improve elasticity and viscosity. Things like pesticide residues, Volatile Organic Compound chemicals, and even toxic fire barrier methods have been used in the past to make this material, so that’s something to definitely keep in mind.

Nowadays, producers stay away from toxic chemicals, but the odor of a newly-unwrapped memory foam mattress makes you wonder. On the other hand, latex designs don’t have this off-gassing process and they don’t need special fire barriers since many designs use a layer of wool to ensure the safety of sleepers.

Not to mention that 100% organic latex designs are made without glues or adhesives (which are a source of possibly toxic chemical compounds).

Often Customizable

Since these are not mass-produced designs, producers offer the possibility to customize the firmness of the mattress according to each sleeper’s needs. It may take a bit longer to get your bed, but it will be crafted according to your own desires!

Also, you will appreciate a product that’s been hand tufted and assembled because it shows a unique care for details and comfort.

Sustainable Farming and Manufacturing

While the reasons I mentioned above are quite convincing, the one that sold me to the idea was this one. Producers who use natural materials encourage a healthy agricultural environment and help keep manufacturing under control.

In my opinion, it’s best to have a slower manufacturing process than to create thousands of products at once without carrying for durability in time. Natural designs are known to resist up to 15 years and more.

In Conclusion

The cool thing about old beds (both organic and man-made) is that you can still use it after you’re done sleeping on it. For instance, Tarah here at Grandma’s House DIY used an old bed’s inner materials to make a cool cushion for an old bench (you can see the project here).

So, if you have the storage space, you can always cut the old mattress up and store the materials that may come in handy one day!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)