- Looking For a Mattress With Fewer Chemicals?
- What is the right definition of a non-toxic mattress?
- What Are the some Advantages of a Chemical-Free Mattress?
- Wool that is grown organically
- Flammable Retardants That Are Harmful
- Other Mattress Additives That Could Be Dangerous
- The third-party certifications listed below will assist you in identifying a non-toxic bed
- Conclusion
Looking For a Mattress With Fewer Chemicals?
The procedure can be daunting if you’re looking for a more secure mattress. Finding the finest mattress might be tough with many materials and certifications available. Our detailed non-toxic mattress buying guide will assist you in making your decision. Continue reading to learn how to bring a safer, healthier mattress into your house.
What is the right definition of a non-toxic mattress?
Non-toxic mattresses are made without using chemicals that are harmful to people’s health. Non-toxic beds, on the other hand, can be described in a variety of ways. Some are labeled “eco-friendly,” while others are marketed as “green” or “organic.” Many businesses may even claim that their product meets all three criteria.
Chemical-free and non-toxic
Some mattress manufacturers avoid using toxic chemicals that can harm our health. Make sure to understand why the bed is considered non-toxic before you purchase. Natural substances or organic materials may be used to manufacture the foam by the company. It’s vital to figure out how the bed gained this reputation.
Eco-Friendly
Eco-friendly mattresses are created with fewer polluting and waste-producing manufacturing methods and materials. Most eco-friendly procedures result in a bed that is non-toxic and safer for us to sleep on.
Organic
Organic mattresses are created from natural materials like cotton, wool, or latex. Mattresses, on the other hand, are rarely 100% organic. The cover might be the only organic component of the bed, as the rest of it isn’t. Verify which of these layers are certified organic and which are not while shopping. It’s also worth noting that foams like memory foam and poly-foam are not biological. They create these foams rather than cultivated or harvested them. They can be made without harmful chemicals, but they aren’t termed “organic.”
Green
A company that claims to make a “green mattress” could mean various things. They may rely on organic materials or environmentally friendly construction methods.
What Are the some Advantages of a Chemical-Free Mattress?
There are various advantages to switching to a chemical-free mattress. You spend approximately a third of your life in bed. Thus we need to sleep on materials that will not hurt us over time.
Health Benefits
Fire retardants, adhesives, and dyes used in some traditional mattresses offer significant health hazards. Beds that are non-toxic, organic, or eco-friendly are less likely to contain these dangerous chemicals.
Allergies reduction
A chemical-free mattress might help you sleep better if you have allergies. Beds made with healthier materials are frequently hypoallergenic. Furthermore, they emit fewer VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which might irritate the lungs.
More Attractive
Mattresses built of non-toxic materials allow for better airflow. Plant-based foam and latex foam, for example, drain heat and moisture away from the body, allowing you to sleep cool and comfortably.
Impact on the Environment
The manufacturing of non-toxic mattress brands is frequently environmentally responsible. These brands produce less pollution and employ environmentally friendly harvesting methods.
Longer Life Expectancy
A safer and healthier mattress will last longer than one that is not. Chemically filled materials tend to degrade quickly. The longer time the bed lasts, the more natural components it contains. A high-quality plant-based memory foam mattress can endure for up to ten years. Natural latex foam has a 12-year lifespan. Conventional beds have a lifespan of about six years on average.
Non-Toxic Mattress Materials at Their Finest
We’ve studied the top non-toxic mattress materials to assist you in determining which beds are safer for you and your family.
Memory Foam Made from Plants
Memory foam mattresses provide excellent contouring and pressure relief that is hard to find in any other form of bed. On the other hand, traditional memory foam is manufactured with petroleum compounds that might be hazardous to your health when you sleep on it. On the other hand, plant-based memory foam is manufactured in part with non-toxic plant-based oils that are ideal for both you and the environment.
Plant-based foams help to produce a more breathable sleeping environment than typical memory foam. Furthermore, because this material emits few VOCs, you can feel safe bringing it into your house. Plant-based memory foam is also more durable and less expensive than traditional memory foam.
While there isn’t any certified organic plant-based memory foam on the market, these beds have been thoroughly tested to assure that they offer no health risks. We’ll go over the certifications to look for while buying a non-toxic memory foam bed later in this post.
Foam made of natural latex
The rubber tree sap is used in making latex, which is a very sustainable and long-lasting crop. These trees don’t need pesticides, and they can be tapped multiple times before being cut down. Latex becomes more environmentally friendly as a result of this method.
Latex foam is available in both synthetic and natural forms. Synthetic latex is frequently created with dangerous compounds that humans should not handle. Natural latex is also antibacterial, biodegradable, mold-resistant, and long-lasting.
After harvesting, Dunlop latex is not processed with chemicals or additives, and it has a hard texture. Natural Talalay latex is coated with non-toxic additives to give it additional bounce. Talalay foam is typically medium to medium-firm in texture.
Latex mattresses created from either of these foams are non-toxic and safer for you to sleep on. Look for latex foam with GOLS organic certificates to ensure pesticide-free latex in your bed.
Cotton that is grown organically
Cotton is a resilient, fast-growing crop used for bedding to clothes. It’s hypoallergenic, breathable, and soft, making it an excellent mattress material. However, these crops are regularly sprayed with insecticides because cotton is so popular. If you’re looking for a non-toxic mattress, be sure it’s made of certified organic cotton.
Wool that is grown organically
Wool is a natural flame retardant and is widely used in chemical-free mattresses. This substance also aids in the regulation of body temperature and moisture. Despite being a raw material, wool is frequently treated with chemicals. On the other hand, certified organic wool contains no chemical additions or preservatives. Furthermore, the sheep must not be fed synthetic hormones or allowed to graze on the pesticide-sprayed ground. These procedures ensure that the substance is non-toxic and chemical-free.
Coils
A spring coil support base is found in both innerspring and hybrid mattresses. These coils are pocketed in a hybrid to provide autonomous mobility and sound shaping. Dust mites and grime have difficulty building up within the bed because the waves are encased in cloth. On the other hand, traditional spring coils have more open space for dangerous pollutants to accumulate.
Metal coils, in general, do not represent a health risk and are safe to come into touch with. Choose a hybrid bed with pocketed spring coils for a cleaner mattress less likely to accumulate dust.
Standards for Flammability
There were no safety requirements regulating mattress flammability before 2007. As a result, each year, many people die as a result of bed fires. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) developed new flammability regulations. These new rules would ensure that every mattress sold in the United States was fireproof.
To pass severe flammability tests, many brands turned to harmful compounds to meet the demand for fire-resistant materials. Because many of these compounds are hazardous and cause significant health problems, they put consumers in even more danger. PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) (polybrominated di. On the other hand, this molecule has now been linked to thyroid, liver, and neurological diseases. Many states have outlawed PBDEs, which are currently being regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Mattress manufacturers are no longer permitted to employ PBDEs to meet fire safety regulations. On the other hand, other toxic compounds are not restricted and can cause health problems. The fire-resistant compounds that are dangerous and safe are listed below.
Flammable Retardants That Are Harmful
The National Institute of Health has linked chemical flame retardants to serious health problems: cancer, fertility disorders, genetic flaws, hormonal imbalance, and impaired thyroid and liver function.
It’s important to stay away from the items that include these hazardous fire retardants. They are not only dangerous to human contact, but they also leave a distinct chemical stench in your home. This stench can irritate the eyes and skin and cause breathing difficulties. It might produce headaches and nausea in more challenging situations.
PBDEs
PBDEs were outlawed in 2007, as previously stated. Learning problems and hyperactivity have been linked to this flame-resistant chemical. In addition, long-term exposure impairs hormone and liver function.
TCEP
Because of its link to infertility, TCEP is classified as a known carcinogen under California Proposition. This chemical has also been linked to hormonal disruption and neurotoxicity.
TDCPP (Chlorinated Tris)
Chlorinated tris has been related to hormonal imbalances, cancer, and reproductive problems. Proposition 65 in California classifies it as a known carcinogen.
Brominated Flame Retardants are a type of brominated flame retardant.
Brominated compounds, such as bromine, are used in several fire retardants. Certain substances have disrupted the endocrine and reproductive systems.
Antimony
The eyes, heart, and lungs have all been irritated by antimony-contaminated air. It can also produce nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort. Long-term exposure can cause severe heart and lung problems.
V6
V6 includes an impurity that makes it harmful to humans, just like TCEP. V6 has been related to problems with reproduction and liver and thyroid dysfunction.
Boric Acid is a kind of boric Acid
Boric Acid is frequently applied on the mattress cover or within the layers. Other home items, such as cleaners and cosmetics, can include this chemical fire retardant. Boric acid exposure can cause skin, ocular, and respiratory system irritation, ranging from mild to severe.
Flame Retardants That Aren’t Dangerous.
Many brands utilize natural flame retardants or fire barriers instead of toxic chemicals. Look for a mattress that employs one of these non-toxic materials while you’re out shopping.
Wool that is 100% pure
Wool is naturally fire-resistant and does not require any chemical treatment. Several brands often include a wool fire barrier beneath the mattress’s surface. Without any harmful ingredients, this layer protects sleepers from a fire.
Silica
Silica is a kind of mineral found in abundance in water, soil, and plants. When dehydrated and reduced to a particle, it functions as a natural flame retardant. Silica is now one of the most widely used non-toxic fire-resistant compounds, appearing in various items.
Kevlar
Kevlar is a fire-resistant synthetic textile comprised of solid plastic strands. A layer of kevlar is placed immediately below the bed’s surface in a mattress. This material has not been exposed to dangerous chemicals and is non-toxic and safe to handle.
Other Mattress Additives That Could Be Dangerous
Mattresses may include other dangerous compounds in addition to flame retardants. Avoid beds that have the following ingredient while looking for a healthier mattress.
Gaseous chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons are ozone depleters.
(CFCs) are harmful to both the human health and environment. Although many ozone depleters are banned in the United States, they may nevertheless be found in items made elsewhere. Inhaling CFCs for long periods might cause significant respiratory problems.
Heavy metals, mercury, or lead
Heavy elements such as mercury, lead, and other heavy metals are frequently added to the foam during the manufacturing process. Kidney and brain damage, as well as stomach issues, have been related to these chemicals.
Phthalates are industrial compounds used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They’ve been linked to reproductive issues and renal and liver disorders.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde can be found in various products around the house, including furniture, glues, and cleaners. It is, however, harmful for human contact, according to the EPA, and has been related to nasal and throat irritation. Asthma and allergies might develop as a result of long-term exposure.
Pesticides
Fabrics sprayed with hazardous pesticides are dangerous to one’s health. Long-term exposure to several pesticides used on cotton, a significant mattress material, has been related to cancer and organ failure.
Benzene
Plastics, dyes, detergents, glues, and insecticides all contain benzene.
It is, however, a hazardous substance that has been demonstrated to lower red blood cell counts and bone marrow function. These adverse effects can reduce our immune function and challenge fighting infections.
Toluene
Industrial adhesives frequently include toluene. According to National Institutes of Health, if inhaled, it produces nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
Certifications for Non-Toxic Mattresses
Many third-party organizations test them for dangerous substances before mattresses may be sold to the general public. Certification ensures that producers are truthful with their customers and protect them from potential health dangers.
The third-party certifications listed below will assist you in identifying a non-toxic bed
CertiPUR-US®
Polyurethane mattress foams, such as memory foam and poly-foam, are tested by CertiPUR-US®. Ozone-depleting chemicals, PBDEs, TDCPP, and TCEP (Tris) flame retardants, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, phthalates, and formaldehyde are tested out of the foam used in the bed during this procedure. They also ensure that the foam emits as few VOCs as possible. If you’re looking for a foam mattress, a CertiPUR-US® certification will assist you in finding one that is ideal for yourself and your family.
GreenGuard
GreenGuard accreditation can be applied to various goods in the home, including mattresses. GreenGuard tests show that the product emits few to no VOCs and is safe to use in the house. Products used in healthcare institutions, children, or the elderly may be GreenGuard Gold certified.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
A GOTS accreditation ensures that the mattress’s textiles are at least 70% organic. This testing also assures that the organization employs environmentally friendly manufacturing methods.
GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard)
According to the GOLS certification, the latex foam in the mattress must be at least 95% organic. According to GOLS, the latex was cultivated and harvested using sustainable ways, and it is free of dangerous additives.
Standard 100 of the OEKO-TEX Organization
Fabric, foam, thread, and buttons are tested as part of the OEKO-TEX 100 certification process. This testing assures that it is devoid of any chemicals or additions that could harm people’s health.
Eco-Institute
The Eco-Institut puts furniture, mattresses, bedding, and flooring to the test. They check for hazardous elements, including formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and acetaldehyde in the product.
Conclusion
What kind of flame retardants do you have in your mattress? A fire barrier consisting of wool or Kevlar, as well as natural silica particles, will be found in a non-toxic mattress.
If the firm does not list any flame retardants, figure out how the product meets flammability requirements. You don’t want to bring any potentially harmful chemicals into your home, but you also don’t want a mattress that is extremely flammable. We hope you enjoyed the article.
Ameer is the content director of Sleepingmentor, which means he not only reviews new mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, and mattress toppers every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, reviews pages, and vs pages on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews. He covers sleep science by researching a lot on Google and finding meaningful content which entertains his users.
