Your mattress should be one of the safest and most comfortable items you own. You trust this support system to keep you safe and healthy every night. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to get a good night’s sleep and start the day rested. But, what if you’ve tried everything to get a better sleep cycle and nothing has worked? Could it be that the mattress is to blame, and causing more problems than it solves?
Too many people spend every night on a mattress that is bad for their health. Toxic mattresses are to blame for a series of health issues, but many don’t realize they have a problem. So, how can you tell if your mattress is toxic? What materials are to blame for these health issues, and what should you get instead?
How To Tell If A Mattress Is Toxic
Let’s start by looking at some of the signs that a mattress might be toxic. The first indicators that something isn’t right with a mattress are odours and health issues. Odours are a problem with old mattresses, so it might be a cleanliness issue rather than a chemical issue in some cases. Still, no new mattress should give off a chemical or musty smell for long periods. Some mattresses can smell a little fresh out of the box, but that should dissipate pretty quickly. Ongoing chemical smells, or a mustiness could be a sign of off-gassing. Unsurprisingly, this can have a massive impact on our health and well-being. The problem is that we can get a little nose-blind to the smells in our bedrooms when we live with them for so long. So, odour alone isn’t the only indicator.
That’s when it pays to reevaluate any medical issues you’re having at the moment. Anyone sleeping on those chemical-ridden mattresses will end up breathing in the gasses as they sleep. The worst-case scenario here is that you end up with serious allergic reactions or respiratory illness. The chemicals can also affect the skin. So, if you find yourself dealing with allergies more than normal, and you don’t know why, it might be the mattress’s fault. If you’ve been dealing with respiratory issues when waking up and aren’t fighting off a virus, maybe the answer lies beneath you. These issues alone aren’t always enough to point the finger at your mattress and make a switch. There may be chemicals or dust mites in your pillow or elsewhere at home contributing to your health. So, the next step is to learn exactly what is in your mattress.
What Are Some Of The Harmful Materials In Your Mattress?
Memory foam became the material of choice for many consumers for years. It was seen as the ideal alternative to old-fashioned springs because of its superior comfort. You could sink into the surface and get the right level of support, perhaps with some cooling coils and a gel layer to make it even more appealing. The problem is that a lot of synthetic materials go into making those foams and gels to get the right consistency and durability. Memory foam contains substantial amounts of polyurethane and petroleum. While you may think this is fine all the way down under the sheets, that isn’t the case.
The chemicals in these materials can leech out and cause major problems. As mentioned before, there is a chemical reaction called off-gassing. This is when reactions in the synthetic materials cause gasses to rise up from inside the mattress. On contact with the skin, these VOCs can cause serious irritation. There is also the risk that gasses from the foam and adhesives can cause regular headaches or even issues within the nervous system.
Finally, there are the chemical flame retardants in mattresses. At first, these sound beneficial because you don’t want your mattress to burn in a fire. However, these chemicals can also leach toxins into a sleeping environment. Issues here can range from hormone disruption to developmental problems and cancer risks. When you add all this together, it is a recipe for disaster. So, the best course of action is to get rid of your dangerous mattress when you can and upgrade it to a non toxic mattress. Thankfully, there are plenty of natural and organic substitutes out there.
Choose An Organic Latex Mattress Instead
With so many risk factors associated with these materials and toxic synthetic mattresses, it might be time to look for an upgrade. Organic mattresses are a much healthier solution because they don’t have any of the same materials and chemicals. Organic materials are certified as natural and chemical-free. Therefore, you can be sure that there aren’t any of those flame retardants or anything else that could cause irritation. The next question is what sort of organic materials should you choose?
Some people are happy to get organic mattresses that use a lot of natural fibers, such as cotton and wool. Wool has its benefits for sure. The temperature control and natural fire resistance make it appealing to anyone switching from memory foam. However, the material is a prime spot for dust, dirt, and little mites. You can end up with quite the colony living below your sheets. This is a nightmare for allergy sufferers and doesn’t make the mattress any better than the ones with the chemicals. The same is true for the ones with cotton in them. The upside here is that cotton is a purely plant-based material and organic cotton won’t have any pesticides on it. As wool is animal-based, this poses an ethical dilemma for some buyers.
The best alternative here is to go for a natural latex organic mattress. This material has the same natural properties but with far fewer risks. The construction of the latex layers leaves nowhere for dust and critters to hide. This means that the allergy risks plummet, and you could see a big improvement in your health. The best latex mattress also has no retardants, gels, coatings, or other unnecessary materials.
Upgrade To An Organic Latex Mattress And Ditch The Toxins
There really is no need to spend every night on an unhealthy unnatural mattress when these healthier organic ones are so accessible. The short-term costs do end up giving you a long-term investment that pays off. You could find yourself getting a better night’s sleep on these supportive and cooling mattresses – while eliminating those allergic reactions. Look for a company that can offer a range of quality mattresses in different sizes and firmness levels. Find the best fit for your room and see how latex can enhance your sleep cycle.
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