Organic Mattresses Information

Organic mattresses come in two types, cotton and rubber. Organic cotton mattresses are currently the more popular organic mattress, although rubber mattresses have been gaining popularity, as rubber mattresses has been equated as the next “memory foam bed.” The advantage of a rubber mattress is that it does not need internal springs or a box spring, and some models can even be designed with more support for certain parts of the body. An organic cotton mattress, however, is cheaper and is easier to find.

Cotton grown with standard, non-organic procedures involves many chemicals that are harmful for the environment, and those chemicals can become part of the fabric once the cotton is picked, processed, and woven into fabric. Supposedly, many allergies and childhood diseases, such as asthma and chemical sensitivities, are attributed to the excessive use of chemicals in producing cotton fabric. Organic cotton is grown brown and without chemicals – no chemical fertilizers and chemical sprays. Because the cotton is not stripped of its natural wax, organic cotton fabric may appear darker during the first three washes. An organic crib mattress is both filled and covered with 100% organic cotton, although, for support,organic cotton mattresses still have inner metal springs.

Organic rubber mattresses are an alternative to cotton mattresses. Although a rubber mattress does not have springs for support, the mattress is more expensive than an organic cotton mattress. A rubber mattress often has a six or seven inch core of natural medium or firm rubber that is surrounded by quilted organic cotton and wool. Rubber has a density of four pounds per cubic foot, but the core of the mattress is always made with holes in the rubber. Generally, larger holes in the rubber result in softer latex. Aside from support, rubber is naturally antimicrobial and, unlike cotton, mildew, mold, and bacteria cannot live in the rubber core. However, to keep the mattress in good shape, it should be turned and rotated every eight weeks and the mattress should not get wet. If the mattress gets stained, a non-toxic stain cleaner can remove any spots and not damage the mattress.

The latex for organic rubber mattresses originates from the tree Hevea Brasilielnsis, the common rubber tree in Malaysia. Then, the rubber milk is molded the same day using the Dunlop system for producing latex, and the resulting hardened rubber is made of 97% natural rubber and 3% soda ash and zinc to help the rubber expand. The rubber core is then surrounded by quilted layers of organic cotton and wool. Instead of a box spring for support, a wooden slat foundation is best for supporting the mattress. Slat foundations for an organic rubber mattress are made from kiln-dried spruce and the wood is arranged as two-inch wood slats spaced every two inches. This allows for better circulation.

An organic mattress, whether made from cotton or rubber, has another benefit in comparison to a standard mattress – organic wool. Wool has natural fire retardant properties and, therefore, the mattress does not need to be coated with any fire retardant chemicals. Fire retardant chemicals, known as PBDE’s or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are often used on mattresses, as well as bedding and furniture, to protect plastic and polyurethane foam from fire. Although these chemicals have been banned in the European Union, they are still used in North America and have a similar potency to DDT, which was banned in the 1970s. Exposure to PBDE’s by children – or when a baby is developing in the uterus – can affect brain development. The chemicals are said to mimic thyroid hormones, which regulate the growth of a baby or child’s neurological system, and as a result, can alter how a brain develops and even lessen intelligence with age.

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