The Benefits of an Organic Mattress

You can never underestimate the benefits of an organic mattress. Some people might assume that organic mattresses are only for those who live a bourgeoisie or “granola” lifestyle, but really, they’re a product that just about anyone can enjoy.

Considering that you spend about a third of your life sleeping, and presumably most of that time in your bed, a mattress might be the most important piece of furniture you own. Here are some of the top reasons why you should get yourself an organic mattress.

Recognizable Materials

Wool. Latex. Flax. Cotton. All of these materials are words that are instantly familiar to you. That’s one of the beauties of an organic mattress – you know exactly what is going into it. There’s no guesswork about what something is made of or where it comes from. Wool comes from sheep, flax and cotton come from plants, and latex is made from rubber tree sap. When you don’t need a science degree to know what you’re sleeping on, you can rest a little easier.

No Chemicals

Our daily exposure to various chemicals, whether in the air or in materials we come in contact with, has been of rising concern lately. We’ve been gaining a better understanding of the negative long-term side effects of such exposure. And since most people spend an average of 6-8 hours a night in their beds, if your mattress is treated with chemicals, that’s 1,095-1,460 hours a year you could be making contact with chemically-treated materials.

Now, it’s important to know that most materials used in traditional mattresses are treated with chemicals for your own safety. Federal guidelines put in place in 2007 require mattresses to be able to withstand 30 minutes of exposure to an open flame. These guidelines were issued to protect sleepers in case of a house fire, especially in the event of people falling asleep with lit cigarettes or candles. Many mattress manufacturers found that the easiest way to make their mattresses fire-retardant was to use chemically-treated materials.

However, many organic materials, like our organic New Zealand wool, are naturally fire-resistant. This means that you can sleep without fear of chemical exposure or fire. 

Hypo-Allergenic

Anyone who suffers from allergies knows the havoc they can cause to your sleep. Stuffed up sinuses, itching, watery eyes; it’s a miserable experience, especially if it’s due to your mattress. That’s why one of the most subtle but valuable benefits of an organic mattress is that they are hypo-allergenic.

This isn’t just because the organic materials haven’t been treated with chemicals, though that also helps. But materials like wool, horsehair, and organic flax create inhospitable environments for common allergens like mildew, bacteria, and dust mites. You won’t have to deal with the discomfort your allergies can cause and get a much more restful sleep.

Environmentally Friendly

A good, high-quality mattress typically lasts you for about a decade before it needs to be replaced. However, many mattresses made with synthetic materials get tossed into landfills and can take up to 120 years to biodegrade. What’s more, mattresses take up a lot of space in these landfills. This means that the more mattresses sit in a landfill, taking up space for over a century, the more landfills we’ll need to contain them all.

While some states like Massachusetts have been working hard to recycle the material of used mattresses, it’s just as beneficial to the environment for a mattress to use organic materials that will decompose much more quickly. Cotton, wool, and horsehair all take a mere fraction of the time it takes synthetic materials to biodegrade. This way there are fewer large mattresses taking up space in landfills.

Natural Temperature Control

Hot sleepers have it rough. It’s miserable waking up in a pool of your own sweat. It’s even worse during the sweltering heat of the summer. As studies show that up to 40% of people experience night sweats, temperature control is vital to keep in mind when shopping for a mattress.

Organic materials are great for that. Contrary to what you might think, you don’t always need synthetic cooling gel mattresses to keep you from getting too hot and sweaty while you sleep. Talalay latex, wool, cotton, and horsehair are all breathable materials. They wick moisture away from the body as you sleep, so your mattress won’t get soggy from sweat. With a layer or two of these organic materials in your mattress, you won’t have to worry about overheating as you sleep.

Supportive Materials

Now, while all of this talk about hypo-allergenic, biodegradable materials is great, the most important aspect of a mattress is whether or not it gives your body the support it needs. Thankfully, you don’t lose comfort or support when you go organic, no matter what position you sleep in.

With mattresses from our Natural Sleep Collection, you’ll get a variety of support levels, from firm to medium-soft. This means that if you need a soft mattress, you’ve got the Organic Harmony mattress, which features several inches of Talalay latex wrapped in cotton and wool for the softest sleep. On the opposite end of the scale, the Organic Classic mattress is nice and firm with cotton batting, coil springs, and densified insulator pads to offer great back support.

Affordable

While a high-quality organic mattress can be a bit more expensive than a traditional mattress, it’s still more affordable than you think. That’s because a well-made organic mattress can last over a decade, so it’s an investment more than a standard purchase. A mattress that might cost more upfront will be saving you money over ten years than a cheap mattress that has to be replaced every other year.

On top of that, organic mattresses like ours are made from sustainably-sourced materials. It’s important that the farmers and laborers that provide these materials are paid fairly. The cost of organic materials goes to keeping ethical, sustainable farms in business. This is better for the planet and the human race as a whole.

It’s important to know the benefits of an organic mattress when shopping. This way you can be aware of what’s out there and pick what suits you best. You could be getting the best sleep of your life on an organic mattress. So come down to one of our showrooms to learn more and test out the mattresses for yourself.