When buying a mattress, whether for your personal use or a member of the family, it is vital to choose one that is made out of non-toxic materials. Many people assume that as long as it is organic then it is, but this isn’t the case.
The mattress might be organic, but it might contain fillings that have toxic materials. These materials can cause side effects including coughing, arrhythmias, irritation and dizziness among others. Choosing a non-toxic mattress is a process that needs to be handled carefully.
- Check the Material within the Mattress
Some materials have more chemicals compared to others. For instance, memory foam contains chemicals that let off harmful gas, which can affect your health. This gas is released throughout the life of the mattress, and the more you get exposed to the gas the worse it becomes.
The right mattress is made of natural material that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. The material doesn’t produce any gas, which is better for your health. So, before you buy any mattress, research on its materials to make sure the layers contain the least amount of chemicals. For the research purposes, you can check out the non-toxic and eco-conscious mattresses at mattresspicks.com
- Know Where the Mattress Was Made
The origin of the mattress can determine whether it contains toxic chemicals or not. This is because different countries have varying manufacturing laws. For instance, those mattresses from the US contain fewer harmful chemicals. US law requires all mattresses to undergo flammability testing to prevent a mattress that can catch fire easily from getting into the market.
The laws also prohibit the use of toxic additives such as formaldehyde, pentaBDE, and chlorofluorocarbons. Additionally, the country has banned a set of harmful phthalates (DBP, DEHP and BBP) have been banned for use in children mattresses.
Go for a mattress that uses cotton filling. Cotton is breathable and makes for a firm mattress, but be sure the cotton used as filing is 100 organic. Remember that cotton is grown using a lot of pesticides and the chemical residues remain in the cotton.
Natural latex can be safe as well, though this depends on how the latex has been manufactured. Stay away from latex if you are buying a mattress for your child because it can be allergenic.
Natural wool is also an ideal material to use as filling. Wool is usually used for mattresses that are meant to be fire retardant. If you find a manufacturer that uses wool as filling, then make sure the fillings have not been treated with chemicals to make them more fire resistant.
- Check the Linen
After confirming that the content of the mattress is non-toxic, you also need to check on the linens as well. Bed linen can also be coated with harmful materials, and some manufacturers use chemicals, even formaldehyde that keeps them unwrinkled and shiny.
So, stay away from that “wrinkle-free” linen, because it contains polyester or has been coated with resin. Additionally, don’t go for linen that has super-high thread counts since the threads might be strengthened with chemicals.
Instead, go for linen that has lower thread count made of bamboo, wool or cotton that are all-natural. Research the brand and make sure the linen is also all-natural so that you limit the exposure to chemicals.
- Read Reviews
The good thing about buying a mattress these days is that you can read about the experiences of previous buyers of the same mattress. Many of the buyers will have gone for the mattress due to its features, among them the non-toxic nature. For this case, they will leave a lot of reviews behind regarding their experience with the mattress.
Read these reviews and make sure that you are keen on the non-toxic part. If the users complain about any allergic reaction, then opt for another mattress.
- Work With a Known Brand
Buying from a top brand gives you the benefit of doubt knowing that the seller is out to maintain a name in the market. Buying from a less known brand puts you at risk of buying low quality mattresses.
These few steps help you choose the right non-toxic mattress for your individual use or a family member. Take time to understand the material used for the filling, the linen as well as the origin of the mattress.