Organic Mattress Benefits

You've switched to "green" household cleaners. You recycle. You buy organic foods. Now it's time for an organic mattress. Buying an organic mattress is an investment in your health and the environment. There are several kinds of mattresses to choose from that are made from a variety of materials.

Why Go Organic?

Regular mattresses consist mainly of materials made by the petroleum industry (polyester, elastic and polyurethane), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PDBE) flame retardants, glues and dyes. They also may contain pesticide residues. As regular mattresses age, they become more toxic as the flame retardants and pesticide residues bind with household dust.
Organic mattresses, on the other hand, are made from natural rubber, organic cotton and organic wool. They are hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and resistant to dust mites.

Different Kinds of Organic Mattresses

Natural latex rubber mattresses resist mold and mildew, repel dust mites and are chemical free. Organic cotton and wool mattresses wick away body moisture. The natural materials allow the moisture to evaporate during the day, unlike synthetic mattresses. Wool is naturally fire-resistant, so there is no need for chemical retardants.
If the manufacturer says the mattress is organic, this means the materials are grown, processed and manufactured with zero synthetic chemicals. Natural materials are nature-based, but they may not be processed in a 100 percent organic manner. It may contain a small percentage of synthetic materials.
Sustainable materials are renewable, creating less impact on the planet. The materials may or may not be organic.

Drawbacks

Organic mattresses can be quite costly. The most expensive is the latex rubber-wool combination mattress, and the least expensive is the organic cotton mattress. There have been complaints from consumers that organic mattresses have an odd smell that causes headaches. Also, the wool and content pack down, leaving your mattress saggy (though the pricier the mattress, the better it holds up). Boric acid is a natural pesticide used in wool and cotton "compromise" mattresses. It's not needed in a latex mattress because natural latex is bug resistant. The EPA classifies it as moderately acutely toxic because it can cause eye and skin irritation and is harmful if swallowed.

Selection

If you have problems with allergies, choose latex mattresses that are hypoallergenic. If you're concerned about mold or mildew, avoid cotton and choose wool. Natural latex has a "rubbery" smell, and thow with latex allergies should avoid it. Instead, consider a wool and cotton mattress.

Warning

Not all organic mattresses are 100 percent organic. Some are treated with fire retardants, made waterproof with plastics or covered with polyester. Be sure to read the labels carefully. The manufacturer should be able to tell exactly what percentage of the materials are organic or synthetic.