« Green Toys? Find out what can be made with recycled plastic | GreenJoyment | Cooking Clean and Green: Pots and pans healthier for you and the environment »

Is Your Mattress "Just Right?"

Posted by Lisa Carey

Is your mattress made from natural, healthy materials or are you sleeping in a toxic wasteland?

In the fairy tale the Princess and the Pea, the princess proved her worthiness by detecting the small bump made by a pea under a large pile of mattresses. What's in your mattress? Sure some like soft mattresses some prefer firm mattresses and some are more comfortable with a mattress that as Goldilocks says, is "just right." But have you given any thought to the materials that your mattress is made of? You spend many hours each night on your mattress. You're not only catching some zzz's but also breathing in all of the materials around you. Is your mattress made from natural, healthy materials or are you sleeping in a toxic wasteland?

What's in a traditional mattress? If you're in the market for buying a new mattress, you should be aware of the toxins that are in traditional mattresses including pesticides, polyurethane, chemical flame retardants and polyester that is petroleum based. If those chemicals don't cause enough nightmares then once you get home a traditional mattress can become laden with dust-mites, mildew and mold.

Are there green mattress options?

Yes and the list of green mattress options is growing. Green mattresses are often going to be biodegradable or recyclable. Healthier and eco-friendly mattresses can be made from:

-100% natural rubber tree
-Certified organic cotton
-Wool from chemically free and cruelty free sheep farms
-Sustainable wood frames
-Soy enhanced foam bases
-Natural latex made from the milk sap of rubber trees

Maybe there really is something to counting sheep. Wool is good for your sleep.

Pure wool from a cruelty free and chemically free farm can be an important component of a green mattress. Organic wool is not only eco-friendly but is known for healing benefits as well.

Wool has been known to offer benefits for:
-Back pain
-Arthritis pain
-Regulating body temperature
-Lowering heart rate during sleep

What's even better is that wool is naturally mildew resistant, fire resistant and hypoallergenic.

Celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Sandra Bullock, Matt Damon and Mathew McConaughey have all shared the pillow talk that they sleep on green eco-friendly mattresses.

Especially for Babies and Toddlers:

You don't have to give in to chemicals or give up options for safety and durability either. There are green crib mattress and green toddler mattress options that offer non-chemical flame retardant and chemical free waterproofing as well.

Tips for Buying a Green Mattress:

If you're researching online, ask for a list of nearby showrooms where you test out a green mattress. Many green mattress companies will also send swatches of mattress materials if you ask.

Keep in mind that the closer to home your mattress s made, the lower the greenhouse gas emissions to get it home to you. Check out green mattress options that are made in the U.S.A. and Canada.

Like any other mattress, check out what kind of return policy or comfort change program will come with your mattress. Many will offer a 30-day return or 90 day exchange option.

Once you have your healthier, eco-friendly mattress, you'll want to dress it up with green bed linen options.