The most powerful place a consumer can go “green,” is in the bedroom where we spend much of our time relaxing and sleeping. Consider the mattress you sleep on and the bedding you use to cover yourself up with at night. When we sleep, we breathe in and out deeply and this can make us vulnerable to the toxins and chemicals in our bedding and mattress. Particularly infants and small children, the lungs are vulnerable and still developing, which is why it is so highly important to use the safest bedding and mattresses available.
Our bodies come into direct contact with our mattress, for hours at a time and we can possibly absorb toxic chemicals while sleeping. A mattress made of natural fibers and cotton helps “green” our bedroom and makes for safe sleeping. A natural mattress surface helps prevent allergies and gives natural support to the spine and body contour which makes for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

What we use to cover our mattress with is also another component of “greening” the bedroom. The covering of a mattress should be made of organic cotton and wool, in order to pass the new flame retardant standards and to prevent you from coming into contact with toxic gasses released from some of the older synthetic covers. A cotton mattress pad also offers superior qualities of wool which transports moisture and helps regulate body temperature, helps distribute body weight and relieves pressure points and it is also resistant to mold, dust mites and bacteria.

Chemical free bedding is the next step to take when “greening” your bedroom and now it is easy to find 100% organic cotton labeled sheets and comforters. Wrinkle and stain free sheets are not a good choice because they are often treated with chemicals that can include formaldehyde and other toxings. Looking for bedding materials made without bleaching and organic cotton is not only better for the environment, but also health as well.

There is no plausible reason as to why someone must allow questionable chemicals to come into contact with skin, or be used in bedding, sheets or mattresses. Because our bodies are like big sponges, the chemicals given off by synthetic bedding can be toxic and dangerous and the cumulative effects on the health are unpredictable. When “greening” the bedroom you should make sure you are safe and not breathing in any dangerous chemicals while sleeping, for both your health and that of your family, it is important to find comfortable, all natural, organic bedding and mattress materials.

I have heard that a person only really needs about six hours of sleep. I seem to do well with that will it hurt me if I get less?

Answer:

Every thing that I have researched and the physicians that I have spoke with over the years all seem to agree that most people need about 7-8 hours a night. The interesting thing is and perhaps you are living proof of that some people perform quite well with less than that. Each person differs. There are people that may need as much as 10 hours of sleep a night while others may be able to get away with much less like yourself. A common theme seems to be that if you have to sleep longer on the weekends than you do during the week, chances are you probably aren’t getting an adequate amount of sleep you need each night.

Babies’ ages 1-4 months old usually require 14 ½ – 15 ½ hours per day and small children 1-3 years old usually require 12 – 14 hours per day according to Medicine.net. Me personally I have to have about eight hours.

I can remember as a young adult who went out with friends and stayed out late that I usually never got very tired. I would go to bed sometimes 2:00 am or later and get up the next morning at 8:00 am or 9:00 am and start it all over. I can also remember having a lot more colds then. My dad used to say to me that if I didn’t get some rest and avoid those smoky bars and clubs that I was never going to knock that cold. When I was a kid up through my teenage years I can remember my mom calling me a bear. She would always say, “I can always tell when you haven’t had enough sleep.” I must confess personally I most definitely think there is some truth to the average person needing eight hours of sleep. Just ask my parents and now my wife.

If you don’t sleep well I would suggest talking with your physician they can assist you if a lack of sleep is due to health related issues. If comfort or support is a problem consider a new mattress. Otherwise sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite.

If furniture in the bedroom is made of pressed wood or particle board, it should be sealed or it could off gas harmful chemicals like formaldehyde into the air. Formaldehyde has been outlawed in California in various wood applications that are used in the production of bedroom furntiure. It is a toxic chemical which is classed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a carcinogen; it can cause asthma, breathing problems, skin rashes, allergies and watery eyes. If new furniture is out of the question, it is important to either seal it up or place the furniture in a well-ventilated area to avoid the fumes becoming concentrated and dangerous.

Another issue to give consideration when “greening” your bedroom is the paint on the walls. Paint can be made of toxic chemicals and if the walls gave off a strong smell when painted, it is a good indication of how chemically concentrated it is. Using low odor non-toxic paint with low or zero VOC’s (volitile organic compounds) is much better because some of the fumes which can be released can include benzene, kerosene, ammonia, xylene, toluene and formaldehyde. In order to decrease air pollution in the bedroom, a person should include plenty of indoor plants into the décor, which can decrease the toxins in the air by as much as 85% within a one day period of time.

Mattresses and bed linens are another important component of “greening” your bedroom and if you are using synthetics, now is the perfect time to switch to organic cottons and other natural materials. When a mattress is composed of polyurethane foam and other chemicals, it can release a bunch of risky toxins into the air and make sleeping unhealthy and very uncomfortable. Incorporating organic materials and natural linens for bedding is less likely to cause a person to suffer from allergies and decreases the chances of bed bugs making a home in the mattress.

The final area someone needs to consider when “greening” a bedroom, is the lighting being used. Lighting sets the mood of a bedroom and can provide a relaxing ambiance, but it needs to be used cautiously and wisely. Natural lighting is always best, but if you have not already, now is the time to switch to a dimmer switch. By placing mirrors in places that receive the most light, it is possible to cut down on the use of artificial lighting in the bedroom. In the winter, using heavy backed curtains helps keep the room warm and in the summer, it keeps heat out.

A person’s bedroom should be like a home away from home and provide relaxation and be a place to get away from it all. By “greening” your bedroom effectively, you not only improve the way you sleep at night and improve health, but are also doing your part to protect the precious environment in which we live. Enjoy and put personal touches on your new and improved “green” bedroom and make it all you have dreamed about.

Mold, mildew, and bacteria are the primary biological pollutants produced in the home and your mattress can be a haven for all of them. Mold our subject for today can cause wide ranging health issues ranging from simple allergy symptoms to more severe respiratory issues. It can cause sickness and in extreme cases serious symptoms that could even lead to death if not treated. Mold can start to reproduce in and on a mattress and the best treatment for it is to prevent it in the first place because it is extremely hard to clean up if not nearly impossible.

So what causes mattress mold?

Through out the course of a night the body temperature rises and the human body perspires in order to cool it back down. During this process the body gets rid of a great deal of water. Water is not just absorbed by our bed clothes, sheets, and mattress pad which act as the mattress’s first line of defense. Ultimately if moisture gets beyond these defenses the mattress acts like a sponge and absorbs the moisture. This is why we recommend breathable absorbent fabrics for your bedding. Think of your mattress as a giant warm and moist Petri dish for mold which doesn’t just grow on the surface but in fact grows down deep and hidden within the foam and padding layers.

If you are noticing it on the surface it is highly likely it was growing in your mattress long before you noticed since the mattress surface is the least likely spot for growth because it dries the fastest. This is what makes mattresses so tough to clean.

Cleaning your moldy mattress yourself?

• Vacuum the mattress with a very good HEPA Vacuum Cleaner can trap loose mold spores from a mattress and can be spread through the air.

• Allowing your mattress to sun bathe is a great way to kill surface mold but will do little if anything to get the deep down growth within the mattress.

• Try to brush away the surface mold and mildew with a brush this should loosen surface mold

• Mix with three-parts water to one part bleach in an empty clean spray bottle

• Spritz the mixture onto the mattress in the affected area which must be saturated

• Continued to let the mattress sun bathe in the sunshine until completely dry both on the surface and within.

Prevention of Mold and Mildew starts with a Resistant Mattress

that includes all natural latex and wool which are both natural resistant materials. These products help solve a mold problem in addition to breathable bed linens and clothing. Dehumidifier can help prevent mold and mildew growth if levels are maintained at about 50 percent relative humidity or lower.

Disclaimer: Talk with the mattress manufacturer before applying any solution to the mattress or attempting to clean otherwise you may damage your mattress & void the warranty. Speak with your doctor about any possible affects that may result from adding various cleaning solutions to your mattress.

It is our recommendation to either dispose of a moldy mattress or have it professionally cleaned.

What are common problems as a result of dust mites?

Irritation of nerves from dust mites can happen within our airways and nasal passages resulting in runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. These reactions cause air to be expelled powerfully from the nose or trachea. It is in this manner, (dust mites / their waste) irritants trapped in the mucus, which coats the respiratory tract and is then expelled and moved into the mouth where it is then swallowed.

The more serious reactions that are known develop is sinus infections (sinusitis). People with dust mite allergies and asthma often have difficult time controlling their symptoms. Most people will blame their problems on simple hay fever, mold, or just plain old dust never suspecting the real culprit.

Dust mite

The mites’ favorite food is dead human skin like high humidity and temperatures over 70 degrees. Our skin cells shed and fall from our bodies accumulating in our mattresses. The dead skin cells then become attached to various bedding components such as cotton, fibers, foams, and of course all natural latex. They can eat enough skin cells to double the weight of a mattress in ten or more years from their fecal matter, the source of most allergic reactions. In the case of latex these little critters are picky when it comes to their diet and frankly don’t like the taste of latex.

Are dust mites dangerous?

Dust mites aren’t dangerous in the way people think like biting, spreading illness or disease. The main damaging effect can be significant though for some individuals in the form of allergic response.

What can I do to get rid of dust mites?

Regular washing of bed linens such as sheets, mattress pads, and regular vacuuming of the mattress helps, but the mites still exist on the surface and deep down in the bed. A good barrier type mattress cover or pillow protector that is dust mite resistant is recommended. They are particularly helpful if used from day one with a new mattress and pillow. Getting rid of them is virtually impossible. Vacuuming only cleans the surface of a mattress and they can go deep into the open cell structure of a mattress.

Enter our hero the all-natural latex rubber mattress. It is hypoallergenic mold and fungus resistant and dust mites do not like it. They find it harder to penetrate and build their homes in this being said, regular mattress maintenance; examples vacuuming and changing sheets and bedding regularly.

When thinking about second hand mattresses you really may want to think again before accepting one. Look back to the day parents and grandparents often would hand down their old mattress to their children or grandchildren and ask yourself is this really a good idea?

Today there are even more resources to locate used mattresses through community type websites like Craigs List, Backpage and Freecycle. Landfills don’t want them, buyers of new mattresses don’t want them, and most people in general don’t want them yet people knowingly or unknowingly are taking the risk.
One reason may be our checking account which can benefit the most from sleeping on a used mattress not to mention landfills won’t complain considering today’s environmental concerns of composting issues, and lack of space. One big advantage for persons buying a used mattress is that they should have weathered the storm from potentially harmful VOC’s often found in new mattresses because they have had years to off gas. This seems to make a pretty solid case for why a person might want to buy a used mattress but as we look deeper into this subject we find another side to this story.

Used mattresses dangers and concerns:

Concerns of dust mites for mattresses are a potential danger just like the well publicized old stuffed animals for kids.  Mattresses are different from a child’s stuffed animal which can be tossed in a dryer or place in a freezer for a couple days to kill dust mites. In addition to dustmites old mattresses can and usually are full of mold or mildew an obvious health hazard. After looking at a mattress under the microscope we think you would gracefully say no thank you to the free or cheap mattresses which can be so easily obtained.

Other more obvious signs are worn and stained surface materials which also can severely affect allergies and breathing. Mattress odor is another more obvious sign that can be a combination of many things. Perspiration, body oils, blood, urine, saliva can be absorbed in to what is essentially a giant sponge making old mattress a haven for germs and bacteria. In addition in mere 10 yrs. it can have absorbed 3000 liters of perspiration which is saturated salts.

Used mattresses have been responsible for allergies, sickness, and even deaths and should not be considered safe. Used mattresses are not allowed to be sold in most states without proper sanitization and the required law tagging. Mattress sagging is a dead giveaway of a mattress lacking proper support while less obvious wear stems from fatigued steel, foams, and padding which are underneath of what otherwise looks to be a very clean, unstained unworn mattress.

A healthy recommendation is a new mattress or one that has been properly sanitized and marked as such with a required law label. Please only accept a hand-me-down mattress from someone you know or trust and even then we are not recommending accepting such a mattress. Don’t ever buy a mattress from online sources mentioned above including yard sales and thrift stores.

Mattresses built before July 1 2007 do not meet the new standards put in place by the Consumer Products Safety Commission possible putting you or your child at risk in the case of fire.

 
So who’s the expert and what do I need to know in order to buy the correct mattress?

 
The truth is I am not a doctor. I have had considerable experience over the last 24 years working with people of many different shapes, weights. Often people have complex sleeping and physical health related issues that somehow they believe I can help them correct with a mattress.  Sometimes I can help them find comfort or possibly even some level of relief; however I do believe that shoppers need to recognize that a mattress cannot repair a bad back. Doctors and chiropractors are the people who specialize in such repairs and we need to look to them when it comes to fixing back problems and sleep issues. Unfortunately most know little or nothing about mattresses, all the various kinds, and how each of these uniquely constructed beds work.

 
So can a memory foam mattress help your back if I have?

Arthritis
Muscular Pain
Joint Pain
Degenerative or some other disc issues
Etc.
 
If you have problems like these it is very likely memory foam can aid and comfort the issue while on the other hand it may aggravate other issues. Most memory foam mattresses are excellent beds where a person can find pressure relief in areas like painful joints and muscles. There are cases where a problem can arise while trying to roll over or getting out of the mattress. This problem is similar to that of old waterbeds. The pressure relief from these mattresses has the ability to reduce tossing and turning, but the repositioning that goes along with from turning over or getting out of bed can be a deal breaker for some individuals. The good news is that foams are now being designed that are quicker responding which have been able to alleviate such issues, so it is important to visit lots of stores and take all the time you need while test resting.

Customer feedback on memory foam mattresses

 
Consumer Reports polled their readers in their October 2009 issue asking people who owned specialty mattresses like memory foam if they would buy them again and most said yes. Tempur Pedic the world leader in memory foam is now the 4th biggest seller of mattresses in the industry knocking out Spring Air from their former position. I might also add that personally I have recommended memory foam mattresses to a good number of my family members, friends, and customers for many years now with a lot of positive feedback over the last 10 plus years.
 
 
The truth is all mattresses are built in a nonspecific fashion meaning that they are built for the masses. They are marketed to a broad range of consumers varying in height, body weight, and shape. Whether or not it would be bad for your back is a hard thing to say, which is why many physicians rarely recommend mattresses. They know the chances are slim to none that the mattress could actually fix a problem. In addition most would agree that as long as the memory foam bed has good support and is comfortable there is really no reason a person couldn’t sleep on one.
Take your time and test rest mattresses till you find the one that feels and supports “you” the best.

 
Here are some simple basic tips to get your waterbed mattress to last longer.

 
Install a new clean safety liner. If this guy is broke down, dirty, split in the corners you’ve got Problems waiting to happen. Dirt, exposed wood framing, or hardware can play havoc on a mattress.  This is one of the biggest reasons for mattress failures and it’s curable with a few minutes of cleaning time or 25.00 or so dollars for a new one. This little tip will make your mattress last longer and in most cases much longer. We have commonly seen waterbed mattresses going bad in 3 to 5 years that ignore this little must do.

More great waterbed care tips.

Try investing in a good mattress pad or protector.  Clean it frequently. This keeps body oils, dirt and grime off your bed. Try using a nice quality 100% cotton, polyester, or blend mattress pad. It absorbs body oils and perspiration much better. Dirt and body oils will harden a vinyl mattress causing it to become brittle and crack. As your mattress gets older it losses the plasticizers which make it soft and pliable just like your vinyl car seats. Dirt and grime speeds up the wearing process. Most warranties require use of a good mattress pad.

Here is a simple tip clean your mattress at least several times a year.
If you have nothing else, warm water and a soft rag will do. DO NOT bleach the inside or outside your mattress. It can damage the mattress and void any warranty you have. Instead use a water bed vinyl cleaner or even Armor All. Anything that says it softens and rejuvenates vinyl.

You really don’t want to forget these maintenence tips

  
Don’t forget to add waterbed conditioner to the inside of your mattress. This will help you condition the vinyl and help keep it from going sour and stinking. You don’t want that to happen. The odor will penetrate the vinyl and it will smell like soured laundry or a locker room. Always read directions on the bottle of the conditioner. It will tell you how long it is good for. Bottle size is not a guide.

Here is a  waterbed filling tip most people don’t know about. If you are using an old garden hose with water in it, be sure to flush it out for a minute or so before attaching it to your waterbed. This should flush any bacteria from the hose making the mattress less likely to sour.

These simple hints should help your waterbed mattress last much longer and oh yeah don’t  do like I had one customer do and throw  your brand new mattress in to the car trunk  from hell out of box. I can pretty much assure you that you will be messing with a first day leaker.

• First look at the law label or tag that (DO NOT REMOVE UNDER PENALTY OF LAW) everyone makes fun of to see what the original mattress manufacturing date was. This will tell you exactly how old the mattress set is.
• Ask the retailer if the mattress includes the full manufacturers warranty. If it does not you can expect a very deep discount. If it includes a partial or a full warranty the mattress is worth more and dealer will add this extra value to the final cost that you pay, however this should still be a substantial discount from the mattresses’ original price.
• Mattress and Furniture stores are typically very low volume, low foot traffic businesses unlike grocery stores, department stores, or discount stores. This is a good thing for bargain shoppers, when you consider less foot traffic = less wear and tear on demonstration floor model mattresses.
• Retail stores that show mattress and boxsprings and other types of mattresses like memory foam, all natural latex, waterbeds etc. usually have a display area of beds showing anywhere from 30 to 80 mattress sets. You may want to consider that each one does not get test rested every time someone shops the store therefore resulting in less mattress wear for demos.
• Most mattress models particularly in brand names like Sealy, Serta, Simmons, and Spring Air have annual model changes. Because of this fact most floor model mattresses are over a year old. Another thing to consider is that if a mattress retailer runs out of stock on a particular model, they may have sold off the floor model quickly since they were out of stock on new ones to save a sale. Retailers often get weekly mattress shipments and could simply replace it later in the week when the replacement stock came back in.
• Salesmen often have a hard time getting customers to test rest mattresses for the industry recommended test rest of 15 minutes. It’s hard to believe but some customers buy them without even trying them, while the majority of shoppers spend approx. 1-5 minutes trying a mattress before they buy one. The point of this is, that the average demo model hardly has any wear on it.
• Finally you may want to consider this one last thought: discounted floor models get very little use and are often worth the money, but if you still have reservations concerning the legitimacy of a floor model deal, then don’t buy it and walk away. If your gut is telling you no or you are not sure if you can trust the retailer consider talking with friends, family members, or coworkers who may have already bought there. If that is not possible you can also contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Their past customer service history could be an indicator of whether or not you would consider buying a floor model mattress from a company.

Land and Sky has been manufacturing natural sleep products over the last 35 years. They have led the way by pioneering the specialty sleep industry. The selection Land and Sky offers of all natural, and organic sleep products have been put together with earth-friendly sustainable resources. Renewable and sustainable natural resources like, untreated lumber, latex rubber, organic cotton, and organic wool.  For example, their all natural latex mattress cores  are formed from the oil of rubber trees using a natural extraction procedure. In this way the oil is collected leaving the leaves, pardon the pun of the tree and the sap safe & sound and unharmed in their natural environment.

Within the cover we use a soft layer of 100% virgin certified organic wool. The organic wool has been scoured and washed in order to remove the natural burrs and excess oil from the fibers. The wool is long lasting, won’t mat, and makes a superb natural fiber insulator, keeping your body cool in the summer months and warmer when it’s cold. The pure natural wool also has a nice feature. It has the benefit to wick and keep moisture from building up between the body and underlying material. Our natural covers are then finished with 100% organic cotton ticking and then meticulously inspected. There are no harmful chemicals used in the mattresses creation process. With these Land and Sky organic beds, you can rest assured knowing that your family is sleeping on the finest materials that earth and nature can provide.

This naturally elastic, 100%- all natural latex mattress, which molds to your body’s shape and cradles it with effortless support. Naturally conforming and gentle to the weight and curves of your body, your new mattress will provide an environment blissfully free of the pressure points. Painful pressure points are the primary cause off tossing and turning. Natural Latex Rubber provides comfort and support to help relax sore muscles and helps you to fall asleep faster. You can sleep deeply and soundly only to wake up feeling thoroughly refreshed and energized.

Interested in learning more about chemical free and organic mattresses? Be sure to contact us or call 1-888-STL-BEDS for more information.