Natural latex has become a popular material choice for organic mattresses, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s antibacterial, antifungal, and resistant to dust mites. It’s breathable, comfortable, soft and springy, but still provides the support you need to wake up feeling refreshed and not stiff or in pain. If you buy the right kind of natural latex mattress, you can avoid synthetic chemicals altogether and improve your family’s health in the long term. And, it lasts forever compared to conventional mattresses.
So, will you make your next mattress a latex mattress? Let’s take a closer look at why you might sleep better if you do so.
Latex Mattresses Are Healthier
You spend a third of your life in bed, and that’s really a conservative estimate that doesn’t account for weekend lie-ins or illness. So it’s understandable that you want to be sure your bed is a healthy, safe place to be.
Conventional mattresses often can’t provide that healthy, safe sleeping environment. That’s because they’re made with synthetic materials, like synthetic foams and rubbers, that have been found to off-gas volatile organic compounds (VoCs) into your home. That means that while you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep, or recover from a nasty flu, or stay on bed rest during a difficult pregnancy, you’re breathing in dangerous chemicals that could cause short- and long-term health problems.
The natural latex in latex mattresses is made from all-natural materials — specifically, it’s made from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. So the foam in your new organic latex mattress is made only with natural plant materials, and has no synthetic chemicals to release. When you’re shopping for a latex mattress, look for the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) seal of approval, which signifies that the latex is at least 95 percent organic in origin, and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) seal of approval, which speaks to the sourcing of the cotton and other textiles in the mattress. GOTS recognizes two standards: “made with organic,” which means the textiles are at least 70 percent organic, and “organic” which means that they’re at least 95 percent organic.
Of course, it’s not just the chemicals you have to worry about with a conventional mattress. Conventional mattresses are also more amenable to the proliferation of dust mites, bacteria, and molds and mildew inside the mattress. Natural latex is naturally resistant to dust mites, mold, mildew, and bacteria growth. So, between your natural latex mattress and your mattress protector, you can sleep soundly knowing that you’re not resting in years of accumulating dust mites and bacteria (dead and alive) and their waste products, some of which have been found to trigger allergies in humans.
They’re Comfortable, Supportive, and Breathable
If you’re looking at foam mattresses, you’re probably in the market for a mattress that relieves back and joint pain by providing better support for painful pressure points while you sleep. Latex mattresses are extremely comfortable because they’re springy and soft, but firm enough to provide support for the spine and joints. You’ll sink into the mattress, but still feel supportive, and wake up feeling well-rested and without pain.
Latex mattresses have a reputation for sleeping hot, but that’s often undeserved. For one thing, many so-called latex mattresses on the market are actually made with synthetic latex, which does sleep hotter than natural latex. Natural latex has an open-cell structure that makes it breathable, and additional pin holes are added to the foam during molding to improve the foam’s breathability. Choose a latex mattress with a breathable, organic cotton cover to help regulate your sleeping temperature.
Latex Is the Most Sustainable Mattress Material You Can Buy
When it comes to sustainable mattress materials, latex is the final word. It’s made from tree sap, and the rubber trees need to be carefully stewarded so that rubber farmers can continue to make a living from their product. Harvesting the sap doesn’t kill or harm the trees, but in fact they need to be kept alive and in good health in order to produce. So buying natural, organic latex encourages sustainable farming practices, and the latex itself is an all-natural, chemical free product.
Once you’ve slept a few nights on your new latex mattress, you’ll wonder how you ever managed with your old, conventional inner-spring bed. Latex mattresses are healthy, sustainable, comfortable, and supportive — they’re the perfect choice for your bedroom.
