Bedding & Mattresses

Transforming the bedroom into a healthy, nontoxic haven is one of the most important steps to take to improve overall health and well-being and to boost the immune system. For the healthy person, a “non-toxic” bedroom free of pollutants is a preventative measure, but for those who suffer from multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, allergies, asthma, frequent colds or flu, or any other chronic illness, it is of paramount importance. This is because in today’s world, we are exposed to many chemical and electromagnetic assaults during the day while we are at school, at work, out shopping, etc. A healthy bedroom gives the body a chance to rest, recover, and repair from these unavoidable exposures.

The Bed

A healthy bedroom starts with a healthy bed, which is the most important piece of furniture in the home. Where we sleep is where the body does its repair work and rejuvenation. The bed should be free of chemicals and metal so that the immune and nervous systems are not stressed. After all, we spend nearly a third of our lives atop our mattresses!

Conventional mattresses are treated with chemicals, many of which have been banned in Europe because of their negative impact on health. Over time, the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the chemical treatments outgas and diminish, but the flame-retardants found in bedding & mattresses are SVOCs (semi-volatile organic compounds) that are odorless and ride on dust. These seemingly non-existent SVOCs continue to emanate from the mattress for the life of the bed and continue to contaminate the dust in the bedroom. The body must detoxify these chemicals during the night when the immune system should be resting and repairing. If the person has chronic illness or genetic damage from prior chemical exposure, the body simply does not have the physical equipment (detoxification system) or energy to neutralize and metabolize these chemicals. The person is literally poisoned when they are exposed and this can result in anything from minor temporary discomfort to complete disability from degenerative conditions. The majority of people do not understand this because their immune systems are able to more efficiently metabolize and excrete hazardous chemicals. They have no frame of reference for this phenomenon. Yet, we now know that even healthy people do not have a detoxification system that is efficient enough to clear the formidable chemical load we are faced with each day. See the article "The Pollution Within" from the October 2006 issue of National Geographic.

Conventional mattresses contain metal both in the mattress as well as in the box spring. The metals in the springs and coils attract and radiate electromagnetic frequencies that can stress the immune and nervous system. In addition, the metal coils in the mattress are often magnetized and these distortions also cause the body stress. This is a subtle type of direct current (DC) electromagnetic field. A metal free bed is recommended.

The Bedding & Mattresses

Even if you are not quite ready to invest in a new mattress, purchasing pillows, sheets, blankets, and comforters made with certified organic materials will make a big difference in your sleeping environment and as a result will improve your quality of sleep. Sheets and blankets made from certified organic cotton eliminate the need for dyes and the many chemicals used in commercially grown cotton. In the meantime, any 100% cotton sheets that you already have can be cleaned with a washing procedure described in “Detoxifying Clothes and Bedding & Mattresses.” The untreated, organic sheets also need to be washed and decontaminated as some contain sizing.

Choosing a non-toxic cleaning product for your Bedding & Mattresses is an important step in creating a safe night’s sleep. Unfortunately, the typical laundry detergent contains petroleum distillates, phenols, artificial fragrances and phosphates, all toxic ingredients that our body is forced to break down, neutralize and detoxify throughout the night. And, although they soften our sheets and give off sweet, familiar scents, dryer sheets and fabric softeners are some of the most toxic products available, containing ingredients such as benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, ethanol, limonene, a-terpineol, ethyl acetate and chloroform. These chemicals have been linked to damage of the brain and central nervous system and could even cause cancer. We highly recommend switching to a non-toxic cleaning product such as KD-Gold. See Learn: Laundry Care and “Detoxifying Clothes and Bedding & Mattresses.”

Additional Resources:

Chem-Tox – Stories from people who became ill from their new mattresses

“Rest Easy on a Safe and Healthy Bed” – Article from the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC)

There are several options to investigate for safe Bedding & Mattresses. Organic Bedding & Mattresses can include cotton futons, natural organic cotton mattresses, natural organic latex beds and more. See “Safe Bedding Options.”

OMI

Organic mattress companies are beginning to proliferate the market, yet OMI stands above the rest because unlike most organic mattress manufacturers, it is committed to maintaining a completely chemical-free, smoke-free, fragrance-free and cruelty-free environment. OMI is one of the only Bedding & Mattresses companies that has what is termed “a dedicated factory” which means that there are no other products made in the facility that might have chemicals that could possibly contaminate the Bedding & Mattresses. Their employees don’t smoke, wear fragrances or use fabric softeners on their clothing. While some may question the necessity of such high regulations, it should be noted that the chemicals contained in many fragrances can become engrained in the product’s fibers, taking away from the integrity of a pure sleeping environment.

See “Safe Bedding Options” for a list of pillow, sheets and bedspread vendors.

Branch Basics

This is a great, non-toxic product for washing your sheets. It can be used in HD washers that require low-sudsing soaps. Because it’s not a strong detergent, Branch Basics extends the longevity of the fabric. It’s also very effective for stains.

Branch Basics is a unique, proprietary blend of plant-derived ingredients that are all natural, fragrance free, non-combustible, non-hazardous, non-fuming, non-toxic, and biodegradable.

Our criterion for any material or product is always based on the canary principle, which gives us a benchmark for safe materials. If the canary (the chemically sensitive) can tolerate or use the product or material without harm or reaction, then everyone else does fine, but if the canary gets sick or dies, then further evaluation is necessary and everyone is potentially vulnerable. See “Canaries in the Mine.”

Three Branches recommends a mattress that uses wool as a flame retarding layer instead of toxic flame retardants and has no chemical treatments. Organic wool, organic cotton and 100% natural latex are healthy Bedding & Mattresses alternatives. We understand, however, that for many people, this is not possible. As an alternative, or in the meantime, see “Conventional Mattress: Containing Flame Retardants and Chemicals.”

But, whether you purchase a conventional or organic mattress, there is a period of time that the new materials should be out-gassed, if possible. Placing the mattress, frame, etc. in the sun is the best option and will help to release the “new material” odor. If that is not an option, and you have a conventional bed see “Conventional Mattress: Containing Flame Retardants and Chemicals.” If you have an organic bed, but are very chemically sensitive, then see “Organic Mattress: Containing Natural Odors (for the chemically sensitive).”

With respect to organic Bedding & Mattresses, there are a plethora of options on the market. Bed Bath & Beyond carries Simply Organic and Target even has its own line of healthy bedding. Please see “Safe Bedding Options” for a more complete list of vendors. Instructions for how chemically sensitive individuals should go about ordering a bed and bedding materials are included throughout the article.