This post started out with my journey to find the best mattress that suited my own extreme sensitivities.
While I landed on wool for myself, there are so many more options now. Still, there is no perfect option for the chemically sensitive.
We will look at my top picks for the best healthy spring mattresses (no latex or polyurethane) with price comparison (2025), all wool mattresses, and other futons, and a few with natural latex.
(The vast majority of this list is latex-free because I’m not a big fan of natural latex).
There is no all-around “best” mattress for those with sensitivities.
Sensitive folks can have a hard time with any of the following main materials used: cotton, wool, hemp, natural latex, and polyurethane. You will have to find out which materials work for you.
The article includes a look at more unusual options for those who don’t do well with any of those main materials, or who just want something simple.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
First, a Quick Backgrounder on the Chemicals in Our Mattresses
Conventional Mattress Materials
Conventional mattresses are usually made of polyurethane foam or, more rarely, synthetic latex which both off-gas VOCs. It’s difficult to find out exactly which chemicals were used in a particular mattress.
The worst offenders in terms of off-gassing VOCs are synthetic memory foams, followed by polyurethane (though almost all polyurethane can meet CertiPUR certification which I discuss here), and then synthetic latex, which usually does not meet any green certifications on its own (and is very rare).
Polyurethane that comes rolled up also takes longer to off-gas than if it’s not rolled up.
Going with a spring mattress does minimize the amount of foam and therefore chemicals in it.
“Soy foam” or bio-foam is still polyurethane with some soy or other natural ingredinets used as the inputs. The end foam is still the same foam.
Flame Retardants Might be Added
Look for mattresses that specify no chemical flame retardants – I list them in this post. Sometimes boric acid is added but not disclosed. Newer flame retardants include Kevlar and silica which. Silica is similar to but distinct from fiberglass (source), but some companies are calling their fiberglass silica.
Natural Latex Can be a Problem
Most “natural” or non-toxic mattresses contain natural latex which I have some concerns about.
First, I have had experiences of it going moldy and many others have sent photos of it moldy, and two, many chemically sensitive folks react to the VOCs and odorants it gives off.
I discuss that in the article as well as the best alternatives.
Chemical Coatings
You also want to avoid mattresses that are stain-resistant, as they contain harmful PFAS. Though as of 2025, PFAS are banned on textiles and furniture in Minnesota so we should start to see the end of PFAS on mattresses.
Some mattresses are also adding an antimicrobial agent which you would generally want to avoid, though there are some natural antimicrobials that might be okay for some people.
1. Foam-Free Mattresses
These options don’t contain latex or polyurethane foam.
I list options without wool for the most sensitive who are often looking to avoid this allergen trigger.
They are also free of flame retardants.
i. Naturepedic
This brand is very well-liked and well-tolerated amongst many of the most sensitive who are avoiding foam.
Naturepedic has a latex-free kid’s version that comes in full size.
In the kid’s mattress section, the 2-in-1 in full size does not contain wool, polyurethane or natural latex. For those who cannot tolerate wool, this is one of the top picks.
This option is firm though!
It’s $999 directly through them.
You can also still find the Chorus mattress which is cotton and wool (no latex or polyurethane) through Amazon and their website, prices fluctuate on Amazon.
It’s $2000 for a queen, directly from them.
ii. Royal-Pedic
Royal-Pedic makes the Natural Cotton line has a version with wool and a version without. The All-Cotton line contains wool.
There is no fiberglass in any of their mattresses.
This is known as a high-end and comfortable option, though like the others in this category, they are firm.
It is around $7,800.
iII. WoolRoom
The WoolRoom offers an all wool and springs mattress with no foam.
They hace options free of foams, latex, synthetics, glues/adhesives, and chemical flame retardants
$2,520 for a queen. You can get 10% off here.
Iv. Parachute
The Eco Mattress is foam-free. It’s made from layers of wool and coils with an organic cotton cover.
A queen is $2,400.
2. Chemical-Free Wool Mattresses
Wool is a natural and healthy choice, as long as you are not allergic to it or sensitive to the lanolin odor of wool.
Many brands that use wool process and wash the wool leaving it with almost no odor. Others use a less processed batting that does have that telltale natural odor.
i. Home of Wool 100% Wool Futon
When I was furnishing my tiny house I was extremely sensitive to toxins. I went with the purest and simplest option I could find, which was a 100% wool mattress.
Home of Wool has an all-wool option, that is (relatively) economical at $2,177 for a queen that is made of OEKO-Tex virgin wool.
There are various customizations you can choose from:
- Either a wool or organic cotton cover
- Either OEKO-Tex or GOTS-certified organic wool for the fill
- Various thicknesses
This type of wool mattress does have a wool smell. It is firm, as it gets compacted with time. If you don’t like firm mattresses I would recommend using a topper with it or using the thicker version.
Buy through Home of Wool.
ii. Savvy Rest Wool Futon (Cotton Cover)
Savvy Rest makes a futon-style organic GOTS cotton-covered organic wool mattress called Pastoral for $2,149 (queen).
Is Wool Chemical-Free?
When looking at wool qualifications you may want to know various factors, depending on your sensitivities, such as the chemicals used to process the wool.
Certified organic wool is becoming more common, GOTS has expanded to cover wool.
If a company claims “all-natural”, “pure”, or “eco-wool”, you will want to take a look at what they mean by that.
Wool doesn’t need to be organic to be free of harmful chemicals.
3. Natural Latex Mattresses
There are plenty of options for natural latex mattresses made in the US and Canada. In fact, when looking for non-toxic beds, it’s difficult to avoid natural latex.
Make sure it is 100% natural latex and has GOLS certification. And test for odors/sensitivities to make sure it is tolerable.
These mattresses range from $800 to $5,000.
Almost all of the green mattress brands offer natural latex, you can even find them at big box stores.
I’ve picked the most affordable “clean” options:
i. The Futon Shop
Some of the most affordable natural latex options are by The Futon Shop.
Many of their latex options are paired with wool. Some are paired only with coconut coir or with hemp and coconut coir. Others include PLA and cotton.
The simple options start at $800 for a queen.
They also make foam free, latex free mattresses.
They no longer use boric acid, which it seemed like some were reacting to in the past.
I’ve heard glowing reviews as well as not good reviews from sensitive folks.
Their prices start at $575. (US only. They don’t ship to Canada).
Buy through The Futon Shop.
ii. Natural latex Slabs
The most economical option is to buy a 3-inch piece of latex.
For under or around $300, you can get 3″ natural latex from Amazon (queen). I find that 3 inches is very comfortable to sleep on.
Amazon sells various thicknesses to choose from and you can double them up.
Buy on Amazon.
iii. IKEA Latex
This non-toxic IKEA mattress is 85% natural latex and 15% synthetic latex with wool wadding.
You will want to check this out in person to make sure the odor of the natural latex and the synthetic latex works for you.
Update: No longer sold at IKEA in the US and Canada this option is only available in Europe.
I have an article that reviews IKEA mattresses in the US.
v. Happsy
Happsy is another great option because they go all the way on healthy materials and they use no glues in the construction at all.
It’s made with 2 inches of GOLS-certified organic latex, organic cotton, organic wool and springs. I’ve heard from numerous sensitive folks who have liked it.
A queen is $1,399 and they often have a discount on the site for 15% off.
Is Natural Latex Mold-Prone?
After one of my pillows became covered in grey mold after sleeping on it with wet hair, I started to look into this. Over the years I have seen many reports like this.
I have seen melting, disintegration, and visible mold on pillows and on mattresses that were on slats in normal humidity, sometimes even when brand new. Including two recent reports of a popular organic latex brand.
There are other cases of this on a forum, private messages from people writing to me, and reports in Facebook groups.
It is not clear if this is a defect (these were all different brands), or whether there is a certain condition that leads to the latex breaking down or going moldy.
I not seen a report of this problem for years now (as of early 2025).
I also did an experiment where I left a natural latex sample outside in a very humid environment for 6 months and it did not go moldy but it did disintegrate a bit (it did not get direct sunlight or direct water).
Does Natural Latex Off-gas?
Folks with MCS vary greatly in their ability to tolerate the natural smell of natural latex rubber and different brands work for different people.
Here is a list of some of the ingredients that can be in natural latex. This lawsuit (though dismissed) also goes through some of the alleged chemicals in natural latex (not just specific to that brand).
Essentia, which makes natural latex-based memory foam claims that the VOC levels of their natural latex is 36 μg /m3. This is around the same levels as outdoor air – but it is not zero VOC or zero off-gassing.
There have been significantly different odors from different brands and even from the same brand over time. So you may want to check out more than one option. However, it certainly has a smell when new.
4. Natural Memory Foam
Most memory foam is made of polyurethane and it’s usually higher in VOCs and odor than your standard polyurethane foam, though they are not all the same. There are a range of chemicals added to produce polyurethane memory foam for different brands.
The only memory foam out there that is natural is Essentia, which is natural latex-based. They no longer call it memory foam, they now call it “Beyond Latex foam” but it feels similar to synthetic memory foam (without the same heat issues).
The VOC levels are extremely low, 36 μg /m3.
This could be considered within “background VOC levels” (though everything adds up). (Here is one study and here is another study to confirm this).
This mattress contains essential oils – grapefruit seed, coneflower, and jasmine. I tested a sample and it has a noticeable scent (though it’s very faint). Though I would not say it is flowery, it is a bit sweet.
You can find them through their website and on Amazon.
Start at $2,699 for a queen on their website.
5. Non-Toxic Polyurethane?
I would consider polyurethane as well.
I personally would consider this material over memory foam (of any type), and usually over natural latex.
In fact, in my experience, and from stores that sell both, more chemically sensitive people tolerate basic polyurethane than natural latex, which is interesting.
It does off-gas a little bit, it needs some time to fully off-gas.
This is the least expensive mattress type, so for some people, this is the only option.
If you don’t want or need a full bed, polyurethane slabs can be useful as simple sleeping solutions. I have used them many times.
White Lotus has a non-petroleum-derived foam that many have done well with. You can also get rolls of polyurethane on Amazon.
i. IKEA
I would consider IKEA polyurethane beds.
They don’t use flame retardants in the foam, and their polyurethane foam is low in off-gassing compared to other brands.
They have simple mattresses that are just a polyurethane slab like the ÅGOTNES for $69. But for a little more you can add springs and reduce the amount of foam even more. These are the simplest options, they have thicker more typical options as well.
Some IKEA mattresses use fiberglass (glass fiber) and some don’t, so be sure to check the description box if you want to avoid fiberglass.
IKEA mattresses in North America use an inherently fire-resistant barrier made of rayon/polyester batting. Flame retardant chemicals are only used for some stitch bonds, piping, and zippers.
A full review of IKEA mattresses can be found here.
I have used various materials including aluminized tarps to sequester the off-gassing of polyurethane when I was super sensitive.
ii. White Lotus Eco-Foam
White Lotus makes a simple mattress based on their naturally derived polyurethane.
It also has a wool layer and cotton cover.
Some chemically sensitive folks have liked this mattress.
It’s $1,506 for a queen through their website.
iii. Purple Mattress
The Purple Hybrid mattress is made of a non-toxic plastic grid and some of the options have very minimal polyurethane.
The Purple Hybrid with coils really minimizes the amount of foam used while keeping the comfort level high.
Moderately sensitive folks have done well with this brand, so I certainly would consider it myself.
However, it does contain fiberglass. A rep said “It contains silica fibers that are woven into wool and then covered by our mattress cover so it never comes in contact with your skin. Silica fibers are also commonly referred to as fiberglass.”
You can buy the Purple Mattress (original) from Amazon or from their website
.
The Purple Hybrid Mattress
is $2,099 for a queen on their website.
iv. Saatva
Saatva mattresses have been vetted by the chemically sensitive – a number of folks have reported that their foam seems to be very low in off-gassing. Other sensitive folks have not done well with it.
They have options that contain synthetic memory foam, which is usually higher in off-gassing than standard polyurethane yet it still has good reviews by some sensitive folks.
They also have natural latex options.
A queen starts at $1,700.
Alternative Beds for the Chemically Sensitive
1. Buckwheat Hull Beds
Open Your Eyes Bedding sells organic cotton canvases and buckwheat hulls that you twist together yourself!
A mattress topper or pad may be needed for comfort.
You could fill the canvas with organic cotton batting, wool batt, Kapok, foam, or even recycled wool sweaters, and use the same twist system to make your own truly DIY chemical-free mattress.
What I like about this is it can be totally customized, as well as taken apart, washed, and refilled.
It’s $240 for the outer part pictured above + $966 for enough buckwheat hulls to fill a queen.
2. Cotton and Kapok Futons
Futons are more affordable than regular mattresses and often don’t use flame retardants. Look for organic cotton or wool filled. Avoid conventional (non-organic) cotton batting which still retains a lot of pesticide.
Look out for antimicrobial and even added pesticide treatments. A full article on non-toxic futons goes into more detail and has more selection.
i. The Futon Shop is an obvious option for very affordable futons that many sensitive folks do well with. Starting at about $300.
ii. Rawganique has 100% organic cotton futons as well as cotton and wool. The company focuses on reducing chemical processing as much as possible.
iii. Zafu kapok fiber futons are really cool. They don’t compact as much as cotton and wool batting. They have an organic cotton cover, with eco wool and kapok fiber. This brand came recommended by sensitive folks.
3. Silk Mattresses
I have seen silk-filled mattresses in the past, though they are hard to locate. They may be good if you cannot tolerate cotton, wool, hemp, kapok, or latex.
Silk mattress toppers or pads are easier to find, and you could build them up to make a mattress.
You might check Allergy Buyers Club.
You can also find them on Amazon.
4. Cotton Sleeping Mat
This organic cotton mat by Dream Designs in Canada is thin but may be enough for some people who need a simple solution.
It was recommended by someone extremely sensitive.
The futon companies above also make simple sleeping mats.
5. Hammock
An organic cotton hammock is a simple option that does work well for some folks.
A good brand that is “clean” is La Siesta.
Try the undyed organic cotton if you want the purest option.
A metal hammock stand works well with many models (no trees necessary).
6. Camping Beds to Use Indoors
i. Camping Cots
For a quick and easy solution, maybe a camping cot will do!
Let it off-gas a bit first. The plus side is there is not much to off-gas there, so some time in the sun should do it.
ii. Camping Pads/Mats
Camping mats can be used inside regular housing for those wanting a simple solution, or for those with trouble tolerating regular beds.
They may also be needed high moisture locations like tents, trailers/RVs, and shelters.
a. Closed Cell Camping Mat
For sleeping pads, the most basic type is closed-cell foam.
This aluminized Thermarest is considered the most tolerable of the camping mats. I found it really good and very easy to clean.
They have non-aluminized versions as well.
b. Open Cell Polyurethane Self Inflating Mat
I use the most deluxe Thermarest – the 10 cm thick Mondoking (it has polyurethane it in). I find it very comfortable.
It takes a bit of time in the sun to off-gas, but many MCS-ers can use these. I used it after two days in the sun. After a week it was ideal for me.
Setting up a camping cot inside
The general consensus for those with sore backs or who need the most comfort is a Thermarest on top of a camping cot.
Though with the MondoKing, most people likely don’t need a camping cot under it (though I would raise it or put a waterproof cover on it).
Thermarest claims to be flame-retardant-free.
For a more permanent setup, the MondoKing fits into a 30 inch daybed frame.
iii. Polyester Fill Mat
Another type of simple sleeping mat is a Nufoam polyester fiber mat.
This may be more tolerable than the camping pads that have polyurethane foam in them.
Plus polyester does much better with moisture than cotton, wool, and other natural fibers.
This is ideal for an RV.
iv. Airbeds
a. TPU Airbed
A phthalate and PVC-free air bed is recommended and tolerated by many chemically sensitive folks.
This is the alternative to PVC and foam mats.
I found they can off-gas in 2 days. Which is faster than many types of beds with more material inside.
For a full list of PVC-free air beds see the article on non-toxic air mattresses.
How to Prevent Mold in Mattresses
In any house or trailer, tiny or big, make sure your mattress can breathe underneath (slats or box springs are used for a reason). Only certain types of beds like an air mattress may be able to go straight on the floor.
When building a tiny house, find a way to incorporate slats under your bed. I see too many tiny houses with the mattress on a solid floor. This is not a good solution if you want your bed to stay mold-free.
The picture above is my loft. The slats are built right into the loft. It works great!
When camping, I do think a waterproof cover is the best idea. In a trailer, you may be able to use something simple like this Hypervent for airflow, though I have heard that this does not create enough airflow in many situations.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Jenny
Finally found helpful info and recommendations about chemical free mattresses! Appreciate this article so much. I have been looking for chemical, foam and latex free mattress for almost 10 years! Most of the “natural” mattresses have latex which I do not want after trying a “natural” latext mattress almost 10 years ago and waking up dizzy and with headache after first night in it. Now I have 3 options: woolroom, naturepedic and parachute that I am debating between. I live in LA and parachute and naturepedic has stores here so will go test mattress in store. Thanks again 🙂
Anna
Thank you so much for this post. I had natural latex before, but it seems I am now sensitive to new natural latex nine out of 10 times so I’m not gonna chance it with that again. Problem is I really need something soft and malleable due to bad hips. Are there any toppers of polyurethane (or anything else that is not latex or wool) that are really soft? Cause it seems like most options that are not latex are quite firm.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
you need a substantial layer of polyurethane to make it soft but sometimes as a topper it becomes kind of sinky so it doesnt always work
Karie Butler
Thanks for this!
Do you have any other suggestions for under mattresses? If hypervent doesn’t work well. Also, any suggestions for assessing the materials of these types of products? most seem to be polypropylene or a woven polymer plus fabric
Karie
* under mattresses in a trailer
Lauren
Do you have any thoughts on the Brentwood mattresses, like the Oceano Luxury Hybrid mattress? It looks like the use bio foam – is that better than memory foam or regulary polyurethane foam?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it’s still the same foam chemically in the end. If you are chemically sensitive and want to go with polyurethane go with one of the brands in this post. I’ve been updating this post for over 10 years with the brands sensitive people like the best so these are the best bets unless you were able to test a bunch in person or get an off-gassed one
Bob
I just purchased a PlushBeds. They have latex free options as I have a documented latex allergy. They advised no polyurethane, organic cotton encased around the coils. The reviews so far look great, all say no off-gassing. It appears the mattresses are made on demand, mine was made after I placed the order.
I will receive it this next week and hope it works out.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
thank you for sharing
Carol
Is this mattress all organic cotton without wool? I’m so chemically sensitive. My new naturpedic chorus mattress has a barnyard smell
Please let me know how it is. Thank you
Bob
The company is very responsive to emails. I have personally had zero issues that I can feel.
Per their replay
“Thank you for your question. We offer a variety of toppers, and we’d be happy to help you choose one that suits your needs, especially with allergies in mind.
Could you please let us know which specific topper you’re interested in? We carry several types, including:
Natural latex toppers (GOLS-certified organic latex, ideal for allergy concerns)
Memory foam toppers
Wool toppers (GOTS certified organic wool)
Sarah
If the wool is used as batting/fill in the quilted top of the entire mattress encasement, I think they’ll switch it out and fill w/cotton instead. Naturepadic has amazing customer serice. They really stand behind their products and genuinely seem to want the customer to be satisfied. (That barnyard smell is so strong and gross and, unfortunatley, is not uncommon the world of organic or natural mattresses. And it can vary from batch-to-batch with some batches worse than others. And it doesn’t off gas quick at all.)
Allison
Thanks so much for this article. I’m finding it tremendously helpful as I search for an affordable nontoxic mattress that’s both wool- and latex-free. I seem to tolerate cotton, so right now I’m leaning toward that as I’ve been told it’s cooler to sleep on than foam.
Wondering what you think of White Lotus Home’s line of Green Cotton mattresses/futons.
On their website, they describe Green Cotton as: “A more affordable option to our organic cotton products, our Green Cotton is grown in the United States — it just isn’t certified organic. This more affordable material is slightly firmer than organic cotton, but the real beauty is in what it doesn’t have: NO dyes. NO perfumes. NO flame retardants. Grown by farmers right here in the US, Green Cotton is a fabulous cost-savings material that doesn’t put you in contact with harmful chemicals typically found in conventional cotton.”
They also write: “Green Cotton is conventionally grown, so it may or may not have been treated with pesticides in its lifecycle. After harvesting, however, our Green Cotton is not sprayed with any further dyes or chemicals. The end result is purely unbleached, untreated, raw cotton.”
And: “Our Green Cotton is power-washed prior to being made into layers of batting and remains our most popular mattress fill. However, if your concern is the pesticides used during the initial growing cycle, you may personally feel more at ease with a Cotton mattress whose growth can be certified to USDA Organic standards.”
Finally: “All of our cotton is grown and aggregated in the United States, and even though it is raised with traditional agriculture methods, all Green Cotton is pre-rinsed before it arrives at our location. We call this cotton ‘green’ because no dyes, perfumes, formaldehyde, or fire retardants [are] added to the batting after it is harvested. Our Green Cotton also prevents waste, as the fiber itself too short or coarse to be made into threads for textiles, and is often discarded. However, it is perfectly suited for garnering into layers for mattresses and toppers, gathered for pillow stuffing, or for bulk sale. Green Cotton is slightly firmer than organic cotton due to the thicker threads, but there is plenty to feel good about!”
Their Green Cotton products are *much* more affordable than their GOTS options (for instance, a double 6-inch-thick Green Cotton mattress costs $906, while the GOTS version costs $2,178), and my budget is limited, so the lower prices are tempting.
But I keep wavering, wondering how important it is (as a person who’s already sensitive to chemicals/fragrances/some natural fibers/etc.) to prioritize GOTS certification, in terms of potential health harms/toxicity over time. Is GOTS worth the extra cost?
Thanks for any thoughts/insights. Your blog is invaluable!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Cotton batting grown with pesticides definitely retains more pesticides than if it were processed into clothing.
Allison
Understood—what if a non-GOTS mattress were encased in a tightly woven GOTS-certified mattress protector/cover, such as this one:
And/or topped with a GOTS-certified mattress topper?
Would those strategies make any difference in terms of a person’s exposure to pesticide residue over time? Thanks again!
Sarah
Polyurethane question: How does this hold up over time? (Maybe it depends on the quality of the foam, but don’t know.) Does it break down and start to collapse at pressure points quickly? Do you think it’s as resilient as latex? I’m thinking of trying a couple of pieces of foam from Ikea to use instead of a latex topper (am having difficulty finding a topper that’s soft enough for my needs), but don’t want to discover the material doesn’t hold up well. Any experience with this material would be good to hear about…
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
holds up well, the vast majority of mattresses and sofas are polyurethane but there are different grades. it does not break down as quickly as latex esp out in the elements. it’s used in camping mats and it can survive quite a lot.
Sarah
Great news! Thank you so much!
Gina
Are the metal coils in hybrid mattresses a concern for EMFs? I have a Happsy that is reading high magnetic field levels in a room that’s reading low levels surrounding the bed. I have 2 other organic hybrids from other brands that are also reading low levels. My 7 year old sleeps on the Happsy, not sure if I should get rid of it.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I don’t worry about EMFs, but it’s also not a topic that I cover on the blog or in consulting as I don’t have the expertise in that.
Tam
I’ve just found this article – it’s amazing! Thank you for compiling this. I’m based in Europe, and we do not have as many affordable, toxic-free options as are available in the US. In fact, getting accurate information from suppliers about the materials & chemicals used within mattresses is proving difficult. I’m considering purchasing an Emma hybrid Foam & Pocket spring mattress that has a Certi-Pur cert. I’m not aware that I have chemical sensitivity, but I want to limit VOCS. Do allergy encasements help with this over time? Or would a natural mattress topper help “absorb” any excess VOC’s? Any other suggestions would be welcome! 🙂
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
if you’re not sensitive i would just give it more time and airflow and heat to offgas. i would not try to encase it
Julie
Hi, I really have appreciated your website and how helpful it has been. I wanted to let you know that Naturepedic still has their adult latex free mattress, the Chorus, available. I called to ask them and they said they do. It doesn’t come up under the adult section but if you search for the Chorus in the search bar, it brings it up. I just ordered it and it was delivered today.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
thank you so much
Mark
Hi Julie,
I’ve been thinking about getting the Chorus. I was wondering what you think of it so far. I’ve seen a few complaints about the lanolin smell in the wool. Also, a few complaints about it feeling lumpy, or that you can fell the coils in the top micro coil layer.
Julie
I haven’t actually opened it. We had leaks and other things happen in our house after purchasing it and were needing to fix several areas of the house after that so decided not to open it until everything is done so as not to risk contamination/construction dust, etc.. I hope to get it opened and set up in about 2 weeks when the majority of repairs are done.
If it’s anything like my kids twin mattress (I think it’s also the chorus because thicker), there was a slight odor for a while but I didn’t sleep on it so wasn’t a problem fro me. Because of that, I’m expecting a likely lanolin smell of sorts. I hope it’s comfortable! We are out of our return window now but bought it to set up not keep in a box. If you are just researching I can give you feedback when we open it.
Sarah
OFF GASSING LATEX: In addition to all the tips for doing so, one more thing that might help is to put one or two (I need two) cotton knit mattress protectors over the latex mattress or topper. Much to my surprise, it has helped enormously (and I am super sensitive to odors)! I presume it adds just enough material to absorb the odor w/o having all of the smell break through. Who knows, but it’s been a great help for me once I off gas the mattress or topper to a reasonable degree to not perceive any latex smell when I’m in bed (or in the room, in general). I think the best of this kind of product is made by Berkeley Ergonomics. They are the manufacturer and have a website. They don’t sell direct to the public, so you have to find a retailer to buy from. They also make cotton knit pillowcase encasements w/zippers. What I especially love about these mattress protectors is that they are 100% organic cotton AND they are a knit, therefore they have a bit of give. If you put something like this over your bed system and it’s tight and taught, it will have a negative impact on the feel of the bed. I think this product is heavenly. On the down side, it’s expensive and it takes a long time to dry because the material is so substantial.
Link to product page:
https://berkeleyergo.com/products/organic-cotton-mattress-protector
Conor
Hi Corinne, can you clarify what you mean here, regarding latex mold?
“I have only seen a report of this problem for years now (as of early 2025).”
Thanks
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
not seen
Chris
Hi Corrine,
I am a mold illness survivor, not currently symptomatic other than some lingering sensitivities to chemicals and mold. I had pretty severe MCS but have recovered significantly and have a lot more tolerance (mild to moderate sensitivity). However, I still want a bed that I can both tolerate the off-gassing and that will not grow mold. I do see you recommend staying away from latex due to the mold issue. I am considering a mattress that is available locally here, it’s called Harvest Green Essentials, and it has a one inch layer of Dunlop natural latex underneath 2 inches of organic wool (all materials are certified GOLS and OEKO-TEX). It was comfortable to lie on in the store and I noticed no smell (but she did say it could have a smell for a while coming brand new). My questions for you relate to the latex and potential for mold growth (I don’t go to sleep with wet hair or generally spill things on my mattress) underneath the wool. Perhaps I should stay away from latex entirely? And also wondering if you would consider reviewing this mattress given it’s extreme eco qualities and relative affordability. Or at least share your thoughts after reading about it…
Thank you for what you do
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I don’t review many natural latex options in the article because of my opinions on it which are in the sections on latex and mold and latex and offgassing.
Aleisha
What is your opinion of Avocado mattresses?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I think they are good, though not a fan of natural latex in any brand myself
DKI
I have an Avocado 11 inch hybrid mattress that I was able to order through Costco. Out of the plastic it didn’t have a smell, which I was thrilled by, but after 5 months I still notice a faint latex smell when I side sleep, but not when I’m sleeping on my back. I have to put my nose almost directly to the mattress to smell it. It reminds me of recently dried paint which is how I know it’s the latex component of the mattress that is giving off odor. The smell doesn’t bother me, but latex odor generally doesn’t if it’s not strong. The mattress isn’t as firm as I would like it to be, but I prefer very firm mattresses for back sleeping.
DKI
Based on my positive experience in my comment above, I got my mother a queen sized avocado mattress. Out of the box and plastic vacuum seal, the latex smell was very strong. It stayed strong for 2 weeks. It is still noticeable 6 weeks later, the room still smells of it…the smell dissipates with good ventilation though and an air purifier on. You can sleep on it ok, but it is still noticeable and while not terrible, not pleasant either…you kind of get used to it if youre in the room long enough. I will likely return it though or put it in the guest bedroom because we’re not sure if the smell will ever go away. Bought from Costco. It’s a shame because the medium firm is perfect support with just enough give for her.
Very different experience from my full size mattress…I thought because maybe the queen is slightly larger it might have more latex and be smellier, but it is so strong I don’t think the size difference can really explain it. We were thinking of encasing the mattress but worried about mold issues with that.
DKI
I also have Savvy Rest formed latex beds for my dog. Large ones. No smell at all and great support for dog. I know the construction and materials are different for their people mattresses, but I may try to replace my moms avocado mattress with theirs.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
interesting that there is such a difference between brands
DKI
Yes, I’m not sure if the latex was sourced differently for each mattress (both were Avocado hybrid mattresses from costco, ordered a few months apart).
BUT I realized that the smell the past few days was from the new particleboard closet system…not the mattress. I literally smashed my nose against the mattress and could smell only faint latex. Then opened closet and smelled a sweet woodsy smell that was much stronger than the mattress and that I confused with latex. I had figured I’d smell the formaldehyde smell from the particle board closet but I am not getting that (which is good?). So I would say that while the 2nd avocado mattress I got was a lot stronger smelling and took a few weeks to air out, it is ok now. I would not order one again tho because the first 2 weeks it was strong and you could smell it from an adjacent room if the door was left open.
Hope that clarifies thing, sorry for the novel
Sarah
If you want to accelerate off-gassing, I suggest opening a window and/or running an air purifier while you routinely vaccum the mattress. I’ve found this process helps remove VOC’s more quickly, though, in general, I do find that latex smells because, well, it’s rubber, natural or otherwise.
Caroline
DKI, Thank you so much for this! I was seriously considering an Avocado, but I am very sensitive to the latex smell (I find it offensive), so this means Avocado is probably a no-go for me. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!!
Aleisha
I’m just overwhelmed with mattress possibilities. I had been considering a Helix brand hybrid (as I’m in desperate need of pressure point relief as I’m bedbound and VERY bony) until I consulted with my chronic illness support group (I have very severe ME/CFS) about whether or not to purchase a traditional mattress or one made for the chemically/environmentally sensitive. They leaned heavily toward the latter which takes me back to square one. *sigh*
I have no idea if I actually have environmental sensitivities as I can’t really do a location sabbatical to see if my symptoms subside.
So (leaving aside all other potential building irritants that could factor into symptoms ), with regard to mattresses, the main issue, if I understand correctly from reading this article multiple times (or trying to read it through brainfog), is offgassing. Is this correct?
About how long does it take a conventially made memory foam mattress to offgas? A rough estimate or range of times would work.
Why is foam the biggest no-no for those with chemical/environmental sensitivities? Is it the from-the-factory offgassing or something else like mold growth?
Thanks so much for providing the info in this article and for any time and additional info you can give.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
polyurethane isnt mold prone but it does offgas, esp memory foam. we dont have an official timeline on it. some brands are in the years range.
Marcy
I was very chemically sensitive and mold sick for many years. This year I was able to tolerate living inside the house again and got a mattress. I did not want latex and can’t afford anything expensive. I got a Serta Ansley Escape innerspring mattress from Sam’s. It’s rated as Medium firmness. and is CertiPur certified.
I’m a side sleeper. I find it pretty comfortable. It’s just a tad softer than I would like, but I couldn’t do a Firm mattress. The mattress does get hot at times, but I think most modern mattresses do.
I put an AllerEase encasement on it and have it on a Zinus wood slatted frame I got off Amazon. I let the bed frame offgas in another room for a couple weeks before I got the mattress. I had no issues with the mattress. The bed frame had minimal off gassing and was fine after a few days. Hope this helps.
The Sam’s website states that Serta offers Sam’s Club members 120 night trial for their mattresses, so you wouldn’t be stuck with it if it didn’t work out. It’s very reasonably priced.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it is actually common that the very sensitive go with polyurethane in the end
Kristina
Hi! I agree, I had to do polyurethane. I bought a new certipur certified Mattress (Westin from Potterybarn) but it had some memory foam (hybrid) in it that was different from a regular innerspring. For 2 years after I had insanely high levels of daily anxiety and panic attacks and intensified scent and chemical sensitivity issues. I aired it out for a few months before using but over the 2 years kept smelling a horrible smell. I then decided to sleep on the couch and anxiety was reduced within a few days. It took me 2 years to figure out the mattress was the problem and it still smelled just as bad when I bought it after 2 years so it never really offgassed at all.
I eventually got a plain innerspring for $700 from living spaces and aired it out for 6 months (just to be sure) along with a metal slat bed (no box spring) and metal bed. I had to get rid of all furniture that was in the room with the other mattress because I could smell it in the wood and had to repaint the walls which were a flat finish and had absorbed the smell. I haven’t had anxiety or panic with this new mattress. I can’t tolerate wool or latex so this was my only option. There really were no other non memory foam mattresses when I was looking except for living spaces.
Becca C
Maybe I am missing this– Purple seems like they may cause few issues with outgassing and materials but hos do you keep safe from the fiberglass? Is a specific cover sufficient? Also, are the phthalate warnings an issue in reality, or is it again, not an issue if it is covered (and by what)? Thanks, I kuch appreciate it. Used to be an Ikea mattress person but the models seem less comfortable currently.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
“This product (mattress) will be shipped in a bag. The bag, not the mattress, can expose you to chemicals including, Diisononyl Phthalate, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, and Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate”
Becca
Oh my! Thanks for this, it seems so silly. How anout containing the fiberglass safely?
Sheri
I can not find an odorless cotton bed with no odor I am extremely chemical and fragrance sensitive
I now have a good grade plastic cover taped shut for nine years on a Serta hybrid coil bed
I took it off today’ to see if after nine years if I could sleep on the mattress
I am up in the middle of the night taking the what were unscented linens off it they are permeated and I am coughing from the mattress
it was removed from the food grade plastic cover I put over it nine years ago today
I removed today my 9 year old mattress from a sealed plastic cover I bought nine years ago to close it up
Even the plastic makes me feel bad but the mattress had to be contained due to flame retardant and other ourgassing
I bought a saavta bed last year it permeated the entire house even with me running an Austin air machine I returned it and went back to using my sealed mattress
I can not use wool nor latex either can you suggest something for me? Sheri USA
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i would continue with a sealed mattress until your sensitivities come down. you can potentially experiment with opening just a small hole in the plastic little by little to allow it to offgas more.
Sheri
Thank you and do you or others know of an active group on line for very chemical sensitive people
I became sick thirty years ago in a new built house with varnish wood doors and carpet and glue etc
when covid started and all businesses and even grocery stores began an over kill with using disinfectant
I reached my peak with chemical sensitivity it can not get any worse
Thanks sheri USA
Sarah
Sheri, Having struggled with similar challenges with mattresses (and other things) I have one idea you may want to try which is something I’ve been doing for a few years now:
Put the mattress, topper, etc, on some kind of slatted system so you have air flow and put that whole set up in a space away from your bedroom if you have one. (You can buy a relatively inexpensive set of slats at Ikea.) On good weather days, open windows, run fans to create negative air pressure out the window, run the air purifier, and perhaps most importanly, using a clean vacuum cleaner attachment, vacuum the top, flip over the mattress, and vacuum that surface, and vacuum the sides. Do this as often as possible. It accelerates the release of VOC’s, gets whatever’s sitting on the mattress kicked up and then out the window and/or caputured in your air purifier. If the room is warm, so much the better to speed u the process.
Another trick to try is to lay clean, dry, cotton towels over the mattress and remove them every day or two, wash, etc. I’ve found towels are very effective at soaking up VOC’s and because they have nap, they have a lot of surface area to do so.
It can take several months, but in my experience, you can knock down the smell considerably. And, yes, it’s rather exhausing to do but thought I’d put this out there should it be of any help to you.
Gus
Hey Corinne,
I couldn’t tell from the article exactly how you feel about silica. A mattress company told me they use “natural hydrated silica” as their flame retardant, and offered this explanation: “Hydrated silica is a natural material (found in nature as opal & crushed quartz) and allows us to meet and exceed fire safety standards. Hydrated silica is ‘generally recognized as safe (GRAS)’ by the FDA”
would be curious to hear your feelings on this. Thanks so much for this article!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Here is a fact sheet, this type is amorphous silica https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts211.pdf
Gus
Thanks Corinne! sounds like I’ll be avoiding that mattress then
Jen T.
Hi Corrine! The non toxic mattress hunt continues!
Question regarding lines such as Naturepedic and Happsy. These do incorporate some amount of latex within the mattress. When latex is used in this fashion, wrapped within other layers of wool and/or cotton, do you feel more comfortable with having latex in these, since it’s just one component and wrapped within the other materials? Would this cause Less of a concern with mold?
Thank you so much!
Jen
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
naturepedic has options without latex. personally, there is no way I would use latex again because of my experiences with it, but realistically it is probably fine in most mattresses, especially if the bed isn’t getting wet (i have a habit of going to bed with my hair very wet as well as spilling things).
Jen T
Very Good points, I go to bed with wet hair, also. And certainly have had some spills. Now that I look again, appears the Saatva classic does not have latex, nor does the Purple mattress line. I think I’m going to have to bite the bullet & spend more, figure it out somehow. Given this will be where I spend 8-10 hours a day x 10:years or however long the mattress lasts, it’s a very important decision. Who knows how much the average toxic mattresses contributes to health issues overall.
Thank you so much
Jen
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Yes those are good brands. Most of the article focuses on non-latex brands
Will
Did you end up going with either Saatva or Purple? Those are two of the top ones we are looking at.
Renee
I had good luck with Joybed mattress. I did air it out in my garage for 2 wks before moving it to the bedroom. It had a mild “organic” odor but not bad. Their mattresses do run firm. When I purchased they only had one firmness option; they now have a plush option. I previously went through 2 Naturpedic mattresses – I was sensitive to the latex in one model; the EOS model with the micro coil layers did not hold up well after several moves. I have had my Joybed for 3 years and it is still good albeit a little too firm.
Corinne Segura
thanks for your review, very interesting that you mentioned that today because i just emailed them and their email bounced back to me today. so i have not been able to dig more into them re: flame retardants, fiberglass and glues.
Sarah
Agree about the Naturepedic not holding up well over not too long a time. I think the company really cares about their products and they offer excellent customer service. But all of that said, I found the coils and the Talalay topper started to lose integrity in the middle after a very short while. I’ve been having to rig my bed for several years to try to deal with this problem. As much as I love the company, I wouldn’t buy another bed from them in the future.
Marybeth Buchele
What is your opinion/experience with TheWoolroom.com mattresses?
Thanks for all you do!
Corinne Segura
It looks good, esp for those who dont tolerate cotton
Amber
Avocado Mattress lawsuit dismissed
Corinne Segura
I know
Alex Suarez
What do you think of this mattress with regards to VOCs? It purports to have no flame retardants:
https://www.amzn.com/B0CJR6YZT1
Corinne Segura
i would be cautious with memory foam, thats why there are only two on this list i recommend.
M. B.
Royal-Pedic makes an all-cotton one too! It requires a prescription because there’s no flame retardant properties. I have a goal to buy this but it’s $10K. I’m a Ph.D. student, so I can’t afford it yet. My mother bought this for me a long time ago, first healthy mattress I had. I loved it very much.
Corinne Segura
updated that thanks!
Damian
I suffer from severe MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity, for those who aren’t familiar with the acronym). I recently purchased mattresses from The Futon Shop and Naturepedic, based on the descriptions on this amazing website (for which I am very grateful). I thought I’d share my experience, for the benefit of others, and also to ask for advice.
In November 2021, I replaced my toxic Casper mattress with a Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress from The Futon Shop. As far as I can tell, it is composed of nothing but organic cotton, PLA (from potatoes), and coils. It is by far the least odiferous mattress I’ve ever owned. Unfortunately, I now need to replace it, because it seriously lacks durability. I’m not a heavy guy or vigorous sleeper, but the loose cotton and PLA layers didn’t stay in place; over a period of weeks or months, they shifted around — to the point that in certain spots, there’s literally zero cushioning between the coils and the cotton cover. I’ve rotated and flipped the mattress more times than I can count, but the problem kept happening, to the point that there’s now no configuration in which I can sleep without feeling the coils. The seven-year warranty does not apply to “sagging or normal body signatures of 1½” deep or less.” I assumed that that meant that the warranty *did* apply to sagging or body signatures of *more* than 1.5 inches. But alas, I was wrong. When I filed a warranty claim, I was told, “We don’t consider this a defective [sic] as this mattress will compress plus the wear and tear.” Their marketing practices also strike me as ethically questionable, insofar as this mattress was discounted 50-70% literally every time archive.org captured its webpage — even during non-sale periods — suggesting that The Futon Shop artificially inflates the price and then “discounts” it, creating a false sense of urgency to get people to buy.
Last week, I replaced my Futon Shop mattress with a wool- and latex-free EOS Classic Organic Mattress from Naturepedic. Note that an EOS Classic that is both wool- *and* latex-free is not listed on Naturepedic’s website. Customer service instructed me to purchase the wool-free or the latex-free version (same price), then call them to tell them I wanted the mattress to be both wool- *and* latex-free. This mattress appears to be made of the exact same materials as the Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress: organic cotton, PLA, and coils. However, there are notable differences, for better and for worse: The Naturepedic mattress appears to be *much* more durable than the Futon Shop mattress. It feels much more sturdy. It is also way more comfortable. Even with firm support coils and a firm micro-coil comfort layer, it is still cushier than the Futon Shop mattress (which caused me a great deal of arm pain; note that I sleep primarily on my side). It is also customizable. In fact, I may be swapping the coils for plush support coils and a plush micro-coil comfort layer, since the firm-firm configuration seems like it may be too firm for me. One can “exchange” the coils in the first 100 days for free. I put “exchange” in quotes, because they really just have you remove the tag from the coils you have, and send you new coils for free. The mattress also includes a 25-year warranty, a 100-night trial, and free returns. Unfortunately, I may end up taking advantage of their 100-night trial and free “returns” (which really just means donating the mattress to charity, and providing a receipt, I was told). The reason is that the odor from the cotton is *extremely* strong, in my experience. It’s not a bad odor, to be clear. It smells grassy, for lack of a better word. But the odor is so strong that I am conscious of the odor with virtually every waking breath I take, unless I turn the fan on high and open all of the windows. It also seems to make me cough, and make my nose run. I recently received an allergy test suggesting that I don’t have grass allergies (though I wasn’t specifically tested for cotton), but I do suffer from non-allergic rhinitis, such that virtually any odor seems to have the ability to make me cough-y and stuffy. However, cotton doesn’t normally affect me this way. I have organic cotton sheets, organic cotton pillowcases, cotton towels, cotton clothing, cotton paper goods, and the aforementioned organic cotton mattress from the Futon Shop. I experience all of those items as odorless, whereas I experience the Naturepedic EOS mattress as *extremely* odiferous. I’m guessing that Naturepedic doesn’t wash, bleach, or process their cotton as heavily as most manufacturers do — which is commendable, in a sense — but it seems to leave behind a lot more cotton oil as a result. In that sense, my experience matches the experience “L” described in their comment on February 22, 2022 — at least with regard to Naturepedic. I suppose it’s possible that I just got unlucky, because of random/seasonal variation in the odiferousness of the fabric (just as “L” seemed to have gotten unlucky with regard to the mattress they purchased from the Futon Shop) — but I doubt that, because (a) I purchased my mattress in the late fall, during which the cotton tends to have less odor, according to the sales rep to whom “L” spoke; (b) my experience of a Naturepedic mattress matches “L’s”; and (c) Naturepedic also sent me two PLA-and-cotton pillows for free, as part of their Black Friday promotion, and the pillows were just as odiferous as the mattress. That said, I recognize that I am unusually sensitive to odors, and perhaps unusually sensitive to cotton oil in particular. I read your comment, Corinne, expressing concern regarding “L’s” comment: “Unfortunately, this post will probably discourage people from these brands who are not hypersensitive to cotton.” I don’t want to discourage people who are not hypersensitive to cotton from buying a Naturepedic mattress. On the other hand, I would advise anyone who’s considering buying a Naturepedic mattress to visit a Naturepedic showroom (which unfortunately wasn’t an option for me, since I don’t live near one), or be prepared to take advantage of the 100-night guarantee.
Corinne, “L”, and others: For those who are particularly sensitive to the scent of cotton oil — and who suffer from severe MCS and are therefore probably at least that sensitive to the scents of latex and wool, as well — can you suggest a less odiferous alternative (with a reasonable amount of comfort and durability, and not significantly more expensive than Naturepedic)?
Corinne Segura
thank you for your review. It is good to know for those extremely sensitive to natural odors that cotton batting can have a significant odor. And yes it depends on how washed and processed it is. They used to send out samples of their cotton (and they still might) and I would recommend buying a pillow first to check it out.
Damian
Thanks for your quick reply.
I agree with your advice to buy a pillow to test before buying a mattress.
That said, “L” (the commenter on this website I referenced in the comment of mine to which you just replied) wrote that the pillow they bought from Naturepedic wasn’t odiferous, whereas the mattress they bought from Naturepedic was.
“L” speculated that the lack of cotton batting in the pillow, and the presence of cotton batting in the mattress, may have been the differentiating factor.
However, I found the pillow to be just as odiferous as the mattress — suggesting that the cotton *cover* (not necessarily the batting) is the component that’s too odiferous, at least for me.
Do you have a response (beyond what you’ve posted on this excellent website already) to the question I posed at the end of my comment:
> For those who are particularly sensitive to the scent of cotton oil — and who suffer from severe MCS and are therefore probably at least that sensitive to the scents of latex and wool, as well — can you suggest a less odiferous alternative (with a reasonable amount of comfort and durability, and not significantly more expensive than Naturepedic)?
Thanks again for your help!
Corinne Segura
everyone is going to differ with what they tolerate, you may do better with polyurethane than with natural materials. that’s why this article is so long and there are so many options. there is also no perfect option.
Damian
Well-said.
I just spent a ton of time reading reviews of Saatva’s mattresses. Some people say they’re odor-free. Others say their odors are intolerable. So it does seem to be highly subjective.
A couple years ago, I visited every mattress store in my area, stuck my nose in every mattress they sold, and determined that all of their odors were intolerable.
So until or unless I discover a mattress as odor-free as The Futon Shop’s Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress — but one which is significantly more durable and comfortable — I’ll plan to continue my 100-night trial with my latex- and wool-free Naturepedic EOS Classic Organic Mattress, and hope that the odor dissipates quickly and significantly.
Corinne Segura
i would put down a heavy blanket, charcoal sheet and then plastic cover, see posts on sequestering offgassing
Damian
Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to buy a charcoal sheet right now. Nor could I handle the body heat that would be retained by a heavy blanket or plastic cover on my new mattress. Nor can I afford a serious air filter at this time. So instead, I just ordered four small charcoal bags, which I plan to place in each corner of my bedroom. Hopefully those, combined with my overhead fan, will help significantly.
Also, I just spoke to a sales rep at the Naturepedic showroom from which I bought my mattress, who said that the cotton odor does tend to dissipate with time.
Also, I breathed better and noticed less odor from the mattress last night than the three nights prior I’ve slept on the mattress. I do notice that my perception of odors tends to vary with my general health — which waxes and wanes on a daily basis, due to factors like diet and sleep — so I am cautious when making inferences from my perception of the strength of an odor regarding the amount of VOCs in the air.
However, my perception of reduced odor from Night #3 to Night #4 is encouraging — as is the report of the Naturepedic sales rep, and my order of charcoal bags.
I just put a note on my calendar to post an update in a comment here on March 6, 2024 — the day my 100-night Naturepedic mattress trial is up. Hopefully, I’ll have good news to share with you and your readers about the dissipation of the cotton odor then!
Corinne Segura
I would not suggest an air purifier for that situation but i would try to put down a blanket to blunt the smell, it would not be any different from the cotton layer that is already there. yes let us know how much it dissapates, Im sure that will be helpful to others who are sensitive.
Damian
Thank you, Corinne, for your helpful suggestions.
I’ve decided to take advantage of Naturepedic’s 100-night trial, by getting a refund in exchange for donating the mattress to charity.
The reason I decided to do this is that my sensitivity to their cotton has worsened in the last few days.
Two nights ago, my skin started itching uncontrollably everywhere it contacted the bed, even though there was a mattress protector and fitted sheet between my body and the mattress.
I don’t know whether I have a true IgE-mediated allergy to the natural waxes or oils found in minimally processed cotton (the lab my ear, nose, and throat doctor works with doesn’t test for cotton allergies), or whether my MCS or MCAS are simply so severe that my skin itches when high levels of these VOCs come in contact with my skin.
Either way, I can’t handle the itchy skin, coughing, irritated throat, irritated eyes, runny nose, or distraction by the ever-present odor any longer.
I suspect that heat and humidity (I live in a tropical environment, without air conditioning) exacerbate the problem, because my symptoms tend to be worst when it’s hottest and most humid in my bedroom.
I’m planning to purchase the same mattress I just discarded due to the fact that it started falling apart after two years — The Futon Shop’s Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress — tomorrow.
Though that mattress seriously lacked durability and comfort (see my original comment for details), it is the only mattress I’ve ever owned that was truly, virtually, odor-free.
I’m not confident that my new Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress will last any longer than my last Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress (two years), but at least I can tolerate its (lack of) odor, and at least it’s relatively affordable (at least compared to the Naturepedic EOS Classic I’m getting rid of).
I’ll continue watching for updates to — and comments on — this excellent webpage, with the hope that someone will create or discover a durable, comfortable, affordable, truly odor-free mattress eventually.
Damian
Update:
As I explained in my earlier comments, I found the Naturepedic wool- and latex-free EOS Classic Organic Mattress to be significantly more odiferous than my previous Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress, so I decided to replace the former with the latter.
Well, a couple of days ago, I received my new Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress.
To my surprise, this new Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress was significantly *more* odiferous than my Naturepedic wool- and latex-free EOS Classic Organic Mattress, at this point.
When I compared them side-by-side, I realized that the the Naturepedic wool- and latex-free EOS Classic Organic Mattress had off-gassed significantly since I received it about a month ago.
And the Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress was much more odiferous than I expected.
Either (a) I got a particularly smelly batch of cotton this time (as opposed to last time I bought the same mattress), through luck of the draw — or (b) I didn’t realize how smelly the Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress was the first time I bought it, because it was so much less smelly/toxic than the Casper mattress it was replacing.
To be clear, the Naturepedic wool- and latex-free EOS Classic Organic Mattress and the Futon Shop Vegan Tranquility 2 Spring Mattress smell virtually identical, except insofar as the Futon Shop mattress currently smells stronger than the Naturepedic mattress.
They both smell like grass.
Also, I really can’t comment on which mattress is more odiferous straight out of the box, because I bought them at different times.
All I can say is that they do, in fact, off-gas significantly with time.
Though the smell of both mattresses bother me, I’ve decided to keep the Naturepedic, and sell the new Futon Shop mattress, because (a) the Naturepedic is more comfortable and durable, and (b) I haven’t been able to find anything better.
I think my ideal mattress would be a cotton, PLA, and spring mattress (like these two mattresses) in which the cotton was washed so well that the grassy odor was significantly reduced or eliminated.
If anyone knows of or discovers such a mattress, now or in the future, please reply to this comment, to let me know!
Sarah
I think there are multiple variables that can affect that. In no particular order: (1) Natural products can have a lot of variation due to the nature of them (being more natural than processed). So cotton, wool, etc, can smell more, or less, a bit barnyard depending on the batch used. (2) Remember that manufacturers have multiple materials in their warehouse and they can all pick up odors from each other. (3) Depending on how long the product was sitting on the shelf, in most cases and ironically) encased in plastic, whatever odor it may have can be trapped for an extended period of time so it kind of marinates in itself.
Rachelle
You sound exactly like me……. I have all your same issues. I has a idea that doesn’t exist yet. You know those flexible 100% food grade silicone molds you can buy in the store? Why can’t they make a 100% food grade silicone grid for a component in a mattress? Then use springs and microcoils and use 100% organic cotton that was cleaned and washed on high heat to completely get rid of cotton seed oil!!!! It’s a invention waiting to happen……..
Corinne Segura
Have you seen the purple mattress? it’s a plastic grid that is quite benign.
JILL C ROBINSON
I had the exact same experience with the Naturepedic. I didn’t tolerate it and pretty sure it was the cotton. Kinda blew my mind. Thanks for discussing this!
Sarah
Interesting discussion about the Naturepedic. I had an issue with their wool batting (stunk like a barnyard) and had it switched out with cotton which was ok. In general, it’s a roll of the dice with “natural” products and consistency isn’t always one of their strong suits. Also, you never know how much it has or hasn’t off-gassed at the manufacturer and/or what other materials it may be in close proximity with that are exchanging odors or what the overall warehouse environment is. Frustrating.
Natalie
I bought the EOS Naturepedic and I agree that the smell was too much for me still after letting it air out for months . I ended up buying the Parachute home mattress and it hardly smelled at all straight out if the box .
Jenny
I just found this article and been reading the comments. I am debating between naturepedic, parachute and woolroom. I’m in LA and parachute and naturepedic has stores here that I was going to visit but after reading all the comments I think im gonna skip the naturepedic.
Debbie Miller
Hi Corrine, thank you for your comment about shoes on a mold thread. Regarding a mattress for moving into a mold-safer apartment with mold & chemical sensitivities, would a wool mattress repel mycotoxins I may shed over the coming months and year in such a way that i would not need to replace it during that first year?
Corinne Segura
I don’t believe in pushing the body into a hyperreactive state by micromanaging the environment anymore. I would prioritise a mold safe house, that is hard to come by and most people don’t land that especially as their first home out of mold. The second biggest priority is outdoor air quality especially when it comes to “MT” and cyanobacteria. Next I would use Gupta or DNRS so that the body can come back into para sympathetic.
Debbie R. Miller
Thank you, Corinne. I am autistic and not sure what micromanaging my environment refers to, but I have found a building for which the ERMI results of a previous unit were ideal and will check another unit in the same building this week. I’m aware that ERMI testing has disadvantages but have been unable to coordinate schedules with a certified inspector in my area. Thanks to rereading your page, I’ve realized I may be sensitive to sleeping on a wool mattress, so have ordered a cotton Shikifuton.
I’m also not sure what “MT” and cyanobacteria refer to, but to my knowledge, the outdoor air quality will be relatively good in my new apartment, as it is around my old one. I have read of some people using bacteria to treat their indoor environment, as I understand it, and wonder if that may be what you’re referring to. I’ll consult with my neurodivergent coach to see whether she has any other interpretation. As for brain retraining, my integrative practitioner has mentioned that, so I’ll follow up with her suggestions.
Thank you again for all your responses.
Debbie
Corinne Segura
ERMI is highly inaccurate and and also there is always a lot of variance between suites. In most decent concrete buildings I can usually find an excellent suite and a really moldy one. I would never use ERMI to assess a home and hope that is good enough. I use my own perception and also scan places first with an intuitive testing that has been close to 100% accurate with all the places that I also checked. You can contact Andrew Huang, he’s a doctor, if you’re interested: ageofenlivenment@gmail.com Otherwise you could have Cheryl Ciecko, architect, do a visual virtual inspection, though that is imperfect.
MT refers to outdoor molds/mold toxins.
Without good indoor and good outdoor air controlling for contamination on mattresses and mangaging small amounts of cross contamination is meaningless.
Jamie
Hey! Thanks for this great article. I am looking at the Ikea mattresses. You mention that some of their mattresses have modacrylic fiber. Should that material be avoided? I am noticing that modacrylic fiber is in almost every Ikea mattress, including the Minnesund. Thanks for any input on this!
Corinne
I don’t have a problem with acrylic fabrics. though if you’re extremely chemically sensitive you might want to check that out first I’m not sure if it’s a problem for extremely sensitive folks
Jamie
Thx Corinne! I am now looking at the Vegan Cocomax Non Toxic Mattress on the Natural Home Website that you suggested. I want to avoid springs because of EMF issues and wool because the smell can bother me. Also not a huge fan of natural latex. The Vegan Cocomax mattress is just organic cotton and the Coconut Fiber core. The Coconut Fiber is infused with natural latex, but I am hoping it will smell less than having layers of the Natural Latex? Do you have any experience with this or information about it? Thanks!
Corinne Segura
I would expect it to smell like other natural latex out there, it is dunlop latex.
Jamie
Thanks for that feedback! I also spoke with The Futon Shop and they told me they use borate in all of their mattresses without wool. Is borate problematic?
Corinne Segura
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324167#takeaway
Violetta Sur
Corinne,
What are your thoughts on this mattress from Ikea? I am confused about the legislation in North America; specifically Canada, and what materials in the mattress have to contain flame retardants? As this mattress contains polyester cotton blend in the ticking and polyester wadding, does it need flame retardants automatically? Would this one have any flame retardants?
https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/haugesund-spring-mattress-medium-firm-dark-beige-50307309/
Iman
The natural latex spring kiwi mygreenmattress I’ve had on the floor for 3 years. Shows no signs of mold or any odors. But now I’m not sure what is good anymore.
Corinne
the springs stop the transfer of moisture to the bottom
Jo
Did Shepherds Dream get taken out of the list?
Corinne
Yeah readers didn’t seem to like that option. Home of Wool is a little more customizable and they seem like a great company.
JILL C ROBINSON
Hi Corinne,
So appreciate this post. I have struggled to find anything that works. What about Wool Room’s beds? I’m very interested in them.
Corinne Segura
i might add them to the post, but there website is not working well for me
Shelley Henderson
I am concerned that Shepherds Dream products harbor mold spores since their main showroom is in the downtown area where I live, and it is a very old area of town, having been flooded in the past.
Sarah
Major red flag and, unfortunately, they would not be the first or only manufacturer where this is a potential issue. I would urge any prospective customer to vet this variable thoroughly before buying a bed ie, if the place where the beds are made in an old building, does the plant have climate control, do they do any routine inspection for signs of mold, etc. I’ve actually been amazed that companies creating products with an eye toward improved human health overlook this issue quite readily.
Mary Bina
Any thoughts on the Vaya mattresses? And what about the issues with fiberglass in many brands?
Corinne
I’ve tried to mention which brands do use fibreglass.
Kathy
Hi Corinne,
Do you have an evaluation of, or thoughts on, the Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress?
Corinne
looks good, adding it to the post
Amelia
What about Happsy mattresses?
Corinne
looks good, actually I’m going to swap out awara for Happsy
janine
Hi there! by swapping out Awara, does that mean you are no longer happy with that brand? I am able to purchase mattresses through a discounted work program and Awara is the only non toxic (I think) brand they offer.
We switched to using shiki mattresses from JLife over the fall and while they are great for my wife’s sensitivities, they are killing my hips and back, unfortunately. Thanks for your advice as always! We rely on you so much 🙂
Corinne
in terms of awara, I decided to only list natural latex mattresses that don’t contain any glues.
janine
ohhhh THANK YOU! How about EcoTerra? https://ecoterrabeds.com/
Corinne
I don’t list very many with natural latex because I’m not a huge fan and there are many brands in the natural latex category.
Liz
Did you get the Hapsy?
Sarah
A few random thoughts about mattresses, in no particular order.
Regarding mold (that’s horrible what happened to you, Corrine):
I recommend calling the manufacturer and the place where you plan to buy the mattress if it’s not the same business and ask if the place where they make and/or store the mattress materials and finished mattresses is climate controlled. I know if at least one place that makes natural latex and/or coil mattresses that does not have any climate control. Yikes!
Also, the past couple of years with the supply chain being a mess, products have sat in shipping containers on ships for months and months on end, often going through monsoon season (most latex comes from India). It gives one pause when you consider all the places the materials have been before the mattress lands in your home. Vet as much of it as you can.
Kapok and/or cotton filling are very susceptible to absorbing moisture, whether from high humidity, liquid spills, and/or body sweat, which could result in mold growth.
Naturepedic: As Corrine noted, their mattresses can be quite firm, but be aware they have various firmness options, from the firmness of the coils (if you buy a bed that uses this technology) to the firmness of the latex. I think the company has amazing customer service and they work with you to get it right.
Regarding other kinds of chemicals that might be part of the equation:
There are often trade offs to buying things that have less additives. One of them is importing wool or other materials that have not been exposed to any pesticides. Not that I want the materials in my mattress to have been sprayed with pesticides, but there is a potential concern about critters that you could be importing into your home because this issue has been left relatively unaddressed by the manufacturer.
Sarah
One more thing: If you want to accelerate off-gassing, vacuum the mattress or topper frequently. Put a clean brush attachment on your vacuum and vacuum away. It stirs up the VOC’s that are settled on the piece. When you do it, open a window and exhaust the air to move them out of the room. I was amazed how strong the smell was when I did this, but it did speed up the off-gassing process.
Sarah
One more thing (again):
Zippers! Consider buying a bed that has a zipper around the encasement so you can unzip it to inspect what’s going on inside the guts of the bed. This will probably increase the cost, but for anyone concerned about mold growth, being able to inspect the inside of the mattress is a plus.
Rajia B
This is so great. I wish I’d read this before. I’ve had a nest bed for a few months and had it on wood floor waiting for my antique bed to arrive. The maid picked it up the other day, and it was absolutely covered with mold. And I just left an apartment. Haven’t gotten horrifically sick from mold poisoning. I am beside myself right now. I paid a lot of money for this bed. I thought the all natural gold got latex thing which I did not want latex to begin with, but apparently it was minimally, offgassing, etc. was the best thing for me. I have so many sensitivities now due to the mold poisoning. I’m beside myself right now. I cannot imagine sleeping another seven weeks on the floor. I’m currently looking at a sativa even though I’m sensitive to latex, and perhaps this time I will go for springs, because there seems to be more air circulation with those wish me luck girls.
Anita Seibert
Regarding the mold on the bottom of your mattress Rajja, it is likely because you have been sleeping on the floor. A mattress has to be able to breathe, to have air circulating through and around it, or mold will develop; especially if you are a hot sleeper. And a mattress will sleep extra hot on the floor, because of the lack of air circulation.
Most of the newer bed frames are meant to be used without a boxspring, having slats instead. Old school mattress and box springs were very different from what is being made today, they were intelligently designed with airflow in mind, and for the most part, the materials were far less toxic. It is really sad what has happened to the industry within the past 10-15 years. Today’s foams are almost always odorous and toxic, and I think that CertiPUR is a joke! I have not yet been able to replace my mattress, which is going on 11 years old. Thank God it is still in excellent shape. Mine is a foam base, with only one inch of latex below the cover. But I would like to purchase another mattress for a second home, which is why I am reading through peoples comments and experiences with current manufacturers.
Best of luck to you!
David
Any thoughts on the Mygreenmattress?
Gati
Hi Corrine,
Any information about birch mattresses?? They claim to use all organic and natural materials…
Thanks so much.!
Kind Regards,
G
Corinne
Materials wise it looks good. I don’t list many in the latex category as I’m not a big fan of natural latex.
Judy
The wool smell was overpowering for me, and when we stood the mattress on its side for a bit, the wool layer underneath the top bunched up. It apparently is not att ached to the layers above and below. The smell was still unbearable after several weeks, so we didn’t keep it.
MJ
Which mattress are you referring to that had an overpowering wool smell?
Corinne
They are talking about Birch mattress
Laura Solis
I really enjoy simply reading all of your weblogs. Simply wanted to inform you that you have people like me who appreciate your work. Definitely a great post
Gati
Hi Corinne,
Any information on gel mattresses?
Thanks much!
Love your website!
Corinne
I haven’t been able to test the gel that is in some mattresses.
Lisa
Would you speak a bit about PLA in the Naturopedic mattresses? It doesn’t seem that it’s organic, only that it is non GMO, but doesn’t mean it wasn’t grown without pesticides…
Thanks very much!
Sarah
I’d like to chime in about the PLA regarding the feel of it. It’s used as the backing material for the top of the mattress. So, for example, the very top is a natural fiber knit material, but the backing is PLA. In between is the filler material (usually wool, but could also be cotton). And then it’s quilted to hold the filler material in place so it remains evenly distributed over the top.
The PLA has no give whatsoever. So you might find yourself spending a lot of money on a mattress that has springs that are the firmness you want and the latex the firmness you want, and a nice cushy looking top over the whole thing, only to discover that the PLA is taught.
In my view, it defeats the purpose of selecting all the other elements for your personal comfort because it stops the body and creates a lot of firmness that may result in you experiencing pressure points.
I wish the company didn’t use this material (or any kind of taught material) in the construction of the bed. I think Naturepedic is a very impressive company with amazing customer service. I think they truly care about what they do. But the use of PLA is a real bummer. At least in my view. I’m guessing they use it to meet some kind of regulation, but not sure.
Meisha
Hi there!
I just purchased the three EOS mattresses from Naturepedic, and now I am so confused on what to do. I am not sensitive to the smell, but I am terrified about the mold issue. We just completed a very expensive 6-month mold remediation, and I cannot imagine now putting myself in the same position with my new mattress. I know you recommend the Chorus from Naturepedic, and I will consider switching to that mattress, but I am concerned how my husband will feel about it. He is 6’1″, 230 lbs. and is used to a very big and comfy conventional mattress. The EOS seems to be pretty comfy, but will he be unhappy switching to the Chorus? I know this is a preference question, but have you had any experience sleeping on this mattress? Can you recommend a different brand that has a big comfy safe mattress like the EOS? Thank you for your wonderful articles! Truly appreciate it!
Sleep Center
Amazing Post! This blog is very helpful for the people in search of the best mattress for them which is beneficial for their body and heath. Thanks for sharing this informative blog with us!
L
Hi Everyone! I thought I would comment in this section, as I have purchased a handful fo the products above. This will be a pretty detailed review. Sorry for the length but as a consumer who spent dozen of hours trying to find what I am about to type form someone who has bought the products themselves- I want to be very thorough. As far as I can find Corinne has been the ONLY person on the internet to even talk about these product collectively. I would like to add my own experience if it can help people before they spend thousands on a bed that might not work.
A little bit about me. I have MCS. I would say its moderate-is. Its been bad before and its been close to non-existent before. I am sensitive to smells, even if its organic and natural. All of my observations here are based on my own experiences.
Which consisted of: 1- Naturepedic EOS (wool & latex free) $2800 for a FULL 2 – RoyalPedic (wool & latex free) $4500 for a TWIN 3- The Futon Shop (all organic cotton, wool free) $500-ish for a futon size
I have bough all three of these in these since March 2020. I have to say it is SO hard to find a quality organic mattress that doesn’t give an off putting barn smell. I ranked them in order of how nice they are.
TEST SAMPLES
So here is the thing. I got test samples of the Nature Pedic and the Royal Pedic prior to buying them since they both were thousands of dollars. I
1 – Naturepedic. Their sample was one of their pillows which was between 1-12 months old when I bought it. It was they PLA fiber and an organic cotton cover. But NO organic cotton batting. (Which might be a mitigating factor). The pillow was basically smell neutral when I got it. In fact it smelled like the local shop in Minneapolis more than the pillow its self. (The store had a classic distinct wool/earthy smell). The NP pillow acclimated to my homes smell rather quickly. I did tolerated sleeping on the pillow from a MCS perspective, however it is on the hard side and so I don’t use it as my sleeping pillow but rather and extra. The pillow being a good fit for me led me to buying the bed.
2 – Royal Pedic. RP sent me a “freshly” cut sample of both the cotton and the cotton cover. Both of them had a very strong odor of that “classic barn smell”. However it completely aired out in about two months in closet in my house. I was super excited based on that result and hopeful.
3 – The Futon Shop. They would not provide me with any samples what so ever. I purchased it anyways because I was sleeping on the floor at the time.
OWNERSHIP. I will actually go with the order I purchased them in.
1 -The Futon Shop. I bought this during the initial pandemic lockdowns and it came completely wrapped in plastic. It had condensation in it. I opened and brought it into my house. The smell however was over powering. When I was younger I worked on a cattle/hobby farm so I know what wet hay grass smells like and the futon mattress smelled exactly like that. It was so overpowering my non-MCS/non reactive girl friend couldn’t even tolerate the smell. We move shut off that room of the house and opened the windows and even ran my back up Airpura R600 in there. Three months later it hadn’t aired out at all. I believe when the wrapped it in plastic the oils on the cotton mildewed. I contacted them and they were very unprofessional and rude and told me if they were to replace it they would charge me a shipping fee both ways. Which came out to more than the mattress cost to buy in the first place. I tried selling it on Craigslist but no one wanted it (due to the smell) so I I gave it to a friend to use as a dog bed out on his porch. He ended up throwing it away because it made his dog smell like “wet moldy hay”. Odor was a 10/10 the entire time I owned it.
2 – Royal Pedic. After their test sample (which was enough cotton to fill a small shoe box!) aired out so quickly and completely. I was SUPER excited about this purchase. I spent over $4500 to get a twin mattress. When it arrived it was shipped in two separate crates and was very luxurious looking. It looked worth the price. The craftsmanship was impeccable. No loose threads. No defects. They even added extra breathing ports for me! It was great. The odor when I opened it was an 8/10 compared to the Futon Shop. It started to quickly air out though.. I was impressed. It dropped by about 20% every month I owned it… then all of a sudden summer hit (I bought it in February and received it in Feb or 2021), it stopped airing out. I was still airing it out mind you. It was in a room on a platform with a ceiling fan on above it and box fan blowing air under it. I had an R600 going a 1/2 capacity for the entire time. When summer hit it when from not being discernible form several feet away to, stinky. I don’t know how to describe it, but the summer humidity with reached 55% max in my house active its odor. It was only 3 months old at this point… and it never aired out after that. I have never been able to use it since. In fact I don’t even own it any more to recover some of what I spent on it. Which is a shame because it truly was an extremely well crafted bed. It was extremely heavy.
3 – Nature Pedic. After my experiences with the Futon and Royal Pedic, my hopes were not that high. But its pillow sample has always been very low odor/non existent odor so I was willing to give it a try. I worked with the local store in Minnesota and she was very nice. I explained to her my MCS and based on our contestations she understood my situation. In fact, I wanted to buy it in the summer of 2021, and she told me to WAIT! She said sometimes the summer batches of cotton are more odors and to weight unit late fall closeted to Thanksgiving and she would even honor the sales price I was trying to get during Labor Day. So to me that meant she cared more about my satisfaction that the sale. I really appreciated that.
I just go the bed around the begging of the New Year. However… it’s smell is very strong. The store said the smell would mostly dissipate in a week. But it hasn’t. It smells more strongly than the Royal Pedic, almost as strongly as the Futon. But it doesn’t smell rancid or like wet hay like the futon did. It does however smell like wood/or PlayDo. Honesty that is the closest thing I can describe it as. Go buy some PlayDo and open the can. The smell is so strong you can smell it as you walk in the door at my house. Its on the main level and its slightly overpowering. I do however have smell neutral home. I do have it in a room with a ceiling fan. But the R600 is not in there for the time being (I need to get new filters as they go saturated) I have the mattress all opened up, so it can maximize air flow. And the odor is decreasing but I have had it opened for 6 weeks now and its still a 6.5-7/10. The main reason I was willing to give it a shot was the fact that I could open it up and air it out more! I hope it works.
CONCLUSION.
I think it’s hard o get a clean organic bed, that is low/no odor. Harder than it should be. It’s sad. For chemical and smell sensitive people I am not sure what options there are. That is why I LOVE this website that Corinne has made. There is nothing like it. I will, however, keep the Nature Pedic. Even if I have to move it to my GF family’s house for now. I however am going to look into the Saatva. I had to get rid of my last bed, which was a queen Sealey and was 6 years old when I got it from a friend. That thing was so low odor and didn’t affect me and it was a traditional polyurethane bed with fire retardant. I was thinking of that even before I saw Corinne had a section on her page about mattresses so I will give that a try and report back to you all well on that!
Corinne I would also love to know your thoughts too on what I shared, and see if you have any additional pro-tips?
Blessings to everyone,
Corinne
So I know very sensitive and extremely sensitive folks who have done well with all these three brands. Naturpedic is actually the favorite right now amongst extremely sensitive folks. I have also asked these questions of odor of those who have bought these brands and they did fine with and found the odors of naturepedic and royalpedic to be minor.
But it’s clear that you are extremely sensitive to the oils on the cotton plant. This will cause you to smell them as stronger than other people, as the brain ramps up the smell when it’s not happy with it. Your smell likely changes over time as well as you become more sensitized or less.
Naturepedic has probably the lowest odor cotton out there.
You have to get tests and trust your results. After the Royalpedic it’s clear that cotton is a no go.
Unfortunately, this post will probably discourage people from these brands who are not hypersensitive to cotton.
Sally Stone
I read this thread with great curiosity because I’ve been shopping for an all-cotton bed, no wool. Cotton has never bothered me, but wool does, so I’m wondering now if cotton might bother me in the aforementioned beds.
I have an organic all-cotton futon right now and do well with it. (What I use is two massage futons stacked on top of each other atop a coir mat.) But the futons have become so compressed that I need to replace the setup for my physical comfort.
The only Naturepedic bed I’ve found that’s all-cotton (no wool) is the 2-in-1 Organic Kids Waterproof Mattress. The largest is a full size; it doesn’t come in Queen. Then there’s the Royalpedic All Cotton Mattress, which has a layer of odorless flame-retardant material made of wood pulp and silica, according to Tony, the person I spoke with at Royalpedic. So, also, no wool.
I’ve lain down on a Naturepedic mattress with wool in it (Verse, Chorus) and come away itching like crazy. This is true for me of wool, in general, though I’m not sure why wool inside a mattress would have that effect.
All this said, after reading this thread, I ordered samples from Royalpedic to see how they smell, as they have a no-return policy, and Queen mattresses are about $10,000. Perfect if it lasts 20 years. Not so good if it’s intolerable.
I await delivery of those Royalpedic samples and look forward to seeing how they smell. It will likely be the deciding factor in my bed purchase. Since I’m not usually sensitive to cotton, fingers are crossed it works out. I’ll circle back and report back.
Sally R Stone
I had no issue with the Royalpedic samples for their All Cotton Mattress, so I purchased the mattress – Queen – with bedspring and metal frame. It had a slight cottony smell the first day, but I don’t have any issues with cotton, so I told myself I was safe. I made the bed, and, by evening, there was no discernible smell.
I’ve been sleeping on the mattress for almost two weeks and LOVE it. I like a firm mattress, and this one is very firm. It took me 4 years of shopping and researching to buy a new bed, and I’m grateful to have finally acquired one I love. Royalpedic all cotton mattress.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
very good to know! thanks for sharing
Ky
Just want to add, in my experience
Savvy Rest has the best customer service. They are the oldest If you are still searching, request a whole sample from them which would include the wool and cotton, and you can get a great idea of the smell. (I doubt they sell these, but they used to have them for dealers and you may have to pay a small fee. It is like a cute tiny cube of mattress, for display options.)
And Shepherd’s Dream makes a mattress that has no cotton whatsoever. 100% wool! (There might be something else in the thread of course.) This was my bed of choice, and they last 50 years or more.
Normally people associate wool with a strong smell, but based on your comments you seem to do fine with the “earthy” smell and have more issues with cotton, as Corinne pointed out.
Shepherd’s Dream changed owners a few years ago but hopefully they are still making superior products!
Hope you find something that works for you! 🙂
Damian
Hi L,
Thanks for your very helpful review.
Like you, I also purchased mattresses from The Futon Shop and Naturepedic.
Unfortunately, I also responded poorly to the mattress from Naturepedic.
I had no problems with odor from the mattress I bought from The Futon Shop, unlike you, but the durability and comfort were so poor that I had to replace it.
See the comment I just posted (above, at the top of the comments) for a detailed account of my experience with both mattresses, if you’re interested.
When you posted your comment in February of last year, you wrote that you were “going to look into the Saatva… I will give that a try and report back to you all well on that!”
I don’t see any other comments from you on this webpage.
Could you please give us an update?
Neobest Mattress
Very useful information, Thanks for sharing.
Max
Are there any 100% cotton mattresses with a good return policy? You mention a few brands that all seem to not accept returns for mattresses. I can’t justify spending $500-$1,000+ on something I may need to just toss if it doesn’t work out. I tried a body pillow from the futon shop that has a very strong smell so they don’t seem to be an option for me. I recently bought my 3rd vegan Avocado mattress that I now seem to be reacting to despite tolerating them in the past, so I’m trying to find something without latex, and nervous about trying anything with wool because of potential odors.
Ky
Max, I had an organic bedding shop over a decade ago so this info may be old – but I doubt you will find a 100% organic cotton mattress with a good return policy. Reason being, any returned mattress legally must be sprayed with chemicals before resale. So the company would be losing tons of money!
I would suggest getting samples no matter what. Sleep with the sample in your bed for 8 hrs, to get a true representation of how you will react.
There is also an old technique of the layered mattress, that I have not seen discussed here. Basically, you get a new 2-4″ layer of mattress every 2-3 years, and stack them. This can be a great, budget friendly option for people who are sensitive to smells. Add the newest layer to the bottom and maximize the distance to your nose, and even it it fails you still have 3/4 of a mattress to sleep on!
Another thing is to place your mattress in the sun, only when there is zero chance of rain of course, to help air it out faster.
(Never ever put natural latex in direct sun!)
Finally, if you find a local futon maker, they may make a chemical free futon for you with a doctor’s note. Then you could at least touch and feel the product before purchasing!
Jane
Hi Ky,
If you have any more info about how to “build” a layered mattress please post!
I’m an older woman with scoliosis and MCS. After trying and returning four mattresses for various reasons,* I want to explore this option.
I have two cotton toppers and one wool futon (hard as a rock!) from the Futon Shop. I have ordered a latex topper from Naturepedic, which I don’t react to. Hoping that will soften the effect of the wool. Any thoughts, most appreciated!
* Naturepedic Trilux (too soft), Naturepedic Serenade (hard as a rock), Naturepedic EOS-all coil- extremely painful, PlushBeds (comfortable but I reacted to their Talalay Latex)
Karin
Do you know of any mattress protectors/encapsulation sheets that block PBDEs/VOCs from a regular mattress? I don’t have the funds for a new mattress, so would like to make it work with a hand-me-down mattress.
Corinne
https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2021/05/how-to-sequester-offgassing-furniture-beds-pillows.html
Ky
Karin, most mattresses do the majority of their offgassing the first 6 months or so.
I would take a clean hand me down mattress over a new Ikea one any day.
If it has been kept in great condition, in a home without Glade or Febreze or dryer sheets, a hand me down mattress may work just fine on its own! (And pets, smoke, whatever triggers you of course.)
Just make sure whatever you put over it is 100% chemical free. New cotton sheets are processed with more chemicals per pound than mattresses!
Rachel
Thanks for this post. I have been trying to find a replacement mattress for almost a year now and for the life of me I cannot find anything that alleviates my back pain aside from regular memory foam. I tried a wool and latex mattress from avocado but it was far too firm and all of the options I found for natural mattresses seem to be very firm even when you add the topper that they offer. I have found the smell of wool to be offputting as well and it didn’t dissipate after two months. I tried latex toppers but the smell was horrific, even buying the all natural non-toxic ones. Every natural mattress company I talk to is convinced they have the solution but they’re pretty much all using the same materials which are far too firm for me. At this point I am considering just buying memory foam and trying to encase it in a tarp or something to minimize the offgassing because I’m in such pain. It’s all such a headache. Good luck everyone!
Corinne
Many people go with polyurethane. It’s not necessarily worse than latex. Memory foam can be worse but it varies by Brand. Try Saatva or IKEA and give it some time to offgas if you have a spare room.
Rachel
Thanks for the reply! I have a “low-VOC” polyurethane topper from Lucid that I’ve been airing out for 2 months. I still react to it unfortunately, but it’s not that bad. I’m hoping it continues to get better as times goes on.
Aerie
This is all helpful. Do you have any information on adjustable bases? I didn’t realize they would be an issue, but I bought one from Rize and the smell was so strong I sent it back (with a 25% restocking fee…so I don’t want to do it again).
Corinne
It is something I would probably have to see in person unless you know a company that can be very clear with all of the components of it. Electronic parts always have some offgassing but there may be a difference between brands.
Javier
Hello! Great article!
Do you know if Ikea sources their foam for their spring beds like the hasvag from US foam manufacturers or from foam made in other countries than other than the US?
Thanks!
Corinne
It wouldn’t matter to me. What’s important is that it is low in offgassing. IKEA also has good oversight and high standards, usually setting the bar for toxins in products for the industry.
Kay
Corinne, this is a great article! Thank you! It’s just so hard to buy a mattress that is usable today. The expense of a new quality mattress is daunting and when return shipping is at stake, it makes it more so. Not only can I not deal with off gassing odors, but I have muscle problems that don’t allow me to sleep well if the mattress is too firm or too soft. Then, to top off these two major issues, there’s the heat factor. Wool, despite the sales pitch that it wicks and is cool to the skin, IMO, is hot! Cotton absorbs odors and moisture into the mattress and causes an earthy smell, Laying on cotton for 8 hours gives you hot spots. And anything polyurethane or foam is HOT HOT HOT!
There use to be a company in Philadelphia (we’re talking decades ago) that steam cleaned, air dried and shook your mattresses back into like new shape. Anyone remember them? I never threw my old S&F king mattress away despite buying three replacements, as the new ones were all returned for reasons mentioned above. I wound up taking my old mattress out of storage and am still using it. I’m looking for the elusive unicorn mattress! The one that doesn’t seem to exist for my conditions. 🙁
christy
HI –
I was just trying to get clarification on the IKEA Spring mattress you mentioned in the article- There is the Haugesund & the Hasvag? The HAsvag is the less expensive at $129 with polyester felt lining & steel Bonell coils and the Haugesund is $179 and has incased pocket spring coils.
Which one did you mean ?
I really appreciate it and all of the articles and information you share.
Thank you
Corinne
I mention MINNESUND (75$) and HASVÅG (179$) in the post. Those are current US prices.
chris
Thanks. Currently per IKEA the HAsvag is $129.00 US and the Haugesund is $179.00 US that is why I was confused and asked for clarification as to which of the 2 in case there was a unintentional interchange of names. Thanks
Corinne
HASVAG is 179 USD here: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/hasvag-spring-mattress-medium-firm-beige-70307407/
christy
Oh! Thank you for clarification and link. I apologize I was looking at the twin size which caused my confusion.
We would be using these spring mattresses in a brand new apartment building that has built in routers/ wifi in each apartment.
WOuld you know anything about safety or contraindications for Spring mattress use in this type of environment with EMF from wifi?
Thanks so much
Monique Richardson
Does anyone know which mattress they have at Ikea now are non-toxic? They no longer carry the ones mentioned. I see some of them say may have slight odor, but not harmful or toxic and other mattress do not say that. Are the ones that do not say that toxic?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I have an article just on IKEA mattresses
Shmoo
Hi there,
How do you feel about Carpe Diem beds? I currently own one but after 10 years and multiple kids and pets having accidents I think I’m ready to buy new and as I’m a bit older and experiencing back pain I wonder if there’s a similar bed or if Carpe Diem is still considered a great natural option (and cheaper than hastens) or is it all just a bunch of boloney? Thanks!
Mary
Hello,
Thank you for all the information. Very informative and so helpful. I have a question about the Naturpedic mattresses. I see that you recommended the Chorus. That is the only brand that doesn’t have latex. The Chorus is also their “basic” mattress. I was looking into buying a Naturpedic but one of their other brands. Like the pillow top one but all of those contain Latex which you don’t recommend. So my question is do you only recommend the Chorus? Or do you recommend their other mattresses as well, as they do contain latex. Thanks so much in advance for your help. I have purchased coffee and can do that again since this is a long question. Thanks so much!
Corinne
It’s not the only brand without latex. The first list in the article is about latex free options (that also don’t have foam). Whether you want to use latex is up to you and your sensitivities. I don’t tend to do well with latex plus have concerns about mold that I talk about in the article.
Ky
Corinne I wanted to chime in here!
What you experienced is super common. We ran an organic mattress shop and it is a well known fact in the industry that natural latex “melts” or crumbles over time. I have seen some last many years, but if it is ever exposed to direct sunlight, the chemical reaction will start and it is irreversible.
Also I have a theory that any moisture from sweat or the air can also trigger the decomposition. After all, it is natural!!
Lately I have seen companies like SleepOnLatex ship their mattresses fully encased. I am guessing this helps maximize the lifespan of the mattress.
My own belief is that layered is the way to go. Stack wool or cotton futons on topper sized natural latex, and keep the latex on the bottom if possible.
Finally a very specific latex comment – I have only personally seen Dunlop latex deteriorate. I believe Talalay uses a stabilizer, which makes it less “organic” but may also significantly lengthen its lifespan!
It’s all a trade off… 😀
Hope that sheds some light on your latex experience!
Corinne
Thank you very much for chimin g in, that is very very helpful. Did you ever see it visibly go moldy?
Yannick
I recently purchased a Naturepedic Chorus mattress. No odor or any problems from an MCS perspective. Did not need any offgassing period. However, I find that my pelvis sinks in to the mattress and I get back pain. I am a 5’11” male weighing 140lb. So I am not overweight by any means. I am a side sleeper. I have had to sleep on the edges of the mattress in order to get proper support and not have back pain.
I contacted Naturepedic and they recommend upgrading to the EOS Classic, where I have more firmness options. However, the EOS is over $1000 more expensive than the Chorus.
Has anybody here, used the Naturepedic EOS mattresses? What is your experience? Is it worth the price?
My Green Mattress makes a spring and cotton mattress (the Pure Echo), which is considerably less expensive than the Naturepedic. Can anybody comment on the Pure Echo? How firm/soft is the Pure Echo, compared to the Naturepedic Chorus?
Returning products is very difficult for me due to CFS and MCS. I would like to select a mattress that I will not need to return.
Any input on the Pure Echo from My Green Mattress would be greatly appreciated.
Rinny
I would like to know about this one, experiences, as well!!!
Lindsey
I’m desperately searching for a mattress with no odors. My Pure Echo from my green mattress arrived 3 days ago. The smell is worse than my first “normal” mattress I tried. It was ok at first like barnyard smell then has turned into something I can only describe as “thick” that wakes me up in the night gasping and leeches into my pillow clothes and hair. It’s hard as a rock slab and just about as heavy. Read the Amazon reviews before buying it as I did not. If you have an ability to offgas it in the sun it may work out but one review said the smell lingered on and on. I’ll be trying out the chorus as softer/no smell sounds great, thanks for the review. Best of luck!
Ky
Instead of ordering a whole new mattress, could you afford to add a medium/firm topper? Make sure it is fully encased before shipping.
You may be able to put this on the bottom or the top, and it should significantly change your sleeping comfort especially if you are a side sleeper.
Also your comment on sleeping on the edge is strange… what is underneath your mattress? Latex must be on 2-2.5″ slats or foundation, or they sag.
Sally R Stone
I purchased the RoyalPedic All Cotton Mattress, which is very firm. I have no pain from sleeping on this bed, but had terrible pain from my previous bed. If you live near a shop that carries the mattresses you can try it. JFK slept on this type of mattress because of back pain.
If you scroll up, you can my post on how I went about screening the mattress materials to be I’d like it from an allergy perspective.
Susan
Do you have an opinion on holy lamp brand wool mattresses and pillows? Thanks!
-Susan
Lucy
I had to return a wool mattress pad to them a few years ago, because the wool was treated. I would be very cautious and ask for samples of the mattress ingredients, before deciding.
Karen
I need to purchase twin mattress pads to put on top a camp bunk bed. Most folks just get an egg crate pad.. do you have any non toxic options? Thanks!
Malcolm
Hello!
Thank you so much for collecting this information and making it available.
I just wanted to share my experience with the HASVÅG from Ikea.
We recently bought a home that had these in the bedrooms. They were new, but had been there for several months, so one would consider they had had time to off gas a fair bit.
I responded strongly to them and have been incapable of sleeping on them. I can’t be in the same room as them for more than a minute or two before I start to react.
For context, I think I’m in the midst of a very high sensitivity period because we ordered some toppers filled with polyester, and I reacted really strongly to those too – despite having read that that material is often a lesser offender compared to polyurethane. I’ve decided to source mattress solutions that are spring and cotton/wool/hemp based. No more mucking about. In Europe the options are a little harder to source since Brexit (most of the natural bedding companies seem to be in the UK), but I know it will be worth the hassle.
My advice to others is, even though there is a chance you might tolerate a solution that off-gases less than the worst offenders, why not seize the opportunity to go for something that doesn’t off-gas harmful chemicals AT ALL? Remember, just because you might not get a symptomatic response, it does not follow that these chemicals are not harming you. They are toxic, and the effects can build up over years, before manifesting as acute MCS, liver and/or kidney damage, neurological issues, and cancer, amongst other treats. By going all-natural, you also support the right segment of the industry, helping it to shift to offering these healthy options more predominantly.
Good luck everyone!
Aprile Coroneos
Just want to share my experience with buying an OMI Wave™ Certified Organic Natural Rubber Pillow Top (3″) Mattress Topper. I am very sensitive to strong smells/chemical smells. The store where I bought it put it in a big plastic bag and ran air through it in an attempt to remove the very strong rubber odor of this topper. That did not work- it may have gotten rid part of the odor, but there was still a very strong rubber smell. I paid a lot of money for this topper, so I’ve been trying to let it offgas for seven months now in a sunny room with open windows and fans.. OMI has been nothing but rude in helping me solve this problem. The customer service told me at least four times not to worry what I am smelling is not toxic- it’s often said their toppers smell faintly of roses. I’ve never smelled roses that smelled like rubber. And toxic or not, I don’t want to sleep on a pile of stinky rubber. Then they said to rub baking soda into and vacuum it off to remove the smell. Didn’t even make a dent in the amount of smell still remaining after the topper. I put the topper on the quilt of my bed to finish vacuuming the baking soda out, it was only on my bed for about 20 minutes and the rubber smell absorbed into my quilt — but thank heavens I was able to wash the smell out of my comforter. The information in this post is helpful, and I will read it all again trying to decide what to do next because I know I cannot use this topper and will be donating it soon.
Corinne
I’m not a big fan of natural latex and how it has become the defacto natural option. But everyone sensitive will need to find out if they tolerate latex, foam, cotton or wool first.
Aprile Coroneos
Do explain why you are not a big fan of natural latex somewhere on your website? Is the way to find out if you can tolerate a material to ask for a sample of it? Thanks
Corinne
Objectively it’s not better than polyurethane IMO, the odor is high and does not go down quickly, it’s not as tolerable as people think, many people react to it, and in my experience, it has been mold prone.
Sara Marks
What is the reason why some air mattress are fine being directly on the floor? We have ours on the floor and have for two years now with no issues, but it’s always worried me, so I was please to see that you said it’s sometimes okay….but you didn’t say why and I’d like to know why. 🙂
Also, do you have reviews for mattress covers and pillow covers?
Thanks for your informative post!
Corinne
Hi there, I have a mattress cover post here https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2021/01/mattress-covers-to-seal-in-toxins-block-dust-mites.html
Sweat and moisture doesn’t transfer through an air mattress like with regular mattresses where it can condensate underneath.
Cherie
Hi Corrine! Thanks for all these helpful reviews of mattresses. As a mold patient who doesnt really have MCS (i dont react to perfumes and soaps), i must say i could NOT tolerate the Purple bed. I had horrible muscle and joint pain while it was in our home and for 2-3 days even after we removed it.
Fortunately they came and picked it up and refunded our money. I am not sure if it was off gassing or what was in it that caused problems for me. However, it did come rolled up, which you mentioned to be a red flag for mattresses that off gas.
Just thought i would share my experience for others like me.
Cheers to good health!
Cherie
Corinne
Interesting, other mold sensitive folks with mild MCS have done really well with it.
Cherie
Glad to hear that.
Eileen Oksnevad
I have acid reflux and so I sleep on my left side for that (as is recommennded) and have to have the head of the bed elevated. I’m menopausal and sleep hot. also. My husband made a wooden platform for two single bed mattresses side by side with the head of mine slightly elevated. But the mattresses have become uncomfortable. We also did mold remediation in our house. We are looking at getting an adjustable bed frame and new side by side mattresses (possibly sleep number), but have been looking at healthier options. Are any of the ones you mentioned good for our situation?
Donna S Jones
sleep number off gasses and is very expensive and after a few years sinks in the middle no matter what you do I have read many people who say this. I am looking now for new beds and have sleep number bed that elevates and vibrates. I ordered a new insert thinking that might help it came soak in some sort of oil and smelled so bad it couldnt be used. Even after airing it outside for days and then it falls apart when you try to lift it. very poor investment on our part.
James
Hi Sales,
I’m interested in purchasing your products for my store located in New Caledonia.
Kindly let me know if you accept:
– Payment by credit card ?
– Pick up and ship by our freight company.
Regards,
James Earl (CEO)
Earl Sales Inc
74c Amazola Ave,
Canala North Province, New Caledonia
Julie
What about Naturepedic mattresses?
Also, the magniflex foam is supposed to be no VOC.
Please comment. Thank you.
Corinne
I mention Naturepedic in the post. It’s not possible for polyurethane to be 0 VOC especially memory foam. It needs time to offgas.
Carla
HI Corrine,
I just purchased a natural latex matress (GOLS and GOTS certified) from The Clean Bedroom. In NYC. The brand is Obasan from Canada. We are not medically chemical sensitive but just want a “clean”, safe and comfortable option. I received all their certifications and saw very positive reviews, including many folks with MCS issues. Do you have any reservations about this matress? They use the dunlop vs Talaly process – which seems preferable, and I like that they get their latex from one plantation in Sri Lanka they visit, unlike other retailers who buy them from different sources. When I asked what the 5% ingredients were (the matresses are >95% GOLS/GOTS), they mentioned that very small amount of zinc oxide used as a stabilizer in baking process. Obasan seems to be the gold standard and a company that second round matress makers (OMI/Lifekind, Savvy Rest, Natura, Essental, Naturepedic) emulate. I’m ahappy to pay you for a consult if you feel it is better to have a discussion. I received the product yesterday but it is unopened (supposedly non returnable) but would feel more comfortable if you weighed in before I open it!
Thank you!
Carla
Corinne
It’s really up to you I can only supply the information on the different options. Most healthy people will be just fine with natural latex but I don’t use it because of the problems I have had with it mentioned in the article.
Maria
Hi Carla,
Curious what you ended up thinking? I have a mattress from the same company
Anna
Hello, Great and informative post! Have you heard anything about Birch by Helix mattresses? Thank you!
Laura Kimball
Would Casper mattresses be similar to the polyurethane mattresses from Ikea? They don’t use fire retardants. I have option of one that is 3 months old and barely used – to use for my guest bedroom. thank you for so much great information. It has all been so helpful. -Laura
Corinne
Memory foam is higher offgassing than regular polyurethane, and anything that comes rolled up is higher offgassing.
Kelly
Hello Corinne,. Thank you for providing such clear information!
My question is, would it be better for a chemically sensitive person to buy a hybrid spring/ foam (not memory foam) mattress or one with natural latex? Almost all the options I can afford are one or the other.
Thank you!
Corinne
It depends on your individual sensitivities and which of those is better for you (both short term and long term should be considered).
Max
Very interesting and useful initiative, Corinne.
I’m chemcially sensitive, tried natural latex and organic coton matresses (luckily with 100-day money-back guarantees), but they all irritate create breathing difficulties for me.
Before booking a consultation with you, I’d like to double check that you can help me as I live currently in France (you say something about not being able to provide advice on materials ouside North Amercia, but maybe you can help with identifying materials and products which are also available in France and/or could be shipped to France?.)
I also tried to contact you by email, but not sure if you saw this as it also says that it’s only for commercial proposals.
Thanks.
Corinne
Hi Max, I’m sure you have mattresses out of the same materials choices there. The problem is I don’t know the brands and I can’t read French. I also find that materials are described differently in different countries (and there can be certifications I’m not familiar with) which means the review can easily take 2-5x longer. These are the reasons I don’t offer consulting outside of North America.
Dave
Are box springs (foundations) typically treated with flame retardants?
Corinne
That’s a good question, I don’t see any reliable information on that online. Though if you are going with a company that doesn’t use fR in their mattresses I think it’s very unlikely that they add it to the boxpring. Just ask them to be sure! Though if there is foam padding in the boxspring and the bed’s from the same company are still using FR, that would be a lot more likely.
Jerome Ngugi
A complete and comprehensive guide to make my nap time as wonderful as it can possibly be. I’d definitely steer towards more organic and healthy options. Anyone looking to improve their sleep would consider this article a treasure. Thanks.
Gary
Terrific information – thank you!
Any comments on Saatva mattresses? They claim that none of their mattresses have any outgassing.
Corinne
I would like to see their testing results that show that they are offgassing the polyurethane foam before it ships out. I highly doubt that claim. But if they are giving it some time to offgas this can help a lot.
Gary
I asked Saatva if they could give me testing results and they pointed me to the CertiPUR-US seal on their products. When I review https://certipur.us/about-the-seal/frequently-asked-questions/, they say certified foam is:
“Made without ozone depleters
Made without PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants
Made without mercury, lead and heavy metals
Made without formaldehyde
Made without phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million)”
I also heard from someone with chemical sensitivities who bought one of their mattresses. She said that she couldn’t smell anything, but had a runny nose for the first few months.
Corinne
Just about all polyurethane is Certipur, which is not 0 VOC and I can pick up the odor clearly. They should have responded with why their foam is offgassed.
Jim Jerschefske
I may have missed it but I don’t see mention of Sleep Number beds. We are considering purchasing one and we are interested in any mold and chemical issues they may have including fire retardant and anti-microbial chemicals.
Thank you very much.
Carly Swift
Thoughts on BEAR mattresses?
Corinne
They are conventional polyurethane and memory foam.
Alec
Thanks so much for this info , and for the 2020 update.
There is a brand I have read about on MCS sites that I do not see mentioned on your site. I am wondering if you have an opinion on the materials and quality of Joybed mattresses?
steve
I’m surprised Lifekind isn’t mentioned for an organic mattress
Corinne
It’s good but it can’t beat any of the brands here on price in any of the categories.
Mary
So glad I ran across this site – thank you so much for all this information. Do you have any thoughts on a mattress that can be used with an adjustable base foundation?
Corinne
That would normally be polyurethane or natural latex.
Em
Many individual wrapped coil spring mattresses work with an adjustable base like Saatvas 11.5” Classic. See manufacturer recommendations & warranty.
Elizabeth
Hi there – Thank you so much for your helpful, well-researched site. I have been agonizing over what brand of twin mattress to purchase for my three-year-old. I was considering a non-latex spring mattress through MyGreenMattress, however, I’m hesitant to purchase such an expensive mattress during the potty training years. I worry that any moisture/accidents (even with a cover) could cause mold in an all natural mattress. I have been considering the HAUGESUND mattress from Ikea, or the MEISTERVIK. The MEISTERVIK has no added flame retardants, but is all foam, which worries me due to the VOCs. The MEISTERVIK is coils, with some foam, but does have flame retardants on the zipper and stitch bond. I’m thinking one of these would be a good intro twin mattress until we’re out of the night-time potty training years, but I’m struggling which is a better choice. Any insight which is a safer choice is greatly appreciated! Both of my kids had a Naturpedic crib mattress, and I worry about safe sleep!
bpite
Hi
I’m in the exact same situation right now. Which mattress did you go with? I would invest to a more expensive mattress but only after the potty training years. I’m thinking about buying IKEA HAUGESUND or MORGEDAL mattress and use some kind of encasement to block possible odors. Does anyone have experience with these mattresses?
Unknown
Hi Corrine! Thank you for this SUPER helpful and enlightening post! I first read it a few months ago when I first began thinking of getting a new mattress and now again multiple times since I plan on ordering one this weekend. After reading, I have decided on an all wool mattress. I saw that you personally went with Shepherd's Dream. I'm curious as to why you chose SD over the other two mentioned in your post (Savvy Mattress "pastoral" all wool, 100% organic, and The Futon Shop's 100% organic all wool option?) I am leaning toward the Futon Shop's 100% organic, all wool mattress because it is packed with 63 lbs organic wool as opposed to 39lbs with the other two options. Yet, I am curious as to why you chose Shepherd's Dream in case that would have me reconsider them. THANKS SO MUCH!
An
Foam mattresses are the only mattresses that seem to be comfortable for my back and I am sensetive to latex so I am considering getting a Magniflex mattress (made in Italy which is OEKO-TEX certified. What is the experience of people with MCS with these mattresses.
Unknown
Don't forget Avocado Green!!
Unknown
Despite the warning about natural latex not necessarily being mold-resistant, I decided to go with it for some other reasons. Would it make sense to use a waterproof encasement to protect it from mold and moisture?
Corinne
We don't know what's causing it to mould and I continue to hear from folks about this growing mould when new on in low humidity. But yes I probably would make sure it's really dry first and then put a encasement on it to prevent sweat from getting in there.
Unknown
Does anyone have experience with Avocado Mattresses? Also many comments were about natural latex…natural is an ambiguous term. Dunlop or Talalay or mix (and what is the % of each if mixed)…anyone can claim "Natural" but how much of the matress is actually natural…tricky
Corinne
Other companies got in big trouble for claiming natural latex is 0 VOC. Plus how can it be natural mould resistant when it's so prone to mould? Unfortunately there is little oversight to what companies claim.
Agata
Hi thanks for a ton of great information. The more I read through this article to more I realized that the bed that my husband and I sleep on fits the description – solid wood frame, natural latex mattress, pure and untreated sheep wool, not metal in our bed. It is great that you put so much work into this article to educate others! It seem that our bed may be a good fit for you as well. Take a look at http://www.swissdreambeds.com. I hope it helps other as well. We really love it and always dread going on vacation unless its is relatives that have the same beds as we do!
Little Mouse
Hi thanks so much for this website its a great resource for those of us struggling with MCS and i really appreciate the amount of work that must have gone into it. May I ask why you chose a pure wool matress as apposed to cotton or a mixture of the two (cotton surrounded by wool)? Does pure wool make for a "better" matress (I appreciate wool acts as a natural flame retardant but apart from that)? Also we are struggling to source a good (stable) metal double bed with integrated slats here (europe) and i was wondering if you could forsee a problem with buying a metal frame and getting some lengths of metal (say aluminium) cut at the DIY store and laying these down to form slats (I have issues with wood!). Found a company called Auping who make metal supports for the bed (the slats) but they seem incredibly expensive for what they are (a metal mesh: 600€ for a double). There seems to be another company that make similar from fibreglass but price is astronomical! Thanks 🙂
Kay
Aluminum is toxic…. plain & simple. Read up on what aluminum does to your body, even in small amounts. After I learned about the toxicity of this metal, I discarded every sheet pan, pot/pan, cooking utensil and even aluminum clad SS cookware I had been using and never looked back. We use aluminum free baking powder, deodorants and toothpaste. Check labels! It seems they sneak this stuff into many things! I especially wouldn’t want it in my bedroom where I sleep 7-9 hours a night!
Corinne
Thre is zero risk with having a metal bed frame. The problem with cooking materials is totally different because when you heat it and it has contact with food it can leach into food.
Corinne
Many people need to set a mattress aside to air in out because they need a particular material. You will have to narrow in on the materials that suit you and then see what is the best bet in that category.
Billie
Yes, metal bed frames attract EMF's.. and don't sleep within 3 feet of electrical
points or leads or reading lamp. There are protective blankets for inner spring
mattresses if you have one. Here is the link. http://www.scenar.com.au/
Good luck.
Unknown
Metal bed frames are safe? What about EMFs? I just read about this somewhere. Please help!
Unknown
Hi Corinne! You wrote "Poplar wood on the interior too (should have used maple)." Why would you prefer maple over poplar? (I ask because I'm chemically sensitive, and am looking at a new Dapwood bed that has poplar slats). Is poplar prone to mold? Thanks!
Corinne
It's fine for a bed. It's just hard to work with when you are building anything.
Unknown
Thanks so much, Corinne!
Elizabeth
Is LULL mattress good? They responded to my email. Their response…..
To keep you happy & healthy, Lull only uses CertiPUR-US certified memory foam, conventional foam & polyurethane foam. Our foams meet rigorous standards for content, emissions, performance and durability. Lull mattresses contain: No ozone depleters No PBDE flame retardants No mercury, lead, and other heavy metals No formaldehyde No phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million) Out of curiosity what were you looking for in your next mattress
Corinne
That’s standard polyurethane foam.
Billie
No answers coming my way????
Corinne
If you don't find one on Google you may have to try and custom make it.
Billie
Is it possible to get a shaped foam pillow for those with neck problems and MCS,
needing the support shape up under the neck?
Jess
I know this is an old comment but I’ve had good luck with core products tri core pillow. I got the firm but they have a soft one too. It’s not memory foam. I think it’s polyester. I have a lot of issues with my neck and this, sometimes combined with a cheap soft pillow, works pretty well for me. I’ve been avoiding memory foam even though my neck would appreciate it.
xoAM
Hi! Thanks so much for the great info!! Is there a reason you didn't look at Rubio Moocoat?
xoAM
*Monocoat
Corinne
I mention it in the post on sealers.
Pawan Yadav
Also check http://reviewkid.com/tag/organic-mattress/ as well.
Corinne
That is polyurethane. Quite misleading.
Chris
Hi Corinne. A quick mention that I have had natural latex mattresses for about a decade, both purchased through Organic Grace and I have had no detectable issues. We have toppers and then a layer of wool protection and on slats etc. I'm starting to think about replacing them despite no detectable issues, just because spores and bugs do tend to accumulate over time. Our pillows which we adore are from European Sleepworks and I've given their mattresses a try-out and will probably purchase there. They are pricey but I have a better feeling than I do about the other natural latex options around here. Btw I love the feel of inner spring but have come across too many studies like this: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/left-sided-cancer-blame-your-bed-and-tv/
Oolaa Love
I am a Sr w/ severe MCS ( detergent on other's clothing bothers me) as well as all petroleum & usual cleaning & body care products. A foam mattress in the 90 started the MCS. A wool or futon mattress is too firm. what choice or choices do I have? Aren't mattress toppers foam? Help.
Corinne
You can find all the options in this post. I would go for a spring mattress from the ones I mention.
Corinne
I don't recommend these. The reason is in the post. Please read the post before posting ads.
Dorothy Barnett
For me the best option is the natural lattex mattress and especially when it comes buing a kids mattress! I bought recently a kids mattress from Coco-mat brand which is all metal free and made only with top natural materials, with no chemicals included (like the memorry foam mattresses) and it offers great body suuport. you could check their website and make a review for this brand, i would really like to see what you think about it! https://www.coco-mat.com/store/us_en/children-mattresses
Janis
This is great information, and pretty much the same conclusions I reached after years of research and bad choices (like a latex rubber mattress to which I reacted.) Now I am in Italy and the choices are different. I am trying to decide between a solid natural wool mattress with cotton cover (they do not use antiflame treatments with wool, thankfully) or a traditional mattress which has springs in the center and about 2 inches of wool surrounding them on all sides. I'll see if I can send you a picture. Since Baubiologie started in Germany, I wonder if they have similar choices there and have any discussion in your classes on this kind of traditional mattress?
Corinne
Springs with cotton is good. Building Biologists are against springs because of possible EMF issues. I am no concerned about that. I think you would have to be extremely sensitive to EMFs for that to be on your radar. 100% wool is good and yes it is very compact. I use a 3inch wool mattress and it's FIRM. Sometimes my arms fall asleep but not enough for me to change it! It's find on wooden slats if you don't mind super firm. But something springy is a good idea. A topper can help but then again I'm not for any type of foam.
Unknown
How to buy it ?. I found this site it reputable? There are here
https://latexmattresstoppershq.com/
Have you trust its? are You help me?
Romilda Gareth
Thanks
Stefanie
What bedframe do you have?
Corinne
I have wooden bed slats custom built into the loft area. I'll post a pic in this blog post.
Unknown
I'm surprised at some of the inaccurate information on here. Essentia has a history of false advertising. I have a natural organic latex mattress from an online company with GOTS, Okeo-tek certification and it has absolutely no smell. True latex shouldn't have an odor. Nest Bedding has some quality control issues. If you do a thorough search on the internet you'll discover the problems. I'm also suspicious about the objectivity of people that review mattresses when they are getting free samples and a small commission. Too many bloggers are selling themselves out to the mattress industry and promoting false information based on questionable marketing tactics.
Corinne
I have sampled 4 different brands of natural latex (that is meant for bedding) and it all has the same rubber smell. If you are not super sensitive you may not smell this. I have MCS and this blog is written for people who have a heightened sense of smell as well. Essentia used to say they are zero-VOC – their levels are 36 μg /m3. The same as natural latex. If you ask most naural latex companies if they are zero-VOC they will also say that they are. I agree though Essentia should have stated this level and now they do which is an improvement. It is actually rare for a company to disclose the actual VOC level of a foam so I respect them for doing that and not just saying low-VOC. I don't believe there is any false information on this post, please be specific if there is false information. I received some samples from Nest and Essentia to tell people what kind of smell it has. Whether a company has an affiliate program or not only comes in after I have chosen the products that I recommend.
Corinne
I am now checking out Nest Bedding and realizing they have completely changed their products since I wrote this post. They used to sell simple natural latex with covers. I will update this post regarding Nest.
Anonymous
May i ask which online company you chose…i am hunting for a company i can trust and am so confused!
Corinne
I used Shepards Dream for an all wool mattress and Coyuchi for blankets. The Amazon pillow I listed is what I use for a pillow. Simple GOTS organic sheets are from Amazon as well.
Richard BlackRose
Nice info!
Shosh
Last I checked, Essentia added essential oil to their foam, which is problematic for many with MCS. The Clean Bedroom is no longer open, as of May 2016
Corinne
Thank you, I will update this.
Katie
The Clean Bedroom reopened last fall under new management.
Ally
Very informative information. This definitely helps us in our search for chemical free bed. Thank you.
Leland
Gotta ask yourself why so many comments have been deleted by the administrator. Talk about lack of transparency.
Corinne
it's all Spam. Major spam.
Niki Dimitrov
Thank you for sharing! Very helpful information! I tend to wool mattresses (very simple and natural solution, and I always have more confidence in nature than in technology). My search shows that wool mattresses are very expensive, but I found an Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHomeOfWool which I liked very much. Very affordable and trustworthy. I look for reviews. It would be great if someone could help!
Best regards!
Gary Puntman
I would love to get a foam mattress. I think I will have to shop around. I want to get something that is free of chemicals. I'm sure there are some shops in my area that offer these. http://www.sureline.ca
Norbert
l latex, or wool mattresses with cotton (or wool) covers are two great … furniturecovers.blogspot.com
simply.sweet
Who did you use to make the custom latex cushions for the couch you had built?
Corinne
just re-sizing mattresses from nest bedding. will then get a dressmaker to sew the cushion covers.
The Multiple Chemical Survivor
Excellent ideas. I am worried about latex. I know everyone says it's non-toxic to MCSers, but latex gloves smell and there are so many people with latex allergies. I can say "well, I'm not allergic to latex" and not care, but that would be like my neighbor bathed in perfume and saying "well, I'm not allergic to perfume so why should I care about you?" I like the idea of the mattress pads piled on top of each other. Does anyone have personal experience with this. I like the idea they can be washed in a washing machine. Beds harbor all kinds of dust, dust mites, and maybe mold. It would be cool to be able to wash a bed!
Corinne
Hi, there's a big difference between natural latex and synthetic latex rubber. The natural one still does have a rubbery smell but it is dissipating with time. I don't believe that it is technically toxic though natural scents bother many people.
I'm loving the all wool mattress, It's very firm but Im sleeping so much better than I was when I was breathing flame retardants all night.
Joe Alexander
Hi,Joe from Nest Bedding! Thanks for the link. So, here are some hopefully helpful comments. My friend Lynne makes the twist buckwheat mattress, but that $300 is for the covers only, you still have to buy the buckwheat and stuff them. They are very firm. The Shepherds Dream mattress is very nice and also very firm.Latex is a good option for those who like a little comfort as well as support. I have recently added USDA certified organic latex and talalay to my product selection.Thanks!Joe, Nest Bedding
Corinne
Thanks for the info Joe! Look forward to checking out the samples from Nest Bedding!
JoeyTOB
Corrine,Good info, if we can ever help out any of your east coast customer we would love to If this posted twice my apologies…Joey