Read through archives using search feature. Viewed various websites pics.
I want to know if what I want actually exists:
I want a mattress encasement that is structured on all the sides (meaning not stretch), with a completely zip off top that is stretch cotton. The top does not need to be quilted with wool, or rayon, I prefer no batting, just cotton fabric.
So far the closest I have come is APM cotton encasement, though it is not stretch, they appear to have 2 kinds, 1 has wool batting, 1 has rayon batting (special order vegan), but there are no good pics to view of the cotton covers, & the videos I could find only show the bamboo. APM mentioned in archives that they build to order-maybe it is available without any batting on top? Does the APM top zip completely off? Is the APM available without any batting on top? Would ordering 1" larger in thickness (a 13" instead of a 12") avoid the hammocking effect if you want to be in contact with the latex?
I LOVE SOL covers, their stretch fabric is to die for on top of latex, but I need structured sides for stacking the 3" toppers.
I’m starting to think to purchase an encasement with a completely removable top & leaving the SOL uppermost layer with the SOL case exposed, but then I worry I will feel zipper edge all around the bed.
Note: A mattress encasement with structured sides AND a removable zip-off stretch cotton top that is washable is THE DREAM here. There are sheet manufacturers that now make zip off top sheets-but have not yet seen it in stretch cotton yet-this is the way!!!
Our zippered covers are purposely made NOT to zip off because that would encourage someone to wash it which would end up with the cover shrinking. Our covers are also made to pass the Federal Flammability Law which is why we use Wool as the main barrier or modified rayon for those allergic to wool. We do not want to risk any possible liability if the mattress happens to go up in flames because someone got careless with a cigarette. Sure it’s extremely unlikely but we still will not take that risk. Both our Bamboo and Organic cotton fabrics are stretch knit so as NOT to create the hammock effect but any quilted cover will firm up the feel slightly. Sorry we cannot provide you with what you are looking for.
You caught me red handed on wanting to wash the top, LOL, but I have many years of experience washing wool, feel like it is my superpower. I have wool blankets & quilts 50+ yrs old…and a wool topper going on 20. I wash them all!
I was unaware that your cotton was also stretchknit. That is good to know.
I’m also interested in these covers… couple questions though. Do you know if there is any scrim sewn into the wool batting in the organic cotton cover that’s not cotton or wool? And are the materials pre-laundered at all before it’s quilted?
We have a chemical sensitivity which is why I ask and which is why we’re going the DIY route. Thanks in advance! @Arizona_Premium
***We need to put our collective brains together & come up with a way through. A loophole so we as consumers can get what we want without causing the manufacturer too much trouble with the BS regulations.
Is there a way to make the type of encasement we seek without calling it a mattress case? The ‘topper’ cases don’t seem to require the extra fire crap we are trying to avoid. Maybe re-name/re-brand it as a multi-topper storage unit? Put a black box warning stating it has no fire retardants? There MUST be a way around the regulations. Look what the ‘explicit lyrics warnings’ did in the 80’s-90’s for records sales-sales of records with the warnings skyrocketed…
True story-I had a Land’s End Soft Side waterbed that needed a new case after 15+ years. The new queen size soft side waterbed cases by then all REQUIRED fire retardants to be built into them. It is a case around…wait for it… an 8 inch bladder filled with WATER. If I happened to fall asleep smoking, I’d likely drown.
This is when I took my chances-I hauled it to the laundromat front loading triple loader, washed on cold, with all temperature Cheer & hung it to dry 90%, which took an entire day, then put it back on slightly damp & reused it for another 5 years.
Rant over!
Honestly… Even the Sol cover changes the feel of the latex. I Don’t find IT that stretchy…IT is in no way a 4 way stretch knit…I would Say a 2.25 not 4 lol.-
I wonder what would be the result of a super stretch spandex cover lol. I tried to sleep on 19-ild topper on top of my bed…(without any Sheet or cover). IT was at least two times moré pressure releaving Then with the sol cover; not an hygienic option thought.
I find the SOL cover very stretchy, way stretchier than jersey. Maybe order 1" thicker size than your topper so there is more loose fabric so you aren’t confining it any way when you lay on it. I’m smaller, so maybe I wasn’t compressing the topper & fabric to it’s limits to feel any difference. I LOVE their covers!
And it’s your topper, if you want to sleep on it without any cover because you like it better that way-do it! Just wipe it off when it needs it & make sure you throw something on top of it when you are not sleeping on it to protect from sunlight.
Or you could just loose lay a stretchy flat sheet over it instead of tucking & making it tight.
I don’t believe spandex would work the way you think it would-it would pull the latex tighter together on any part that wasn’t under pressure. Yes, it stretches farther, but it isn’t a loose stretch-it stretches like pantyhose-ever wear a pair of spandex pants or biker shorts-versus a pair of stretch knit? Plus all of the synthetic would make for sticky/icky sleeping.
There are now micro-fiber super stretchy jersey sheets, mostly polyester, that are supposed to be very stretchy, some people aren’t sensitive to synthetics in their bed.
Flobeds has a mattress cover for purchase, it is quilted on all sides and top can come off completely. but i agree with APM it is really made to be so snug that i would not risk machine washing it at all.