Got a new latex mattress and was reading about how UV light can be damaging. I have the mattress covered under a cotton protective sheet but my curtains are opaque and during the day light is shining in on them. Should I switch to blackout curtains or is this level of light okay for the mattress? Thanks for the advice!
Tonythetigger:
A simple cotton sheet over layers of latex will not offer adequate protection against UV degradation. And if anything, you’d want some sort of encasement and mattress pad/protector to keep the latex clean and healthy.
There was an interesting comparison I read one time from a company offering latex component bedding, and they did a comparison of the aging of the latex with different coverings. I believe they found the least amount of aging of the latex in their samples that used a cotton/wool encasement. I can attest to this with latex samples in my showroom. Ones that are uncovered - even placed far away from the front windows - degrade over time, versus ones that are encased and still feel/look relatively new.
Blackout shades are desirable more for maintaining a dark sleep environment, but they certainly will assist with less UV entering the room. But you may wish to consider a better covering for your latex.
Perhaps some of the latex component specialty members here on the site can provide some more specific options/information.