Mattress for the Chemically Sensitive

[phoenix]

Hi Chinchilla,

I’ve noted on your site that you’ve said that natural comfort layers can compress and not recover as well over time. Sounds like there’s no real good substitute for a foam (latex or synthetic) in the comfort layer from a durability and consistency standpoint.

Natural fibers do tend to be firmer than softer foam materials (especially as they compress over time) but that’s not always the case and it can depend on how the specifics of what type of fiber is used, how it’s manufactured or tufted, and on the type and firmness of the innerspring that is underneath them. There are certainly some manufacturers who make softer versions of innerspring/natural fiber mattresses (usually with one or more pocket coils) but these tend to be more costly (and in some cases in very high budget ranges). There is a list of some of the innerspring / natural fiber mattress manufacturers and some of the “ultra premium” manufacturers in post #4 here.

if I do consider latex, it might be better to go with Dunlop since it’s a more pure material from the standpoint of being a single ingredient.

I’m not so sure this would be the case and there would be a valid argument on both sides of the discussion. Neither one would contain any synthetic latex in their formula. Talalay latex uses flash freezing to stabilize the latex and CO2 as a gelling agent while with Dunlop these would be actual substances that were part of the compounding formula in the latex. Dunlop may also use lower levels of ammonia to prevent putrefaction because it’s manufactured close to the plantation while with Talalay the liquid latex is shipped before manufacturing so it would need higher levels to avoid contamination by bacteria but the foaming and manufacturing process would remove most of this in both cases. Both are washed to remove impurities after manufacturing. No latex manufacturer discloses all the details of their compounding and manufacturing process so which one was “purer” would be open for debate.

If a manufacturer is willing to give me very small samples of their mattress contents, I can have them tested ahead of time for compatibility with my system, which would be a more certain way of making a good mattress choice. Have you ever heard of manufacturers providing customers with small samples (1" is plenty) of their materials?

I think this would be a good idea and there are many manufacturers that will provide a sample of their latex if you ask them so you can carry it with you for a few days to see how compatible it is for you.

You repeatedly encourage your readers to find an outlet to try mattresses before they buy. For me, it would really help to talk to a professional who could help educate us and point us in the right direction. Are there any outlets in our area where we could try a few mattresses and get some good advice and information? We are in Fairfax County VA, zipcode 20171.

Some of the better options and possibilities I’m aware of in the Washington, DC area are listed in post #2 here. While they are in a much higher budget range … Urban Mattress carries VI Springs which are a line of very high quality pocket coil natural fiber mattresses that would have some softer versions that may be worth testing just out of curiosity and to see what a soft mattress of this type can feel like for you.

Phoenix