Hi, I have had issues with my last two mattresses going mouldy, I am currently sleeping on a brand new wool latex layered mattress and am following care advice, however due to my chronic illness keeping me bed bound and having chemical and electrical sensitivities I am unable to tolerate central heating on for long or any electrical equipment in my room (ie dehumidifiers etc) within two weeks I have discovered mould underneath the mattress and on the slats - any advice please how to manage this problem, In a non traditional way please .
Hello and thank you for reaching out! Latex sap lines the bark of the rubber tree and is the tree’s natural defense against microbes, bacteria, mildew, viruses, etc. – it’s like the tree’s immune system. Once the latex sap is harvested and turned into a foam, these inherent microbe-killing properties are maintained, which is why mold, mildew, dust-mites, bacteria, etc. have a very hard time surviving in the latex micro-climate. However, if you introduce moisture (especially at high levels) to the sleeping environment, mold can grow on a latex mattress, even if you have it on a breathable slatted foundation. With all that said, it’s VERY rare that we hear of any mold-related issues from our customers, it’s just not a problem that we encounter. As such, I feel like you would get better advice from the general forum from people that have encountered the problem and have hopefully found solutions that will suit your particular needs. I wish I could be of more assistance, but we are latex mattress experts, which really does keep us from becoming too familiar with mold and non-traditional solutions to mold problems.
Hey megsyjenks,
Welcome to The Mattress Underground 
! Thanks for your question.
Sorry to hear of the on-going problems you are having with mold and mattresses, that must be quite frustrating given the chronic illness and sensitivity issues you have already. Just curious about the climatic conditions where you live, where are you located? Besides what you’ve mentioned, are there other details describing your sleep environment of interest? BTW, thanks to @LatexMattressFactory for your quick response, your contributions on this topic are appreciated.
I’m moving this question to the TMU General Forum where consumer subscribers can comment on your question and offer their insights, it would be interesting to hear their thoughts too.
Thanks,
Sensei
Hey megsyjenks,
Welcome to The Mattress Underground ! Thanks for your question.
Sorry to hear of the on-going problems you are having with mold and mattresses, that must be quite frustrating given the chronic illness and sensitivity issues you have already. Just curious about the climatic conditions where you live, where are you located? Besides what you’ve mentioned, are there other details describing your sleep environment of interest? BTW, thanks to @LatexMattressFactory for your quick response, your contributions on this topic are appreciated.
I’m moving this question to the TMU General Forum where consumer subscribers can comment on your question and offer their insights, it would be interesting to hear their thoughts too.
Thanks,
Sensei
I am thinking that the mold is in your wood slats. It can be tremendously hard to get rid of once established. You should consider a metal bed frame that contains no wood.
Something like this:
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B071F387ZY/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Pair it with a brand new mattress and clean the area, floor etc. around the bed with vinegar. Vaccumm with a hepa vac or central vac to help remove them if you have carpet. You need to get rid of the spores in the environment.
If you want an adjustable base choose an all metal one. The 2019 model of the LucidL100 is all metal. But it doesn’t look like the 2020 model is so don’t get that one.
https://amazon.com/LUCID-L100-Adjustable-Steel-Frame/dp/B07BMH455G/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lucid+l100&qid=1576174312&s=home-garden&sr=1-1
Hello!
I’ve been doing some researching and I’ve seen some great suggestions!
What about cleaning your whole bedroom with Borax?
Borax lowers the pH of the environment which makes it more unfavorable to mold, I have read that it is effective against a plethora of mold colonies, however I’m sure there are fungal spores that thrive on that stuff!
Anyways try a concentrated Borax solution in Hot water personally I’d like some H2O2 medical peroxide To boost the power.
When working against fungus like athletes foot I have found tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil to be effective as well so I’d assume that would help on non-porous surfaces as well…
I honestly don’t know… or even think that it could kill it in something as porous as latex foam though
ALSO you have to figure out a way to keep it as dry as possible.
I’ve heard of people using Diatomaceous Earth or DE to keep places dry
That’s all that I can think of regarding mold, I hope that helps
Hello Megsyjenks,
So sorry to hear you’re battling mold again. That can be a pain to remediate!
Without good ventilation, natural products can mold. Latex and wool prefer slats for one, but without airflow, there is a no chance for the humidity or body sweats to move off the mattress. It sounds like your room is creating the same condition that RV’s and tiny homes run into. They have to leave their fans on or they have the same problem.
However, I do believe in the importance of coincidences and just days ago, I had a customer who told me how the wood in her bed frame was harboring mold. I got the impression that the wood was not properly dried or was perhaps freshly cut. This echoes the thought of Marshmallowforme’s post.
Are you able to get out of your room occasionally? I ask because ultraviolet light has shown effective at removing much airborne mold. Ultraviolet light is used in both heating systems and room air purifiers. You can purchase stand alone lights to use when you are not in the room. Perhaps you could position it under the bed? Here is a link to one I have purchased for a just in case situation.
Hey megsyjenks,
Haven’t heard from you in awhile, just checking in to see how your mold situation is going. Looks like there has been some positive feedback from several consumer subscribers, thanks @Marshmallowforme and @Seanec for sharing their thoughts. Thanks too, TMU Trusted Member DIY Natural Bedding for your suggestion of an Ultraviolet lighting solution, one of our team members is using this alternative for the same type mold issues.
A question for @diynaturalbedding: can you give more insights on the use of ultraviolet lighting for removing airborne mold in a bedroom environment? Such as, approximately how long/ how often should the lighting cycles be used for combating mold?
Keep us posted, megsyjenks and let us know how things are going .
Thanks,
Sensei
I know this is an old post, just wanted to share that metal for EMF sensitivity is never good on a bed. It will only amplify the EMF issues, this is why people like the EHS which I also am, are going to a non-coil mattress.