So Cofused by Manufactuer off this Site Information Natural vs. Blended Latex.

[phoenix]

Hi passionate4nature,

I am so confused by the information a manufacturer/seller from this site gave. I called mattress.net and was told all latex natural or blended is chemical free as they cook out the chemicals during manufacturing. He said the “natural” term is a marketing technique to get you to buy a more expensive mattress and a blended latex mattress will be the same as a natural in the end product as chemicals are baked out. HE then gave a example of how you cook with wine and there is alcohol but after you cook it there is no alcohol in the food. He said he has had his customers touch and rub the latex of blended and natural against their skin and there is no allergy. He also said that natural latex is at a premium as you can only manufacturer it 6 months of the year. When they make it it can only be poured for 4 hours at a time because it coagulates in the tubes and must be cleaned and then they can start again. With blended he said they can go for weeks until the tubes need cleaning cutting down the cost of labor and manufacturing. During the 6 months natural latex can’t be harvested it makes the price of blended go up and natural is cheaper than blended during the 6 months they can manufacture it. So is natural worth it? He made me question my desire for natural latex if they are the same thing, one is just more expensive. I know blended can add durability to the latex structure and can cost more as they can chemically alter it.

Both synthetic latex and natural latex are equally “rubber” or “latex” except natural latex is primarily isoprene rubber that comes from a tree (which can also be synthesized) and synthetic latex in the case of latex mattresses is made from Styrene Butadiene rubber (or SBR). Both natural and synthetic rubber are stable and inert materials when they are cured. This is similar to tires which also uses various blends of synthetic and natural rubber depending on the specific qualities that the tire manufacturer is looking for. Both natural and synthetic rubber used in mattresses … unlike tires … is foamed rubber which means that there are several other compounds that are needed in addition to the rubber to make the foamed latex core. These include curing agents, gelling agents, antioxidants, mold release agents, and other compounds that are used to make both natural and synthetic foamed rubber. These also become inert when the latex is cured or in some cases are washed out when the latex is washed after manufacturing (which also removes the excess proteins that can be a cause of latex allergies in 100% natural latex) which is why both 100% natural and blended latex will both pass the same safety testing for VOC’s and harmful ingredients. In the case of Talalay latex … this testing is Oeko-Tex standard 100 class 1 (safe for babies).

So blended Talalay latex still contains synthetic latex before and after manufacturing and natural latex still contains natural latex before and after manufacturing but all the other ingredients in both have either become inert or are removed by the manufacturing process.

The rest of what he is mentioning is correct and in most cases people who choose all natural Talalay do so mostly because they believe that it is somehow “better” or “safer” simply because it is natural when this is not necessarily the case. It may also not have the specific performance benefit that they believe it has (other than being natural) although there are differences between them that may lead some people to choose one over the other. You can read more about the difference between 100% natural Talalay and blended Talalay in post #2 here.

The rest of what he is saying is also part of the reason why 100% natural Talalay is more costly than blended Talalay.

Where can I find queen size topper covers for 3" foam under $50 bucks I have called all over, any websites?

While I don’t know all the prices … the better sources I’m aware of for covers are listed in post #4 here. It may be difficult to find a cover that is suitable for latex and will adequately protect it from ozone, ultraviolet light, and the other things that will lead to early breakdown of the latex which is under $50.

Is it true that latex must breathe so you have to use a breathable encasement and cover otherwise it will crumble. Also if they rub against each other (the layers) it is better to have a zipper cover to protect them right? What does one do about dust mites if you cant use a poly/membrane cover just use cotton and wool and wash it, how can you get that waterproof?

Latex is already the most breathable of the foam materials (although all foams are insulators and don’t breathe as well as natural fibers) but the main reason for a cover is to protect the latex from the things that will cause it to break down prematurely. If the cover also uses a natural fabric or even a semi synthetic fabric or artificial fabric like bamboo or other types of rayon materials … then it can also help with the overall ventilation and moisture wicking properties of your sleeping surface which is part of what controls the temperature regulation of your mattress. You can see the many factors that are part of temperature regulation in post #2 here.

A zip cover would allow you to remove and wash the cover or to change the latex inside the cover without having to buy a new one.

Most people would protect against dust mites with one of the types of mattress protectors that are discussed in post #89 here. If you are particularly sensitive and believe that you need a full mattress encasement (which in most cases is not necessary) then these are available as well. You can’t get a wool protector to be waterproof (which would also reduce breathability and temperature regulation) but it is water resistant which for most people is easily enough. Wool is also naturally resistant to dust mites because of its ability to reduce humidity and moisture.

I found these beds on ebay are they natural if they say 100% latex or blended? How do you tell if your buying a 3" topper off ebay that the material is really natural latex and not poly or something?

You would be completely dependent on the reputation and integrity of the merchant you buy from and on the accuracy of their description. There are many ebay sellers who misrepresent their product and many who describe them accurately and you would need to use your best judgement and your knowledge of the seller to decide which was which.

Of the three you mentioned … two of them are listed in the component list I linked earlier with some information about what they are selling. LatexUSA sells latex that come from Latexco. Mattresses 24/7 sells a mix of Radium and Latex International. I don’t know anything about latextoppers.

Phoenix