Thoughts on my pending mattress purchase

[phoenix]

Hi Pea,

In the end, we decided to go with certified organic latex from Arizona Premium Mattress. While the mattress was exactly what I ordered (I ordered the certified organic and it included all the proper labels, etc.), medium core, soft topper, in Dunlop, my general thoughts for others facing the dilemma of ordering online vs. from a store is that in retrospect we should’ve bought what we tested in person. It does seem that the one item a person should really try out before purchasing is a mattress. Even though it would’ve cost more, I wish we had just gotten the one we had tested here in NY, as the one from Arizona Premium Mattress is significantly firmer than the equivalent we had tried in a showroom (which is certainly not the fault of Arizona Mattress, it’s just they have a different standard than the Oyasumi.

I don’t think it’s the standard that is different as much as the design. There are many factors that contribute to the feel and performance of a mattress besides just the ILD of the latex layers and ILD (or density in the case of Dunlop in many instances) is only one of them. This is also why the options you have available after an online purchase can be an important part of the “value” of the mattress.

It’s a good thing that the mattress you purchased is too firm rather than too soft because you have many more options available to fine tune it. Post #2 here has some suggestions that may be helpful.

Another point is this: the cover fits VERY tightly and in fact it looks as if the topper itself is too long. Would it be wrong to cut a few inches off the bottom of the topper so that it fits more loosely in the in cover, therefore it won’t be so taut on the surface of the bed? Also, is it worth investing/switching to a different latex topper (extra soft) or can I work with what I already have?

The dimensions of the latex are probably correct but latex is very easy to stretch when you pull it and it “sticks” on the layers below it so I would “wave” it into position so that the layer isn’t stretched beyond it’s normal measurements. The cover is designed to be tight and this helps the mattress keep it’s shape. It will loosen to some degree as you go through the initial break in period.

It may be worth exchanging the top layer (depending on the density or ILD that you have) but this would depend on identifying exactly what you are trying to correct, how much it needs correcting, and on the specifics of your mattress and the options you have available. I would also make sure you had slept on the mattress for at least several weeks (which it seems you have) before making any changes and eliminated any of the other options that could be contributing to what you are feeling. the most effective way to decide on any changes that may be necessary and the options you have available is with a more detailed conversation with the manufacturer.

And finally, I had a sheet directly against the mattress, under the wool topper, and when I took it off after three weeks of being against the mattress cover, it had a very strong and pungent chemical/rubber odor. Is this normal? And will it go away? I haven’t noticed odors in the air in the bedroom otherwise, but obviously when you are buying organic the whole point is be chemical free.

The odor is the smell of natural rubber and this is normal for Dunlop yes. It’s not a “chemical” odor but just part of what natural rubber smells like. It can be longer lasting than the sweeter smell of Talalay but it will dissipate over time.

If some of the other suggestions aren’t effective and depending on exactly what you are looking to change and the degree of change that is needed … then either exchanging a layer or adding a soft topper can both be effective in softening up a mattress that is too firm.

Phoenix