Best Organic Mattresses – Buying Guide and Top Models
If you are looking for a truly eco-friendly organic mattress, our ultimate guide and top picks based on analysis and research can help you choose the right organic mattress for your bedroom.
If you are looking for a truly eco-friendly organic mattress, our ultimate guide and top picks based on analysis and research can help you choose the right organic mattress for your bedroom.
Seeking an authentic eco-friendly organic mattress? Make sure to do your homework before purchasing. Check out our comprehensive review of top natural organic mattresses.
Many customers favor buying natural products. Products made from natural materials are always better for the environment and have very little, if any, hazardous chemicals that are very dangerous for our health. The same applies to the mattresses. The mattress market has a vast choice of products that are natural and environmentally-friendly. Majority of the companies are switching to natural materials and going green.
Certifications are an essential aspect to consider when purchasing an eco-friendly mattress. If a bed is made from an organic or natural material, it should have a certification that gives information about low health risks to humans. The certifications OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and CertiPUR US. provide information about low health risks, while the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and GreenGuard give details on how the materials have a low environmental impact.
Underneath you can read more about picking a natural and organic mattress and see our choices for the best eco-friendly mattresses available at the market. The selected models are based on substantiated buyer experiences and thorough product research.
Highlights
The Avocado Green bed is one of the best supportive hybrid mattresses and one of the best natural latex mattresses. It is completely made from natural materials and is suitable for all eco-friendly buyers.
The comfort layers are made of natural Dunlop latex and organic wool from New Zealand wool. This combination gives good pressure relief and conforming for most sleepers. In combination with the organic cotton cover, you will able to sleep fairly cool in the bed. Additionally, the support core has one more layer of natural latex that is put over the pocketed coils to give the best cushioning and support.
The Avocado Green comes in two firmness settings, ‘Medium’ (5.5 out of 10) and ‘Medium Firm’ (6.5). Both of the firmness settings are considered the most popular firmness options available on the market. Included in the ‘Medium’ design are one layer of latex pillow-top, which helps increase the thickness of the bed and also provides the additional comfort layer. The mattress also has excellent motion isolation. The product also makes much less noise than the other hybrids.
The shipping for the Avocado Green mattress is free for the U.S. Additionally, for an extra charge, you can get the old mattress removed from your home and the new one assembled with the White Glove Delivery.
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Highlights
Sleep on Latex Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress is available in two profile options: 7″ and 9″. For this review, we have chosen the 9″ as the best natural latex mattress, because of its higher levels of conforming and pressure relief. However, the price is much lower than for the average latex mattress model.
The Pure green has natural and organic ingredients and components. One of those components is the natural Dunlop layers located in both the comfort system and the support core. It also has organic wool in the comfort layer and organic cotton in the cover. The listed materials have good conforming, pressure relief and motion isolation. And the product also has excellent regulation of the sleeper temperature.
The Pure Green mattress is also available in three firmness settings: ‘Soft’ (3.5), ‘Medium’ (5.5), and ‘Firm’ (7.5). With these options, you can pick the most suitable mattress for you. It was made for sleepers of all heights, weights, or sleep positions.
Sleep on Latex has free mattress shipping for buyers living in the U.S., and it also comes with a 100-day sleep trial and a 120-month warranty.
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Highlights
The Zenhaven mattress by Saatva is the best latex mattress with different firmness settings. One side is Medium Delicate (4), and the other is Firm (7), but it is not a flippable mattress. Each half of one side of the bed has different firmness settings.
Most of the bed is made from a natural material called Talalay latex, which comes from rubber trees. During the production this material absorbs CO2, making it very safe for the environment. This kind of latex has many health benefits, along with hypoallergenic properties and resistance to dust mites, mold and microbe organisms. The support core is the same for every layer, and it is made from a firmer and denser Talalay latex, which has a more consistent cell structure. This structure is what makes the bed softer, but still enables quick responsiveness and conforming. The Talalay latex has one of the best supports for back sleepers, because of the 100% organic cotton cover that is very soft and breathable. On top of that, it is also covered with all-natural wool, responsible for absorbing the moisture away from the mattress. The plush layer is soft on touch, with a subtle sinking feeling with applied pressure.
The Zenhaven mattress is primarily intended for shoppers with bigger budgets, because of its slightly high price. However, Saatva offers free shipping with White Glove delivery for all of their products. With the White Glove delivery, you can also have the old mattress removed from your home and the new one assembled. Along with the free shipping, this model has a 240-month warranty with a 120-day sleep trial. Without any resilient organic blends or any other unhealthy substances, it is a fantastic option for environmentally friendly shoppers with bigger budgets.
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Highlights
The Brentwood Home Cedar mattress is the best hybrid mattress with a profile that is much thicker than the average and ‘Medium’ (5) level of firmness. The product has a great sleep surface, suitable mostly for side sleepers and for those that are lightweight or average weight (less than 130 pounds).
Within the comfort layer of the bed has natural Dunlop latex and organic New Zealand wool. The combination of these materials gives amazing comfort to help ease pressure points in your body. This combination also had great motion isolation and temperature regulation. The base layer of the bed has all-natural coconut husks that are in charge of reinforcing the edges and keeping the even surface. The bed’s support core has pocketed coils and is responsible for the bed’s comfort and the even surface.
Brentwood Home customers have free shipping. Those who order the King-size or even larger, have free White Glove delivery available for their beds. Along with the bed, the mattress has a 300-month warranty, the longest warranty a mattress available on the market has.
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Highlights
The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Collection is known as the most durable mattresses and best latex mattresses available. You can choose from any of the three thickness profiles 9″, 10″, and 12″ and four firmness options for each of these: ‘Soft’ (3.5), ‘Medium’ (5.5), ‘Medium Firm’ (6.5), and ‘Extra Firm’ (9). With this wide range of choices, it can fit every sleeper’s wishes and preferences.
The comfort layers are made from organic Dunlop latex and organic wool. The cover of the bed is also made of Dunlop latex. Because it is made from natural materials, it helps provide a cool and very comfortable surface that conforms to the body and adjusts the spine without the whole body sinking too deeply. The bed has better responsiveness and bounciness than most of the other latex models. Because of the materials that were used, the model is very durable, and its lifespan is much longer than for the average latex mattress.
The Botanical Bliss has free shipping in the U.S., and it comes with a 100-day sleep trial and the 100-day comfort exchange, which gives the customers the opportunity to adjust the firmness of the bed by changing one single layer of latex. Additionally, they have a 300-month warranty that includes 120 months of non-prorated coverage. The mattress has the longest among warranties available on the market.
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Highlights
A mattress for people sleeping on their stomach is very difficult to find. Stomach sleepers have more aches and pains because of their sleep position, unlike the people who sleep on other sleep positions. My Green Mattress Natural Escape is made just for this kind of issues.
The Natural Escape is the best latex and best hybrid bed for stomach sleepers. It has zoned pocketed coils that possess higher-gauge coils at the top of the bed, medium-gauge coils at the center and lower-gauge coils on the edges, and this gives a support system that is above average that is firm enough for stomach sleepers.
The product is also very eco-friendly. The cover of the product is made of organic cotton, and the comfort layer has organic Dunlop latex and natural wool. Because of this combination of materials, the bed has close conforming and excellent pressure relief. It also has excellent motion isolation, with a very minimal amount of motion transfer and with minimal noise production. With these qualities, the bed is perfect for couples, especially for people that are awoken easily.
Customers located in the U.S. that want to buy My Green Mattress have for free shipping available. The mattress has a 100-day sleep trial and a non-prorated 120-month warranty.
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Ecology is a branch of science that deals with environmental issues. It is responsible for the new developing green technology and innovation, which have had a significant impact on a lot of industries in the past years. From cars and construction to clothing and cosmetics, ecology and green technology have impacted so many things around us, including mattress manufacturers that now offer sustainable products.
But, the words “green,” “eco,” “eco-friendly” and “natural” are often misused and exaggerated. It is now a trend that companies use these terms to mislead to promote their products as natural or organic, and this is called “greenwashing.” And unfortunately, companies are not being controlled or punished when breaking this, because a regulatory body that should check the green claims and facts has not yet been created, but there are certifications available for foam, latex, and fabrics.
With this guide, you will have the opportunity to learn about some terms used for green mattresses, about which materials are natural and organic, and about certifications that a green product should have. And you will also see what you need to look for in a bed and what a green mattress is.
A true green bed has natural and/or organic components in the cover, comfort layers, and the support core. Among these components are:
It’s important to note that mattresses are never 100% natural or organic. Most eco mattresses differ from 95% to 60% natural and organic. There are also ‘half-organic’ and ‘half-natural’ products that have many green components but are not eco-friendly mattresses. Many of the rands use the word “green” and even “eco-friendly” to describe one ingredient or just one process of the production, even though the whole model itself is not natural or organic. This trend of abusing these words is called greenwashing, and it is something that you need to look out for.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) watches over the flammability standards of mattresses. This commission declared a new standard for flammability in mattresses twelve years ago. Within this regulation, companies selling their products in the U.S. are required to have flame- and fire-resistant products. The law’s first intention was to deal with the rising number of deaths annually caused by fires in bed. Unfortunately, many companies have chosen to use chemical flame retardants for these issues, which is a significant health risk for people.
The most dangerous fire retardants used are polybrominated diphenyl ethers, otherwise known as PBDEs. They have been connected to thyroid, liver and neurological problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring these issues and chemicals. So far, these chemicals have been forbidden in Maine and Washington state. Mattresses were doused in these chemicals, but luckily this method is now prohibited. But, some foam models have their foam doused in PBDEs, for the product to be more fire-resistant, and this poses a significant health risk.
The real green mattress should not and will not have any chemical flame retardants. The true green mattress models have fire socks that are flame barriers. These fire socks are commonly made out of silica. However, many green models have fire socks made from more natural materials. These materials are usually wool or thistle. And some materials that do not require any chemical treatment, like Kevlar, can be used in these products. But, a chemical-free fire sock is much healthier for people and also considered as a much more green option. There is a certain number of models that do not use chemical treatments or have fire socks and flame barriers. The reason behind that is that the materials used in these models have a higher fuel load which takes longer to burn, and therefore these models meet the state and federal flammability standards.
We’ve already talked about certifications, but you’re probably wondering how to tell the difference between green and regular mattress models. The best way to tell the difference is with the certifications that focus on how a product impacts your health and the environment. Companies get these certifications for their products at different stages of their production. These certifications focus on the health risks for people and on how the product impacts the environment. In the next paragraphs, we will talk about the most prominent and revered certifications.
The first revered certification is the OEKO-TEX Standard 10. This certification comes from the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology. They have 18 independent institutes for research and testing, located in Europe and Japan. The certification does not deal with the organic materials of the mattress or if the mattress is organic. It makes sure that certain chemicals are not used over the limit that possesses a health risk for people. Among these chemicals are the already mentioned PBDEs, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dyes that trigger allergies, and other flame retardants.
Another certification is the CertiPUR-US that deals with chemical emissions that happen with polyurethane foam (polyfoam), which is often used in mattress layers. It also deals with harmful materials like PBDEs and lead. Some other certifying bodies, like the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) won’t certify a product that has any polyurethane foam.
Another organization that handles certifications for mattresses is the Eco-Institut. It is an independent certification organization located in Germany. It handles certifications for textiles and building materials for chemical substances and hazardous emissions. The certification given by the Eco-Institut is often linked with latex models.
The previously mentioned certifications focused on health risks for people, but there are also those that focus on the environmental impact. First among those is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). We mentioned these certifications in the previous segment. This certification gives judgment on organic fibers, both the raw materials and their derivative products. To get the GOTS, the product must have at least 70% organic material. But, as mentioned before, if the product has some materials, like polyfoam or formaldehyde, it will not get this certification.
Another already mention certifications for environmental impact is the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS). This one is very similar to the GOTS. It handles latex products, but for a product to receive the GOLS certification.
For the evaluation of VOC emissions, the most revered certifications is the GreenGuard and GreenGuard Gold. Apart from VOC emissions, it also looks for the same qualities, albeit with a stricter set of standards. GreenGuard and GreenGuard Gold certifications make sure that there are minimal VOC emissions. However, it should be noted that these certifications do not assure against some off-gassing odors that may happen after the product is removed from the packaging.
Among the certifications that deals with environmental issues and impacts are the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic and the National Organic Program (NOP). Although the USDA Organic label is known for dealing with food mostly, it also evaluates and tests crops and agricultural materials that can be used in mattresses or some other consumer products. It evaluates raw materials instead of their derivatives. For example, latex is processed with the sap of rubber trees, and if it has a USDA Organic certifications, then you can be sure that it is made of rubber trees grown with only organic farming techniques. Even though the rubber trees were not treated with some chemical pesticides, it does not, however, mean that the final latex product is organic.
The OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN certification deals with sustainable processes that were used to create a product. The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN deals with testing for harmful substances and emissions. The Cradle to Cradle certification deals with testing organic fibers and materials for a range of sustainable criteria. Those criteria include carbon emissions, water conservation, and the overall impact on the environment. It is mostly for evaluating latex, and organic materials like natural cotton or organic wool. An independent organization called Textile Exchange gives the Global Recycled Standard certifications. It handles the production of material and whether they have been produced with environmentally healthy and sustainable techniques and practices.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list and that mattresses can have additional certifications. It is vital that you research each of the given certifications to see if the certifications are independent and trustworthy. Many of the manufacturers will have all current certifications for each model. It is often placed on individual product pages, but it can also be found in some other places of the brand’s website, like the About Us section or the FAQ section.
Apart from these certifications, the criteria for natural, organic or green mattresses can vary with a certain or specific model. We will now take a look at the most critical factors and at the green standards for foam, hybrid, latex, and innerspring mattress models.
When talking about foam mattresses, it can mean two different materials: viscoelastic polyurethane foam, a.k.a. memory foam and standard polyurethane foam, a.k.a. polyfoam. Both of these types of foam can be treated with chemicals to be softer and to have better temperature response. Although these aspects are significant, it is also essential for the foams not to have chemicals in them, which they often do. Most commonly, there are chemicals used on foam in the base support core layers and the comfort layers.
Polyfoam bed usually have a lower price, but also a below-average lifespan. The memory foam beds are slightly different. Memory foam reacts to the temperature of the body, and it gets softer when coming in contact with heat. When you get up, it cools and returns to its original shape. Memory foam is usually out in the comfort layer, but not in the support core, like polyfoam. Additionally, memory foam is also used in the layers of different other models like airbeds and hybrids.
You should keep in mind that both the polyfoam and memory foam are never 100% natural or organic. Te better and more natural alternative is the plant-based memory foam (PLA) because it is produced from plant-based oils, not from petroleum and various other chemicals.
The innerspring mattresses were named after the steel coils that are the main component of the support core. The comfort layers usually have one or more layers of foam: either polyfoam or memory foam. The models that have more than two inches of memory foam are considered to be hybrids. A certain number of innersprings that is produced with sustainable methods are being called green. But, the materials in the springs and the comfort layer are mostly created with industrial processes that are not green.
Hybrid beds were made to be a combination of foam and innerspring mattresses, and they have a support core that is coil-based and a comfort system that is made of minimally two inches of memory foam. Many hybrids have pocketed coils that are encased in cloth or fabric.
Similarly to innerspring mattresses, the hybrids have a lot of materials in the comfort layer that were made with industrial processes. And because of that, they should not be thought of as green or organic. But, hybrids can also have materials in the cover or the comfort layer that are certified as organic, like organic wool, organic cotton or natural latex.
Many of the green mattresses are made from latex. Latex is a natural substance that is made from rubber tree sap. There are only two types of processes that are used to make latex. The first is The Dunlop Process. This process consists of the rubber tree sap being stirred, then molded and then stem-baked. This latex has a tendency to be heterogeneous and bottom-heavy that has a lighter substance on the top and sediment at the bottom. Dunlop latex is often used in the support core of latex mattresses. The second process is the Talalay Process which consists of the sap being vacuum-sealed, frozen and baked. This latex is more homogenous and much lighter, so it is often used in the comfort layer of latex and hybrid mattresses. Additionally, the latex that is used in beds can also be sorted by its ration of natural and synthetic elements.
The greenwashing trend that was mentioned before is widespread with latex models. These models are often labeled to be 100% natural or organic, but that is false. There is no such thing as 100% organic latex or 100% natural latex. Because of this, some mattresses are labeled as all-natural, although the latex in them is primarily synthetic.
Furthermore, the USDA Organic label that was already mentioned is in charge of evaluating the way the rubber trees are grown, but not the process of production that were used to derive the latex from rubber tree sap. Because of this, the USDA Organic latex certification can be put on a mattress that is not organic at all. The more accurate certifications for this is the GOLS, which evaluates the rubber trees and its derivatives.
Benefits of using a true green mattress include the following:
Many mattresses made today have adhesives, petrochemicals, flame retardants, dyes, and other materials that are a risk to our health. Models that meet the standards for green and organic certification are made of materials that are not harmful to us.
Reduced Environmental Impact
Buyers nowadays are very mindful of the relationship between industrial production and environmental degradation. Real green mattresses have a minimal ecological footprint with the raw materials production and industrial processing.
Above-average Lifespan
It is not unknown that natural products tend to last longer than synthetic materials. Because of that, green and organic models usually have a much longer lifespan. Furthermore, latex is a very durable material and mattress made out of latex perform for minimally eight years – a lot longer than the average lifespan of six to seven years.
High Price-point
It is true that the real green mattresses are expensive, especially models that have received the revered and respected certifications like GOLS and GOTS. Getting certifications is a costly process for manufacturers, along with the raw materials that are much more expensive than their synthetic replacements. Buyers need to be prepared to spend at least $1,500 if they want a Queen-size green mattress.
Narrow Selection
Green mattresses are generally less common on the market, which leaves buyers with fewer options than they would like. It is especially true for buyers who want to buy non-latex models and those who have unique firmness criteria.
Limited Company History
Beds that were made with non-green and traditional materials have a longer lifespan, and green and organic materials have a limited history on the mattress market. Furthermore, a significant percentage of online-only brands have been in business only for a couple of years, and their models have probably not been tested for long-term durability.
After learning the and cons of green mattresses, you’ll need to learn about important factors that make them truly eco-friendly. When shopping for a green mattress, you need to consider the listed factors, especially when you’re comparing different brands and models of green mattresses.
Like it was mentioned before, a green mattress will be certified by one of the leading certification organizations. For example, a mattress that is made from organic latex needs to have the GOLS certification. Companies and manufacturers that do not have a certification displayed are possibly not true organic latex models. Mattresses need to have a certification of their true status, but they can also have more than one certification and still be considered green. It is vital that buyers question the companies that claim that their products are green, without displaying or having any of the certifications listed above. Furthermore, customers need to research the brands to make sure that their certifications are valid and up-to-date. Some companies tend to display the certification logo although their certified status has ended.
The way the manufacturer describes the mattress is very revealing. Using the terms eco-friendly and green without providing proof or links any recognized certification, can tell you that the brand is hiding something. In these cases, it would be best to research that brand to make sure if and what they are hiding.
The quality of the material used is the most critical factor for the whole performance. And most importantly, the material can also determine if and how green a particular model is. Many brands tend to disguise their low-quality materials by talking about the mattress construction in some vague terms. Buyers can evaluate the quality of the material with certain strategies that we will mention.
Certain brands are very detailed and more transparent about the specifications of their products than others. For example, models that have foam layers need to have indentation load deflection, thickness, and density of each layer. Innerspring mattresses need to have the type of coils and the coil gauge that was used. Latex mattresses must have listed the process that was used in production, and the type of latex. Buyers need to be wary of companies that don’t share this information or that don’t make this information visible.
Comfort layers of a mattress that have less than two inches will slowly begin to sag and develop indentations because of that. Indentations and sagging are responsible for mattress degradation, and because of that, it is vital to measure the comfort layer, as a way to be sure that the bed will have a normal and average lifespan.
If a model has two layers of natural latex located in the comfort system with detailed specs, but it also has a supportive core with a foam layer and no detailed specs, this can give you insight that the foam layer is very thin and weak, which can be responsible for a shorter lifespan. You need to inquire and find out everything about all layers and components.
Like it was previously mentioned, green mattresses must never have chemical flame retardants or even chemical-treated flame barriers. Green mattresses need to have a flame barrier that is made out of natural materials like cotton, thistle, wool or Kevlar. And if they do not have chemical flame retardants or a flame barrier in them, the manufacturer must meet all state and federal flammability standards.
If a brand has a relatively small or limited company history, that does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with it or that you can’t trust it. But, if a mattress has been on the market only for the past couple of years, that means it has not been checked out for its long-term durability and performance. Because of that, buyers need to proceed with extreme caution with a mattress that has an unknown lifespan.
Green mattresses can be very expensive, but when shopping for a green mattress, the overall value of the bed is more important than the price. You need to see if the mattress has a good comfortable system and an excellent supportive surface that can last for least six to seven years while remaining good. You need to consider is a certain mattress a better choice to buy than a different and cheaper model. It is sure that the price-points for green mattresses seem very intimidating, especially for first-time buyers. However, numerous models are known for their high-value, and they can surely outperform models that cost less. Additionally, if you want an affordable non-toxic mattress that has certifications, you need to research all the available products on the market.
A certain number of mattress brands has free shipping for buyers located in the lower 48 states. In most of the cases, deliveries to Alaska or Hawaii almost always have shipping charges. But, buyers need to read the fine print, because brands have a tendency not to give information about their shipping rates until you buy their product.
Many brands give sleep trials for first-time customers, which allow buyers to try out the mattress for a predefined period, and return or exchange the product during the trial period. But, not all of the sleep trials are the same, and there are certain factors, which we will mention underneath, to watch out for.
Trial length
A certain number of the sleep trials extends up to a year, while many others last less than 30 nights. You need to remember the fact that some mattresses need a couple of weeks to break in.
Mandatory break-in
Because many mattresses need more time to accommodate, manufacturers may suggest and give you a mandatory break-in period that requires you to try out their bed for a certain defined number of nights before returning it as part of the sleep trial. Most of these mandatory break-in periods are usually 30 nights.
Returns and exchanges allowed
Many manufacturers give the customers the option to return the mattress and get a full or partial refund. But some manufacturers only give the customers to exchange their mattress for another model of a different size or firmness level. However, some manufacturers have both options for returns and exchanges. It’s important that customers read the fine print and see what the company allow and what it doesn’t.
When you need to return or exchange a mattress during the sleep trial, some manufacturers will agree to cover the costs that come with shipping the mattress from your residence to the company facility. But this is not the case with all companies, some will let the customer be responsible for the costs of shipping the mattress.
The warranty is a guarantee that the product won’t be defective in the period of the warranty, which is usually 120 month or longer for some models. There are two types of warranty coverage: non-prorated and prorated.
Non-prorated
With the exception of some shipping and handling charges, the mattress owner will not be responsible for paying any extra fees to have a mattress repaired or replaced.
Prorated
Apart from the shipping and handling costs, the buyer must also pay a certain percentage of the original product price if they want the mattress to be repaired or replaced. This percentage can often be increased with every year that you own the product. Additionally, people who are almost at the end of their warranty may have to pay a large piece of the original price-point.
The bottom line
A lot of warranties that are entirely non-prorated cost the buyers much less than the warranties that are partially or primarily prorated.
When buying any new product, you should also research models apart from what customer reviews listed on product pages. A lot of brands will, of course, only list the positive reviews, or even arrange their reviews with the positive ones displayed at the top and negative ones at the bottom.
As we have mentioned before, the words organic and natural are very popular to use now with the rising consumer interest. It is widely known that products that are natural are healthier, nontoxic and most suitable for the environment. Not as many people will think about the materials used in their mattresses. It should be known that your choice of mattress and its materials will definitely impact your health.
As you continue to browse in search of your new natural, organic mattress, we have made a list of questions you can use as help for choosing the best available mattress.
Iva is an art historian and an art lover who always had a passion for writing and sleep! When she is not researching and testing new mattresses on the market, you can find her binge-watching TV shows, eating tons of junk food or playing with her dog Bart.
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