We’ll be adding a few videos within the next few months. We figure if you can’t visit us, this is our way of visiting you! We’re starting off with a quick hello from Hans who many of you talk to when you call for information about our organic mattresses.
Category: Natural Bedroom
Hey! A special thanks to the team at Greenthinkers for selecting us as one of the top 5 eco-mattresses!
Greenthinkers mission is to throw some green ideas out there in hopes of getting ourselves and others to make lifestyle changes that benefit the environment, or at least don’t harm it as much. Be sure to check out their site for ideas!
We pretty much feel the same way which is why we have the “chill out naturally” motto. Not asking for huge lifestyle changes, just little things we use in our everyday routine, that add up to a whole lot of difference if we make the right choices.
Categories
Latex mattress inferno
Yikes! Talk about informing folks with wrong information. We’ve seen the following on quite a few websites so thought it was worth posting:
(quote): “Latex doesn’t catch fire, so no chemical flame retardants are necessary, and none are added.” (unquote)
The above statement, taken from another website that sells natural and organic mattresses, is inaccurate. Latex DOES burn, and it burns pretty easily. It doesn’t matter if the latex is natural or synthetic, it will burn… although the fumes are different.
Here’s another excerpt from an article written by a so-called expert who sells organic bedding:
(quote): “A Natural latex mattress, whose foam is made from the latex sap of the rubber tree and which require no fire retardants because natural rubber does not burn well.” (unquote)
Once again, the above statement is dead wrong. Natural latex rubber actually burns quite nicely. To clear things up: Latex DOES burn. It may not burn as fast (or with the toxic smoke) as it’s petrochemical synthetic foam cousin, but it will definitely burn baby burn. I guess you could call all these wrong facts “WEBSITE INFERNOS”. So folks, be very careful what you read out there… or you could get burned (pardon the pun).
Above photos show our actual burning of dunlop natural latex rubber.
Mattress ticking is the outside fabric used to cover your mattress. And YES it is very important…. especially on a natural latex mattress.
Often people overlook the ticking, when it plays a crucial role in the overall comfort of your mattress. Natural latex rubber mattresses offer us that extraordinary comfort of unique softness with support, and choosing the proper ticking is vital. The best fabric to cover latex is a stretch knit organic cotton because it enhances the natural performance of the latex.
We evaluated hundreds of different fabric swatches from various mills before choosing to run our exclusive CozyPure® 3-layer knit. Our Skal-certified organic cotton ticking is comprised of a stretch knit on the outer two layers with yarn inside for extra cushioning and quality. Be careful of canvas. Similar to muslin and duck, canvas fabric is stiff so it doesn’t allow you to feel the true benefits of the latex (which doesn’t make sense). We also looked at a lighter weight canvas that was brushed for softness, but it didn’t pass our “rub” test. We found that after a few vigorous rubbings, the brushed canvas literally started to brush away… the fabric becoming thinner and thinner. Obviously, we nixed that too. Damask and jacquard are wonderful fabrics, and we will likely use them in future mattresses that contain other components… but we decided to use the knit for our natural latex mattresses, because latex moves and a fabric that will move with it is optimum to really get the true benefits.
If cheap is what you want, cheap is what you’ll get. Basic, cheap ticking can bring the price of a mattress down considerably, and it will do nothing to improve the feel of your mattress (for example, with synthetic ticking you’ll sleep very clammy). However, if you want to invest in comfort and quality, look beyond the cheap and consider beautiful natural fiber ticking that provides you the benefits of the components you are paying for because (as we all know) in the long run you get what you pay for…. Cheap Sleep or Sleep Well?
Sleep well with CozyPure®
Pillows should serve two main benefits for restful sleep:
COMFORT and SUPPORT
When we are in an upright position, our neck has a slightly-forward curve which supports the weight of our head. When resting we need to maintain this curve to prevent muscle strain, misalignment of the spine, and narrowing of the air pipe. Choosing the right pillow is very important for a healthy and rejuvenating sleep, you don’t want it too high or too low. A good pillow is also a matter of personal preference, and your sleeping position plays a large part in choosing the correct type of pillow for support and comfort. Stomach Sleepers need a light-fill pillow, usually flat, so the neck and head aren’t lifted up too high.
Back Sleepers need a medium-fill pillow that supports the head, neck and shoulders while maintaining the natural curvature of the spine.
Side Sleepers usually need an extra-fill pillow that gently lifts and supports the neck and head high enough so the spine maintains a straight and natural horizontal line.
Combo Back-Side Sleepers do well with two medium-fill pillows (when on side use both, on back use one). Lofty pillows that can be puffed up or flattened (like our Shredded Rubber Pillow or Kapok), are also popular with combo sleepers.Once you know which loft you prefer, it’s time to think about what you’d like best for the pillow filling.
Organic Cotton is very dense and will flatten with use. Wool will also compress with time, however because of it’s natural springiness, it will have more loft versus organic cotton. Kapok is very soft and the feel is similar to down. Natural latex is dense, and yields a cushioned and soft support. Both wool and latex are naturally resistant to dustmites. With the exception of natural latex, the pillows can be fluffed in a cool-setting dryer.
(The above information was taken from the Organic Comfort Zone catalog Copyright 2005.)
We often have folks call wanting a new mattress for thier child. Baby is growing up and ready to leave the crib for a “big” twin size mattress. Of course, they want a natural mattress without the harmful chemicals and petroleum foams, so they call us for their options. One of the first things you need to consider is how long do you want – or expect – your child to sleep on the mattress? For instance, some people know they want to get their child a larger size mattress when they are entering their teen years. Other folks want the mattress to last until that child leaves for college… and beyond If you’re in the second category like most people, then your best option is to invest a little more money and get the Cozy Haven Natural Latex Mattress. Sometimes when we mention this, a customer is put off by the price difference. They’re calling with hopes of buying our Cozy Comfort Coil spring mattress, and want more details. Then we ask the question about how long they want it to last, they tell us very long, so we recommend using the latex instead of the coil. Don’t get me wrong… a quality innerspring coil, like our Cozy Comfort Coil, is a very good basic mattress. It will offer you support and comfort… but not as long as the latex. Springs are moving parts, and like any moving part, more vulnerable to breaking down over time. So baby goes into her new bed at two years of age, when she is a developing preteen of twelve, that mattress is now ten years old. And that innerspring is going to begin to lose a bit of it’s resilency. Our CozyPure mattress with natural latex cores have no springs to break down, with a very generous thickness of seven inches, and have a natural density that will support your child through their growing years, into adulthood, and more than likely beyond that… as a guest bed.
Another option is our Cozy Rest Futon which we designed specifically with kids in mind. Made from multiple layers of natural latex we build this futon-style bed to deliver 5″ of support in the core surrounded by our triple-fresh comfort quilting which also has another half-inch of latex inside the quilting on both sides, so finishes to approximately seven inches thick. It’s a top-of-the-line layered-futon bed that’s a great choice for kids. Just remember to tell them: No jumping on the bed!
So that’s it in a nutshell. Look at how long you want the mattress to last, then crunch your numbers. How much more will you spend for the latex? How many more years use will you get from the extra money spent? Is spending the extra money a lower cost than possibly having to replace the entire coil mattress again? If so, you should consider getting the better mattress, because in the long run it’s also the better price.
sleep well 😉
This comes from Mike in Seattle, WA:
A few weeks ago, i ordered your CozyPure Natural Rubber Pillowtop – Queen,
It arrived last week and i love it. Thanks. On the phone i mentioned that
i am car free and that i expected to get it home (4 miles, up a big hill) by
bicycle with no carbon emmissions. I’ve attached a photograph of me
arriving home with the queen size pillow top.
THANKS!
Mike, thank you for sharing… this is great. Looks like you had to scrunch the box up a little to fit on the bike’s trailor, but it worked. Four miles up a hill? Do they call you Super Mike Bike Man? I nominate you our ecowarrior for the month. Two-thumbs up for your eco-efforts! Thanks for supporting our company, and sleep well Superman.
😉
We’re extremely excited about our new line of CozyPure® mattresses! Our raw materials are finally here and we’re ready for production in our Norfolk, Virginia Organic Mattress Factory. Our redesigned line features new fabrics such as green stripe damask and triple-knit matelasse fabric and of course we’re still using natural latex as the main component… and here are just a few reasons why:
* Outstanding elasticity due to the use of our natural latex
* Anti-fungal and hygienic; mold, mildew and dust mite resistant
* Excellent body support based on sound biochemical and ergonomic principles
* Certified quality guaranteed through permanent quality control
* Total absence of irritating noises
* Self-ventilating and moisture regulating
* Respect for the environment; natural resource
* Long-lasting durability and quality
To read more about the details of our natural latex, click here. If you want to see our certifications, visit this page.
CozyPure natural latex rubber mattresses create an ideal sleep system that reacts to your body with dynamic distribution of weight. They feature instant-recovery bounce-back, and offer superior support where you need it, while gently yeilding softness to other areas of the body. Our CozyPure natural latex does not have harmful chemicals, it’s moisture regulating so you won’t “sleep hot”, provides proper spinal alignment yet delivers the perfect balance of pressure-point relief, and it’s the only natural mattress that features Triple-Fresh Comfort Quilting with both Amaizing Wool ™ and Latex for luxurious surface comfort… and it’s environmentally-safe. No wonder it’s our customers favorite mattress choice.
If you want to check-out our new line of mattresses, be sure to visit the Organic Comfort Zone at Tomorrow’s World.
Sleep well 🙂
WE LOVE WOOL: Ohhh… what a wonderful natural fiber! We’ve been using wool in our natural mattresses for over 15 years. It wicks away moisture keeping the body at an ideal temperature during sleep. It’s also breathable and resistant to molds, mildews and dust mites. Because of it’s ability to self-extinguish it’s often used as a natural flame barrier for mattresses.We’ve found that thermal bonding offers the most consistent, high quality loft in bedding applications. The problem with thermal bonding is it usually requires the wool to have a small amount of glue as a resin to gently adhere the wool fibers. Since we knew that was not an option for us, we started to work with plant-pla, commonly known as ingeo(tm). Plant-pla is derived from plant starch — mostly corn — and since it comes from a natural resource, it’s not only environmentally-smart and renewable, it’s also breathable just like a natural fiber! In fact, plant-pla is also moisture regulating, antibacterial and naturally flame resistant. We found that using a very very small amount of this awesome fiber, allowed us to get the wonderful end-results of thermal bonded wool batting, using a natural resin that actually enhanced the properties of our wool. Amaizing Wool is used exclusively in the production of CozyPure® natural mattresses, as well as bedding accessories such as comforters and pillows.
FAQ’s
Will using corn starch or sugars make the wool inside the products “sticky”?
That’s a good question. When you read about plant-based-pla, one would almost assume the “raw sugar” is melted to bond the wool. However, just like most natural fibers, it goes through a process to get towards it’s end result. The sugar proteins are extracted from the corn (or other starchy plant), then fermented in a process similar to making yogurt. After fermentation, the desired fiber is made into the finished form depending on use, for a variety of applications. Once this happens, there is no sugar residue, or stickiness, in the end-product. In fact, plant-pla is now very popular in apparel for it’s wonderful silky feel and breathability against the skin.
Does this process interfere with the feel of the wool, or the benefits of the wool?
Not one bit. In fact, after months of research, we strongly believe that plant-pla actually enhances our wool. Using this to gently bond our wool, we always have a very consistant wool batting that has a beautiful, soft loft and fantastic durability. In addition, the natural properties of plant-pla only complement our wool because they both offer many of the same benefits.
Is plant-pla environmentally safe?
Absolutely. It’s actually one of the most environmentally friendly manufacturing procedures in the industry. From start to finish it really does come full circle. First, it starts with an abundant supply from a natural resource. The production of plant-pla requires less greenhouse gases… a chief contributor to global warming. It’s also rated 100% composting, but don’t worry it won’t biodegrade during it’s usage! It must first be recycled back through the chain (similar to recyling your newspapers), only then will composting occur.
Will this harm our supply of corn as a food source? Does it contain GMO’s?
No, our plant-pla does not contain any GMO’s, and the entire fiber industry’s use of corn-pla is less than point-one percent (-0.1%) of the overall corn production. Of that .1%, we only use a tiny sprinkling to adhere the wool fibers. It’s such an extremely small amount overall, it isn’t even on the radar. The production of plant-pla doesn’t interfere with our food supply at all… so you can continue to enjoy eating corn!
Is your wool organic?
Yes!
Why would I want wool in my bedding? Isn’t wool scratchy and uncomfortably hot?
This is a common misconception. But here are some facts you may not have known: Because it absorbs moisture, wool provides superior comfort in both hot and cold weather. In cold weather, even a little moisture on the skin becomes cold, quickly reducing body temperature. However, by absorbing body moisture, a dry layer of air is left next to the skin and this helps to hold in body heat. In addition, the crimp in the wool fibers makes them stand apart from each other. As a result, little pockets of still air are trapped between the fibers. This lining of air trapped inside the fabric acts as an insulator. Still air is one of the best insulators found in nature. The absorption/evaporation process works in hot weather to help keep the body cooler. Evaporation of perspiration is the body’s natural cooling device. Wool helps this process along, as its thirsty cells absorb moisture and help reduce skin temperature. In addition, much of the outdoor heat is blocked out because of wool’s insulating barrier of air pockets. This means that the body is kept at an even temperature.
For more information about our natural mattresses and bedding, please call the Organic Comfort Zone at 1.800.229.7571 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST, or visit the the Organic Comfort Zone at Tomorrow’s World for photos and product information.