What’s in a healthy bed?
From the core of the bed to the fluff, what makes a healthy bed?
The mattress should be metal free and made out of natural, breathable materials such as Pure-Grown wool and 100% natural latex. Pure Grown Wool – from sheep that were razed on organic feed and were treated humanely – is an excellent filler for pillows, comforters, and mattresses because it wicks away moisture instead of aborbing it, and is dustmite resistant. Wool is also naturally fire-retardant so chemical fire-retardants are not necessary.
The topper on the bed should also contain wool batting and be covered in organic cotton or hemp. Mattress and pillow barrier covers are a necessity for those that cannot afford a new, healthy mattress and also add additional insurance by providing a barrier between you and the dustmites. Make sure you purchase a 100% cotton dust mite barrier.
Pillows and duvets should be made out of organic wool batting and covered in organic materials.
Lastly, organic linens round out the natural bed. According to Cordaro, a typical set of queen sheets that weighs four pounds will have used one pound of pesticides! To keep your sheets fresh, wash them once in a week in hot water to kill any dust mites.
To-Do List for those on a Budget
1. Make sure there are no outside sources of moisture, and fix all plumbing and roof leaks immediately.
2. If your room has carpet, either purchase a HEPA vacuum or remove the carpet carefully and install natural flooring.
3. Purchase barrier covers for your duvet, pillows, mattress, and box spring. This eliminates one source of contaminants – dust mites.
4. Purchase a topper for the bed made out of Pure Grown Wool. This will help regulate moisture and will ease allergy symptoms.
5. Replace your duvet and pillows.
6. Replace your mattress.
7. Repaint your walls.
Resources
AFM Safecoat Paint (800) 239-0321 www.afmsafecoat.com
Aller Air Cleaner’s (888) 852-8247 www.allerair.com
BioShield paints (800) 621-2591 www.bioshieldpaint.com
Coyuchi Organic Bedding (featured on page 62) (888) 418-8847 www.coyuchi.com
H3 Environmental Corporation (818) 766-1787 www.h3environmental.com
Indika Organic Bedding (featured on page 60) (866) 446-3452 www.indikahome.com
Lifekind Organic Mattresses & Bedding (800) 284-4983 www.lifekind.com
Pheylonian Beeswax Candles (877) 445-6942 www.philoxia.com
Samina Organic Mattresses & Pillows www.samina.com
Tomorrow’s World Wool Comforters and Pillows (800) 229-7571 www.tomorrowsworld.com
White Lotus Home (866) 426-3623 www.whitelotus.net
Websites with information on healthy homes, products, bedding, etc.September/October 2003
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