Written by Maia, President
Happy New Year! Did you resolve to purge toxins from your home in 2016? If so, you will find our e-book, Detox Your Home in 4 Weeks, an easy guide. I hope it brings you improved indoor air quality, health, and peace of mind.
You’ve probably noticed that at Gimme the Good Stuff we talk a lot about the importance of sleeping on a non-toxic mattress. I’m also aware that all of the mattresses I recommend you purchase are at least a couple thousand dollars, and sometimes much more. Many of you have asked about getting a futon instead of a mattress, as futons tend to be less expensive.
I made this video to explain the difference between a natural, non-toxic mattress and a futon. I’ll also show you what these both look like, including a cross-section of the inside of some White Lotus models.
What You’ll Learn In This Video
When choosing a mattress or a futon you’ll want to avoid:
- Polyurethane foam (Opt for 100% pure latex instead.)
- Any mattress that’s treated with flame retardants (Wool acts as a natural flame barrier.)
The key difference between a natural futon and a natural mattress are:
- The futon won’t have handles on the side, so they are harder to move around.
- A futon will be slightly thinner than a mattress (usually around 5 inches think rather than 8 or 9 inches).
- Futons should cost around 15% less than a mattress.
What you may be surprised to learn is that both organic mattresses and organic futons are made from the same materials (typically wool, cotton, and latex), and you can put a mattress on a futon frame and a futon on a bed.
I had a blast making this video, and am grateful to White Lotus for letting us shoot it in their super cool DUMBO store. You’ll notice my mom babysitting Wolfie in the background! I don’t totally love watching myself on camera, but we will be rolling out some more videos in the coming month, so I will have to get used to it. Let us know what you think!
Stay sane,
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Diana says
What are you thoughts on the Certi-Pur Certification? Does it make the Polyurethane foam better or okay? Or is that just a chemical company trying to make us believe that the chemicals they produce are “safe”?
Maia James says
To quote our Safe Mattress Guide: “Second-party certifications are made by trade associations; the certification is to ensure eligibility of products. CertiPUR–which was “developed by members of the global foam industry”–is one such example. While it does certify that mattresses that are not treated with PBDEs, it still indicates a polyurethane mattress.”
Sharon says
I just wanted to take a sec to say THANK YOU!
My husband has had some chemical and hormonal imbalanced in his body (showing up in all kinds of testing) for several years now, and during some research and reading online I came across your website. Its been almost 2 years now that we’ve changed to a more non toxic lifestyle and the results of such changes are literally showing up in his most resent bloodwork. I’ve followed your buying guide and switched everything from, body care (deodorant, washes, lotions, toothpaste, shampoos etc) , house cleaners (dish soaps, all purpose cleaners, laundry etc) and soon a new safer mattress and It so nice to know I can just allow YOU to do all the hard work and know its safe.
In the beginning I was simply shocked at seeing all the harmful things I had unknowingly exposed my family too. I remember after binge reading your blog I went through the entire house and placed every harmful thing I could find on our dining room table, which was overflowing, and took a long hard look. It really took some time for my husband to believe all these toxin could be harming his body but he’s such a believer now, even finding safer alternatives to accommodate his hunting addiction more safely since he’s used to applying toxic scent killers and specialty washes to his body. Anyway-all that to say thanks! We are safer, healthier and more knowledgeable because of you and your team.
Jessica Costa says
What are your thoughts about dunlopillo mattresses?
John Goss says
Dunlopillo shows no certificates, nor do they discuss the subject of toxicity. I don’t think it is their “thing”.
Mallory says
How about Loom and Leaf? It seems like they make mattresses without a lot of bad stuff but it’s not completely chemical free. Any thoughts.
John Goss says
Hi Mallory,
Loom & Leaf falls short of our “Good Stuff” standards. There is a lot of deceptive marketing in the industry and it can be very difficult to tell “Good Stuff” from “Sneaky Stuff”.
Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org and I can help you sort through things
Thanks,
John
Daria says
In bed, a person usually spends more time than on chairs, sofas or armchairs, etc. Therefore, on the correct choice of beds, our health depends more than on other furniture items, and its choice should be approached very seriously. The choice of an eco-friendly organic mattress will allow you and your family enjoying special benefits:
https://mattressopedia.com/organic-mattresses-compared/