I finally got a new mattress! It is something that has been on my list for about 4 years. I purchased the mattress from a local business, which is always a plus in my opinion. I had been eyeing an avocado mattress, but I am very happy that I held out and got the one that I did.
Mattresses are something that most people have and use daily. We spend a lot of our lives in bed, so I think its really important to have a good one! My main motivation behind getting a new mattress was to reduce the toxic load that a standard mattress can introduce to the home.
We are exposed to so many toxins on a daily basis just through our environment, that I think its extremely important to reduce that burden where we can. Most mattresses, furniture, carpets, etc are loaded with flame retardants. These chemicals can wreak havoc on our endocrine systems and have carcinogenic properties.
This is why I chose a mattress that is chemical free and made with natural and organic materials. The thought of sleeping on a product that is off-gasing chemicals all day everyday, and potentially messing with my hormones, just doesn’t seem right. It certainly an investment, but I think it is totally worth it in the long run.
If you decide to shop of a new mattress, be sure to look for certifications like Greenguard Gold, GOTS, GOLS, and USDA organic. Many companies brand themselves as green products, but they definitely aren’t.
The good news for California residents is that a law was passed near the end of 2018 that will ban the use of most flame retardants in residential upholstered furniture, children’s products and mattress foam. This will hopefully cause most companies to clean up their acts and bring safer products across the nation. It is slated to take effect in 2020.
https://chemicalwatch.com/70521/flame-retardant-ban-signed-into-california-law
Getting a new mattress also meant an upgrade in bed size! We are moving from a full to a queen! My boyfriend and I really wanted a nice wood bed frame, but it wasn’t in the budget, so we decided to build one! I love doing projects like this so it was an added bonus.
I did some research and I was able to find wood stain with ZERO VOCs and its completely solvent free. It was so nice staining the wood and not being intoxicated by solvents! The color and finish is great too. We used the color “cedar” on most of the bed. I used cedar, walnut, and a brush of ebony here and there on the headboard to get a more reclaimed look.
I purchased the stain here
https://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/Bioshield-Aqua-Resin-Stain-Finish
They offer many less toxic solutions for building supplies, so it is definitely a resource I will use for future projects.
If you are interested in further reading about chemicals in home goods here are some resources:
