Place your PlushBeds mattress indoors, out of direct sunlight, and do not use it outdoors in unsheltered environments. Ensure adequate space between hot air vents and your mattress. Any odor you might notice when your mattress first arrives is natural, harmless (similar to a new car smell), only lasts a short while, and responds well to adequate ventilation. Caring for 100% Natural Latex Your PlushBeds 100% Natural Latex mattress will remain fresher when covered with a washable, waterproof mattress protector (purchased separately). High-heat devices such as electric blankets, heating pads, irons or hair dryers can be used as long as they are not in direct contact with any natural latex component of your mattress. Best Care & Cleaning Get to Know Your PlushBeds Mattress Any new mattress - no matter what its style - requires a period of adjustment as your body gets acquainted with the new foundation. Because you have chosen the highest quality, PlushBeds 100% Natural Latex, this relationship is worth developing.
Here are a few pointers to help you build the best rapport: Take Time to Adjust If your mattress arrived in a traditional vacuum-packed roll, it will 'relax' and lie flat once you have removed the wrappings. You may be perfectly comfortable on the first night, or you may need several nights to adjust to the unique PlushBeds experience. Best PlushBeds Use and Maintenance Once you and your new PlushBeds mattress are friends, you'll want to remember to use the mattress as it was intended, indoors and not outside, and you should never use cleaning solutions, such as cleaning solvents or vinegar directly on the latex or on the PlushBeds mattress cover. Follow the "Best Care PlushBeds Cleaning" steps. Do NOT dry clean any part of the PlushBeds mattress or mattress cover.Pillows collect a lot of dust, skin cells, and bacteria that need to be washed out. Fortunately a washing machine and dryer are all you need for most pillows.Pillows are easily forgotten while cleaning the rest of the house.
Just because you change the pillowcase doesn’t mean the pillow is clean. A pillow’s weight can actually double over the course of its lifetime, thanks to the dust, sweat, dead skin cells, mold, bacteria, and other allergens that accumulate. Here’s a quick test to see if your pillow is worth salvaging: Fold the pillow in half. If it doesn’t bounce back immediately, it’s probably best to pitch the pillow and buy a new one. If it springs back with a bit of life still in it, then toss it in the washing machine.If a pillow is filled with feathers, down, or polyester, then you can put it in the washing machine. Wash two at a time, so as not to unbalance the machine. Squeeze out as much air as you can before putting it in the machine. Use hot water and a mild natural detergent. Add a cup of baking soda for smells or white vinegar for mold and mildew.Dry on a low heat setting using at least two dryer balls. (You can make your own by tying a tennis ball in a sock, although there are some concerns about off-gassing when a tennis ball is heated.
Alternatively, put a clean running shoe in a sock and let it bang around the dryer.) It’s crucial to make sure the pillow is completely dry when it comes out of the dryer. Bury your face deep into it to detect any residual moisture. You’ll likely need at least 2 or 3 cycles to dry thoroughly. Break up any clumps in between cycles by beating the pillow.If a pillow is filled with silk, then you can wash it in the machine using the delicate cycle or by hand. Use cool or lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Put it in the dryer only if you have an air-dry setting – no added heat. If not, roll and squeeze gently in a towel, then spread out to dry, away from direct sunlight.If you have a latex or memory foam pillow, do not put it in the washing machine. Foam pillows are not made to get wet and it’s almost impossible to dry a foam pillow thoroughly, which is an invitation for rampant mold growth. The agitation of a washing machine and dryer will destroy the foam. Instead, dab at surface spills or stains with a moist cloth and mild detergent, and leave in a well-ventilated area to dry.
Deodorize by sprinkling baking soda on top or placing in the sunshine. The best preventive solution is to buy a waterproof pillow protector to use under a pillowcase.It’s generally recommended to wash pillows 2-3 times per year and replacing them every 2 years. Using a pillow protector can prolong your pillow’s lifespan considerably.One of the biggest complaints by owners of memory foam pillows and mattresses is the unpleasant, and potentially unhealthy chemical smell. Memory foam is manufactured using polyurethane and several other chemicals, so it isn’t surprising that it emits a chemical odor. This “off gassing” of volatile organic compounds is a common and well-documented property of memory foam pillows and mattresses. The fumes are often compared to those experienced in a freshly painted room. If you are experiencing this odor, the good news is you may not have to endure the smell for long. The bad news is that some of the chemicals used in memory foam aren’t entirely benign.
Many memory foam mattress owners report that the off gassing period ends after a number of days.(1) Of course there are many factors which influence this including the product, the type of foam, the sensitivity of the person, the room ventilation and more. Even if the initial odor goes away, it is natural to wonder if there are health issues related to off gassing.Most people do not report any health issues resulting from their memory foam pillow or mattress. However, there are various reports of headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions resulting from the odor produced by memory foam. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ll want to avoid sleeping on the foam during the initial off gassing period. You can leave the pillow or mattress in a well-ventilated area for a week or two and see if that helps eliminate or reduce the odor and symptoms. If after several weeks, the issue persists, it is probably time to consider an alternative to memory foam.Many many people use memory foam products without reporting any side effects or related health issues.
That said, there are various reports and studies which indicate that memory foam may be somewhat toxic. Reports include carcinogenic chemicals and formaldehyde gas. To manufacture memory foam, chemicals are added to polyurethane to make it more dense and viscous at the same time. Additional chemicals are required to make the polyurethane flame retardant. One of these, Pentabde (of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) family), was used until 2004. Pentabde is now known to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, and nervous system.(2) A study in 2000 specifically found mattress emissions to be toxic to the lungs of labratory mice.The long-term effects of memory foam and its toxicity is not fully understood, but there clearly is some reason for concern. Aproximately one-third of your life is spent in close contact to your sleeping surface, so it is important to consider you and your family’s health when selecting a pillow or mattress.Are you interested in the support and comfort provided by memory foam, but want to avoid that chemical smell?
There are several natural pillow options for those looking for a new pillow. Of course, our favorite is our buckwheat hull pillow. Besides being natural and chemical-free, buckwheat pillows are a great alternative to memory foam for a couple of other reasons.Memory foam is not breathable and this can result in a hot and sweaty pillow. The shape and particulate nature of buckwhat hulls leaves a lot of air space in your pillow between all of the hulls. This airspace allows warm moist air to escape, leaving your pillow cool and dry.While a memory foam pillow conforms to the shape of your head, the overall shape and thickness of the pillow is fixed, making the pillow less adaptable to your sleeping position. The fill in a stuffed pillow can be shifted and adjusted for a wider variety of shapes and sizes.If you’ve decided against a memory foam pillow and a buckwheat pillow isn’t right for you, other natural alternatives to memory foam include pillows filled with down, cotton, wool, latex, kapok or millet hulls.