Which is the Best Mattress of 2017?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.Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Top Ten Reviews may earn money when you click on links. The Ikea MORGONGÅVA Queen is among the most popular and highly reviewed latex mattresses on the market due to its low cost and high level of comfort. Due to the use of latex, it retains many of the benefits of memory foam without the downsides..
For example, this mattress quickly conforms to your body without impeding movement, doesn’t come with the new mattress chemical smell and offers a lengthy warranty for true longevity of use. The Ikea MORGONGÅVA Queen is among the least expensive of latex beds on the market, often costing less than half of most other mattresses. It accomplishes this by using a dunlop-processed latex combined with a synthetic latex as opposed to the more expensive talalay-processed and natural latex. While this is decidedly less expensive than natural latex, it still affords all the same benefits and is still a healthier alternative to memory foam.Has anyone tried toppers, and would memory foam be better than natural fibres? Is it time to dump the mattress? Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper. A recent hotel stay has led me to conclude our mattress is past its best.
I’m considering trying a mattress topper rather than fork out £600 for a new mattress. Has anyone tried a topper and did it work? I’m drawn to natural fibres, but perhaps a memory foam one would be better? Do you have a problem readers could solve? or write to us at Money, The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU This queen-size latex-foam mattress is 10 inches high and weighs 68 pounds. It has 4 grips for easier handling. The Ikea Myrbacka is part of the Mattress models like the Myrbacka are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.We’re all princesses frightened of sleeping on peas these days – how else to explain the rise in popularity of mattress toppers, that squidgy extra layer of comfort under your sheet, atop the bed. Memory foam is popular, but complaints include its sometimes strong smell, plus it can retain heat so well that the bed boils. As an alternative, natural fillings are growing in popularity and availability, so I decided to undertake a home trial.
Penrose Products alpaca mattress topper bedding set, £80 Fibre from alpacas is soft, luxurious and supremely comfy. Like silk, it moderates body temperature, and it is naturally hypoallergenic so great for allergy sufferers. Luxury alpaca mattress enhancer, £151.99 My daughter found it heavy at first, but is now adjusted and sleeps like Rip van Winkle. What more can you want? Ultimate microfibre topper with silk, £85 Dust mites hate silk, making it the ideal choice for anyone suffering allergies, and you can get toppers, duvets, pillow cases and bedding for the full experience. Silk filled mattress topper, £85 It’s also lightweight, and stays cool – perfect for women of a certain age. Deluxe wool bedding set, £213.48 Sleeping with wool is said to provide up to 25 per cent more deep regenerative sleep (i.e. stage four REM sleep), over traditional down or synthetic bedding. Devon Duvets British wool mattress toppers, from £110