About Memory Foam Pillows And Mattresses [CONSUMER AWARENESS GUIDE]

CUSTOMER QUESTION: Any thoughts or feedback regarding memory foam pillows and mattresses?

Posture Form says they use a fully Breathable Graphite Infused Memory Foam that offers greatly improved heat conductivity by combining its fully open cell structure with the super-conductive natural mineral graphite. They say that their pillows are also hypoallergenic and treated with an anti-microbial ingredient that profoundly enhances resistance to bacteria, mould and dust mites. Perfectly safe for allergy sufferers. What do you think about this? – Kay (curious customer)

OUR ANSWER: Memory foam is made from rubber which has been chemically treated to create the shape of a pillow, mattress, cushion etc. Any anti-dust mite, or anti-microbial ingredients are chemical additives. Rubber (or latex) in its natural state is antibacterial but once chemicals are added, it is no longer natural and becomes a synthetic product. Memory foam can make your body / head feel quite warm when sleeping on it – due to the chemicals used firstly in the manufacturing process and secondly in the various chemical treatment processes used afterwards.

If you choose to sleep on a memory foam pillow or mattress – your body is in direct contact with the chemicals, heating them up and making them out-gas even more. You inhale these gases often without realising it, because after a while you become accustomed to the “smell”. Contact with chemicals like this can make some people feel over-warm, agitated for no apparent reason, moody, anxious, nauseous, sensitive, bring on headaches, asthma attacks or allergic reactions etc.

About allergies. Our founder (Peter) and many of our customers who suffer from allergies, say they react more to chemicals in the environment rather than to anything else, so we steer clear of products made using chemicals or synthetics right from the start. We don’t use plastic packaging either. Instead our organic bedding, quilts and pillows are stored in either their own organic cotton string bag or in Cellophane Bags – THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC. These naturally break down into compost when you are finished with them. The simple cardboard cartons we use are able to be recycled like any other paper and even the ink we use to print our invoices is specially sourced and doesn’t cause even the most chemically sensitive people, any adverse reactions.

How to stop mould. Mould grows best in damp and poorly ventilated areas, and reproduces by making spores. Airborne mould spores are commonly found in both indoor and outdoor environments. When they land on damp spots indoors, they may begin to grow and spread. Mattresses should NEVER be placed directly on to the floor as they need to ‘breathe’ and have plenty of ventilation around them. This in turn allows your body to breathe and naturally rejuvenate itself from the toxins picked up from the environment during the day, releasing them while you sleep. It is for this reason also that we recommend a mattress be supported by a quality hardwood slat bed base. These allow the mattress to get continual air flow and assist your immune system even more. To avoid mould issues that are more common in certain climates and home environments, we use and recommend Damp Rid. Damp Rid is completely non toxic and available at Supermarkets and Hardware stores. Depending on the level of dampness and humidity, more than two to three buckets may be needed. Follow directions on the container and keep out of the reach of children.

How to reduce dustmites. Always throw back the covers to let your bed cool down before making it – dust mites thrive in warm conditions. If you have someone who is extremely sensitive, regular vacuuming or airing bedding and pillows on a clothesline in the sun for half an hour or so can be beneficial as well. Nature provides the most sensible and most economical solutions for most problems!