Is it worth the extra money to buy an organic mattress? It is if you care about your family’s health.

Conventional mattresses are made with synthetic materials that can off-gas toxic chemicals and pollute the air inside your home. These mattresses are also made with conventionally grown wool and cotton, which are often so drenched with pesticides during production that it can never be removed from the fibers. Some of those pesticides might be slightly toxic to people — and they’re definitely toxic to the environment.

Green mattresses are made with all-natural latex, organic wool, and organic cotton. They’re produced without pesticides, and since there’s no synthetic materials, they don’t release toxic gases or other chemicals as they break down. Green mattresses are naturally flame resistant, water resistant, and temperature controlling. They’re durable, comfortable, and safe for all ages.

Green Mattresses Are Chemical-Free

By far, the biggest health benefit of buying a green mattress would be that you’re not lying down to sleep in a bed of toxic chemicals every night. Conventional mattresses are made with synthetic materials, some of which can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home, degrading your indoor air quality. Symptoms of VOC exposure can range from mild upper respiratory irritation or headaches to major organ damage or cancer. 

Many of the flame retardant chemicals used to make mattresses more flame resistant have also been found to be harmful to health. Just a few years ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers about the dangers of organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs), which are used in mattresses, among other products.

Green mattresses are made with organic materials, like natural latex, which is produced from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis; organic wool; and organic cotton. Organic materials are produced without pesticides and natural latex rubber doesn’t release any VOCs, just a faint rubber smell. 

Green Mattresses Are Better for Allergies

Organic latex foam doesn’t contain anything other than tree sap that has been processed into rubber, so it’s completely hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Natural latex foam repels dust mites, mold, and mildew. The organic cotton used in green mattresses is free of bleaching agents, dyes, or other harsh chemicals. Organic wool is also naturally antibacterial, as it releases moisture too quickly for bacterial colonies to take hold, and resists dust mites, mildew, and mold.

Dust mites can be a huge trigger for allergies, so choosing a mattress that naturally repels dust mites can make a big difference in allergy symptoms. If you or someone in your family is sensitive to dyes or other chemicals, you should choose a green mattress, since manufacturers typically avoid using any harsh chemicals during the production process in order to keep the finished mattress as “clean” as possible. You might be surprised at how many of your lingering symptoms were exacerbated by chemicals leaching out of your mattress.

Get a Better Night’s Rest

Can you sleep better on a green mattress? You sure can! Natural latex and organic wool are both great for temperature regulation at night. Wool is known for its temperature regulation properties when used in clothing, and it has the same properties when used on a mattress. Wool is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb water without feeling damp. It’ll keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer by wicking moisture away and keeping your skin dry and insulated.

Organic latex mattresses can offer the support of memory foam, but with an elasticity that keeps it from compressing and packing down like synthetic memory foam. It isolates motion so that co-sleepers are less likely to be disturbed by one another’s movements. It conforms to your body to eliminate pressure points, so it’s a great choice for sleepers who need more spinal support.

Sleep Soundly for Longer

Natural wool fibers can be bent more than 20,000 times without tearing — that kind of durability means that green mattresses usually last much longer than conventional ones, often 20 years or more. Natural latex foam can retain its elasticity for decades. Couple the quality of the materials with the higher standard of craftsmanship that goes into manufacturing these mattresses, and you have a mattress that could last twice as long as a conventional mattress, especially if you cover it with a mattress protector.

If you’re not yet sleeping on a green mattress, it’s time to upgrade. A hypoallergenic green mattress is better for your health and more sustainable, too. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll sleep and feel.