It’s enough to give you nightmares, but the sad truth is that some of the materials in your mattress may be harming your health.

You only suds up with natural shampoos. You’ve spent your bottom dollar to eat organic, and you wouldn’t be caught dead using conventional laundry soap. But despite all those efforts, your trusty mattress could be toxic. Potential allergens run rampant in the mattress industry, and some of the chemicals in your bed may be linked to dangerous illnesses such as asthma and even cancer.

Considering you spend about one-third of your life in bed, the stuff you sleep on is pretty important—and the contents of your mattress could pose a serious threat based on sheer exposure time, according to author Debra Lynn Dadd. The best remedy here is education—and rest assured, there are safe mattress alternatives out there to improve the health of your body as well as the planet.

Perhaps the most dire health risks come from polyurethane foam products purchased before 2005. These contain high levels of polybrominated diphenyl esthers, or PBDEs, which are fire-retardant chemicals linked to impaired memory and learning, thyroid problems and liver damage. In addition to mattresses, polyurethane foam—prized for its softness and ability to conform to your body shape—is also common in pillows. 

Even foam beds and pillows made after 2005, which typically don’t contain the most toxic PBDEs, aren’t healthy options. They’re usually made with petroleum, which can irritate your respiratory system as well as your skin. When author and organic mattress maker Walter Bader sent a memory foam mattress in to a lab for testing in 2005, the lab reported finding 61 chemicals, some of them carcinogenic. Beyond the foam, mattress glue often contains formaldehyde, which can trigger asthma and allergies and is linked to cancer of the throat and lungs.

And although babies may be even more susceptible to dangerous chemicals invading their fragile systems, crib mattresses have an abysmal track record. According to research conducted by Clean and Healthy New York, 72 percent of crib mattresses studied contained at least one potentially toxic chemical. Nearly one-fourth of the varieties tested contained proprietary fire retardants, water guards or antibacterial treatments, and thus did not divulge specific ingredients.

The good news is that the market is getting better. Twenty percent of the mattresses in the Clean and Healthy New York study did not contain dangerous chemicals, and safe options exist today that weren’t around a few years ago.

So what’s the best way to protect yourself and your family? It isn’t really enough just to look for organic ingredients, because even products with the “organic” label may use toxins for fireproofing, or have organic cotton on top but icky foam underneath, mingling with the springs that prop up that all-natural exterior.

Consumer Reports recommends looking for products with the “Oeko-Tek Standard 100” label, only sported by mattresses free of many of the worst-offending toxins. They also note that hypoallergenic mattresses are typically made with natural latex instead of chemical-laden synthetics. Mother Jones recommends Savvy Rest brand beds, which come with a hefty price tag but are among the safest options. If you can’t afford to replace your old mattress, at least keep it well-covered to minimize exposure. A thick, organic mattress pad just might help you rest better—and healthier—at night.

image: KaylaKandzorra

The post Bad Dreams: Why Your Mattress Could be Toxic appeared first on EcoSalon.

A good night’s sleep allows us to tackle things with a clear head, more confidence, and in my case, more patience. Whether it’s writing a story lede, maintaining my running pace, or sitting in traffic, having seven hours of recharge under my belt makes my days run more smoothly. While some attempts at slumber cannot be controlled (like my husband’s snoring) there are ways to get in the groove that don’t involve counting sheep.

According to the Mayo Clinic, anxiety, depression and stress add to insomnia and the quality of your night’s sleep. Here are some tried and true tips to prepare for, and enjoy much needed down time:

• Set an internal time clock
  Humans like routine; it’s comforting and the inner time clock can help regulate your sleep pattern. Try heading to bed at the same time every night. Pick up a book that you’ve been meaning to get around to and treat yourself to 15 minutes before turning the lights out.
• Develop a bedtime routine
  Try a few minutes of meditation, quiet music or simple yoga stretches.
• Curb the caffeine
  Ban coffee, tea and soda with caffeine from four o’clock. Look for calming non-caffeine choices.
• Create an inviting sleep environment
  Quiet, dark, and relaxing. If you have noisy neighbors or are surrounded by city buses and trains, try a white noise machine, relaxation music (I like Celtic Bells)  ear plugs, heavy curtains, or those sleep shades ala “I Love Lucy.”
• Increase your thread count
  Splurge for a set of good quality sheets, or at least a pillow case. The smooth, silky cotton will feel wonderful.
• Clear the air
  Considering that you’ll be breathing in the room’s air for seven to eight hours, be mindful of the quality, especially if you’re prone to dust and mold allergies. Try a HEPA filter.
• Go essential
  Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils in aromatherapy due to its calming effect. Try a few drops on your pillow.
• Grandma Jeannie’s head-to-toe technique
  My late grandmother would visualize calming her body beginning with her toes, and work her way up to the top of her head, taking a few seconds to address each area. It really worked!
• Wetter is better
  Treat yourself to a warm bath or shower, which will calm your muscles and help wind you down.
• Uber high tech
  Remember stumbling across technical journals that put you to sleep? Now’s the time to start collecting them and putting them to good use!

Image: quinn.anya

The post 10 Tips for a Getting Some Serious Shut-Eye appeared first on EcoSalon.

You spent a month’s pay on a deluxe organic mattress and maintain that it is worth every last cent, even when your pals give you a hard time for such a splurge. But, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. After all, you sleep more soundly each night and awake every morning with an extra burst of energy. And you feel great knowing you’re not breathing in those nasty toxic chemicals. Plus, for a price so steep, it’s bound to last a lifetime, right?

Well, not exactly. And with a big investment like an eco mattress, make sure you practice these tips to extend its shelf life.

The first time you saw the mattress commercial with the wine glass test, you just had to reenact this unlikely scenario. Suffice it to say, a mattress pad is a must. It’s a lot easier to toss it in the wash than spend hours with soap and a scrub brush.

Everybody needs a little fresh air and sunshine, but what you may not know is that your mattress does, too. When it comes time for spring cleaning, take your mattress outside to soak in some rays for an afternoon.

Do you toss your damp towel on the bed after a steaming shower? Over time, this can be a damaging reflex, but it’s nothing some stylish hooks can’t solve.

If your mattress seems to sink in the spot where you snuggle up, then it needs to be flipped and rotated more often. Try working this into your routine whenever you change the sheets.

Jump on your bed for five minutes once every six months. Okay, maybe this won’t help your mattress, but isn’t it fun to revisit your childhood once in awhile?

P.S. If you like the bedding, check it out at VivaTerra.

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