Hi Green Living,

I want to buy a cotton polyester pillow, is polyester a bad thing to sleep on, say if I put a pillow case on it?


Joe B

I made a previous post about polyester pillows, the pillows that i am referring to are natural buckwheat on the inside but have a cotton/polyester cover. Do I have to worry about outgasing with these pillows.

Joe B.

I have a natural latex bed and natural latex pillows. I absolutely adore them. They have no smell after a few days, and they are the perfect pillow... firm support, yet soft and springy feel. you don't have to constantly plump them up because they hold their shape.I also have latex/down pillows, which is a nice combination of materials.

I made sure they were all 100% natural for peace of mind. I don't think smell is a good indicator of offgassing, I believe things can still be harmful even if you cannot smell them.

I purchased a latex mattress for my three year old. It's labeled as containing all natural Talalay latex with organic cotton and wool. While it is very comfortable, I can't get over my mindset that such a strong pervasive odor would not be harmful in the long term - especially to such a youngster. I find myself stacking multiple synthetic mattress covers and quilts over it just so my son doesn't smell like a rubber band in the morning. Even with six layers on top of the mattress, I still have to spend a day a week to wash it all after it becomes saturated with the same odor.

I've had the mattress for about two months now. Outside airing is not a option since the mattress (full size) is so heavy even two movers complained :-) Does anyone have suggestions? I don't think it bothers my son as much as it bothers me. I'm just concerned that long term exposure to the fumes could be harmful.... Please advise :-)

I did house-sitting for a lady who had an organic latex mattress and pillow.
It was over a year old and I still got sick from it. The smell was quite noticable.

I am considering buying a latex mattress with organic wool and cotton but I noticed a sweet odor while testing them in the store. A month ago I purchased a Beauty Rest mattress that is still outgassing what I thought might be chemicals from the foam/memory foam pillow top but it also has a layer of latex. Perhaps I am smelling the latex? I would like to know how many people experience an odor from their latex mattresses and if it dissipates quickly? I don't want to buy another bad mattress! I can return the Beauty Rest but I won't be able to return the natural latex mattress so I need advice soon.
Thanks!

I am surprised to hear that some of you have noticed a strong odor from your natural latex mattress or pillow. We sell Pure-Rest natural rubber mattresses and bedding and I cannot detect any odor from the mattresses, and I have a fairly keen sense of smell. The factory says the pillows do have a slight odor when they're new, but I also did not notice that when we got the ones we sleep on. (in case you're wondering, Pure-Rest does not use chemicals of any kind in their products, including deodorizers)

Pure-Rest mattresses are heavenly to sleep on. And I love my shredded rubber pillow, as does every other person I know who has one. I have tried pillows made of other natural materials and they all matte down quickly to a surface that is too hard.

If anyone would like a rubber sample to sniff for yourself, just let me know by sending a message from our website.

My husband and I got a budget natural latex, wrapped in cotton and wool mattress from "Organic Grace" in Garberville, CA. We never noticed any odor at all, then (about 6 months ago) or now... No smell at all, just great comfort and sound sleep!

Just a thought - for those of you who need or prefer synthetic materials for your bedding -- you might want to check out a company called "Cuddledown". They offer down and synthetics, that are oeko-tek certified. Might be a good option.

I can't get over how many of us have such intense and frustrating difficulties find healthy bedding!

It seems from reading the posts above that some of us can detect the natural odors of natural latex but others cannot. This is normal and can even be genetic: there are certain floral cents that only some people can detect and that depends on personal chemistry.

I'm writing because I've had similar problems with my new natural latex bed. We initially bought a Tempurpedic because my partner who is from Iceland swears by it. But after it was delivered, our house was filled with a very strong musty/fresh paint/mildew odor. I tried to sleep on it and after 2 nights, I could not longer take it. I had a very dry throat, huge headache, nausea and other body aches. I have never experienced anything like it after purchasing any product and have no known allergies. Of course when we went back to the store they told us this is normal and harmless. We didn't trust this since a harmless odor was causing me great physical discomfort and that didn't seem right.

The mattress store didn't have a return policy but we were given the option of one exchange. We exchanged for the most natural thing available in the store: a Simmons Natura Care Natural Latex mattress. It was advertised to be a 65%/35% natural latex/synthetic blend. The rest of the fibers are advertised as being soy, bamboo and cotton based. When we got the mattress, the tags read: 59% natural latex and 41% synthetic blend. To top it off, the out side cover is a cotton/poly blend. (Where is the promised soy and bamboo?) Anyway, the main point of my post is that this mattress too has a strong odor. Not as strong as or the the same as the Tempur-pedic, but whatever the smell is, it immediately causes my throat to constrict. Again, I've never experienced anything like this before and have never had an allergy to anything. We've had the new mattress for two weeks now and the odor doesn't seem to be going away at all. I only go in the bedroom now to open windows in the morning to air out the room and to close the windows at night. We've been sleeping in our living room waiting for either: 1) the odor to go away or 2) to figure out how to get rid of this mattress.

We spent a total of $2600 for the mattress including delivery and taxes (9.25% in Berkeley!) only to be confined to our living room in our tiny one bedroom apartment.

MORAL OF STORY: Before you buy a latex mattress, try a latex rubber pillow in the store. The odor of the mattress is hard to detect in the store, but you can get a better idea by laying on a pillow if this is an odor that will bother you.

Lastly, does anyone know if my strong reaction to the odor coming from the mattres can be used for a warranty claim? This was an expensive piece and is causing harm rather than providing comfort!

Hello. I just got a used beauty rest mattress that is not natural latex. Because it appears to be at least 10 years old, does that mean it is free and clear from outgassing toxins?

Hello,
I am "sensitive to smells" from the 7/08 posting. I did buy an all organic latex mattress from a place in Marin, CA. At first I did detect a sweet odor but it dissapated within a month or less. I have no odor issues at all one year later. I am happy with the comfort of the latex although it may be a bit warmer than a conventional mattress, or that could just be me at this stage in my life! My husband has no problem with it. I would not hesistate to buy an all organic latex mattress again.
Best wishes in your mattress hunt!