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The pandemic sparked a surge in demand for latex mattresses for the better.
With an average of 6-8 hours spent in bed each day, it's essential to choose a bed that provides comfort, and support and is free of harmful chemicals and allergens.
Enter the latex mattress – the ideal choice for most sleepers seeking a luxurious and healthy sleep experience.
But not all latex mattresses are created equal. While some brands may offer synthetic latex options that are cheaper, they lack all the benefits that come with authentic latex.
In this post, we'll highlight all the reasons why a latex mattress is worth the investment, and why its advantages far outweigh the cost.
Get ready to experience the ultimate in sleep comfort and support!
Major Benefits of Sleeping on a Latex Mattress
Pain Relieving
Back pain and joint pain have become a part of the lifestyle for most city dwellers. Today, pain relief is one of the main factors that influence mattress purchases.
Latex as a material has properties that provide elasticity and responsiveness. It provides natural contouring to the body's curves that promote spinal alignment and relieve back pain.
Light contouring also helps in even body weight distribution. It reduces the chances of creating pressure points and provides pressure relief.
The cushioning and buoyant feeling are unmatched by any mattress material.
Hypoallergenic and Allergen Free
It can be the perfect choice for someone prone to allergies. Although there are few individuals who are known to have a latex allergy.
Latex is naturally resistant to building dust mites, molds, and mildews. So an organic latex mattress does not require the use of any chemicals to sanitize it from any bacteria or viruses.
Anyone looking for a hypoallergenic mattress can consider a latex mattress.
Organic
All major types of mattresses are treated with toxic chemicals like Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in order to make them inflammable. Some manufacturers use fiberglass and other synthetic materials as a cheaper deterrent to fire.
A mattress free from fiberglass is recommended otherwise it can cause skin irritation.
Natural materials like soft organic wool are commonly used as a fire barrier in latex mattresses that are safer and healthier.
Eco-friendly
Latex mattresses are extremely eco-friendly mattresses that are made from the sap of rubber trees. A 100% natural latex is made from trees that are not treated with any kind of chemicals or pesticides.
There are dedicated plantations that promote the growth and sustainability of these rubber trees (e.g. para rubber tree). Unlike other by-products from trees, the trees are not cut for collections of sap.
100% natural latex mattresses are recyclable waste once they have reached the end of their life.
When you are buying a latex mattress, you are doing your bit in preserving the biodiversity of the earth.
Breathable
A breathable mattress is a boon for a hot sleeper. Latex has a natural open-cell structure that a lot of synthetic or man-made mattress materials try to mimic.
This internal structure makes it breathable and cooler to sleep on latex. It is an ideal cool mattress that helps in the dissipation of body heat.
Durable
An all-natural latex mattress is the most durable and last longer than any other mattress. The lifespan of a good latex mattress can easily be anywhere from 15 to 20 years.
It has a natural bounce and elasticity that lasts a lifetime and helps in retaining the original shape. Hence, they don’t sag as much as other mattress types.
Firmness
Generally, the plush mattress is equated with the amount of softness. But most don’t understand that a plush mattress may not be a comfortable mattress for a longer period of time. Having a soft mattress may not help keep your spine aligned, so not everyone needs one.
There is a wrong assumption that latex is very firm to sleep on. Like any other mattress material, latex has different ILDs. It is important to note that higher ILD means firmer and lower ILD means a softer feel.
The density of the material including latex will be different for the support layer and comfort layer.
The Talalay latex is used in the comfort layer as it has a lower ILD. Therefore, it provides a soft sleeping experience. The support layer or core of the mattress has Dunlop latex, which has a higher ILD or high-density latex so that it can hold the weight properly.
Look for ILD ratings from the manufacturer to know which one will be best for you.
No Off-Gassing
No off-gassing is another important factor for someone sensitive to smell. Latex has zero to negligible smell issues as most of the off-gassing issues in mattresses are linked to the release of chemical gasses.
A natural latex mattress does not use any chemicals, hence you won’t face any such smell issues. The smell of a new latex usually fades away in a week but more importantly that smell is non-toxic and very mild to make you uncomfortable.
Comfort & All Night Support
You must sleep comfortably throughout the night during the entire sleep cycle if you want to wake up fresh in the morning.
The latex with its adequate responsiveness and contouring helps you sleep even when you are changing your sleep positions unconsciously.
It adapts and contours to the body shape without creating pressure points, resulting in better sleep.
Motion Isolation
Ask a light sleeper how motion transfer can disrupt their sleep. The options are many, ranging from innerspring mattresses with very low motion isolation to memory foam mattresses with good motion isolation.
Memory foam provides almost negligible motion transfer, but many people complain about sinking in feeling. It makes it difficult to change sleeping positions.
Latex provides a perfect solution for light sleepers with good motion isolation without getting stuck in the mattress. All thanks to the bounciness in the latex.
No Electromagnetic Radiation
Studies show that electromagnetic radiation can affect our sleep and the presence of any metal in the mattress can elevate them.
100% natural latex is organic and metal-free. Many hybrid mattresses including latex are available in the market that has an innerspring as the core of the mattress.
All-natural latex mattresses are the option if you are looking for disruption-free sleep. Don’t forget to keep your mobiles away from your bed.
Certifications
All high-quality latex mattresses are certified by the industry-accepted certification. Look for the below certifications before buying.
Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) for growing and processing organically.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for meeting strict regulations for growing organic wool or organic cotton used in latex mattresses.
eco-Institut for certifying maintaining zero to negligible emission levels.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for certifying the non-use of harmful chemicals.
GREENGUARD GOLD for ensuring low emission levels and no volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Disadvantages
We have covered all the benefits of a latex mattress, but that does not mean they do not have any cons. While these are minor and can be easily handled, they are important to note if you are new to latex.
Cost
With so many pros of latex, it should have been the preferred choice. But it is not for most buyers as the cost of ownership is high.
They last much longer than a traditional mattress and can easily reduce the yearly cost of owning a mattress, but most people prefer to ignore that.
The cost is the single most major factor that people tend to look at other options.
Heavy
They are one of the heaviest options in the market and weight can vary a lot depending on the density and materials used.
It may not be a big concern, but it does weigh on people’s minds when it comes to owning one. Maneuvering and moving it around for cleaning can be a difficult task with heavy mattresses.
