Table of Contents
If You Would Rather Watch Than Read, Check Out The Video Below!
So you’re entertaining the possibility of sleeping on a natural latex mattress one day, but you’re wondering what you’re getting yourself into. Is it worth making the switch? This video will explore 10 pros and 5 cons of natural latex mattresses.
First Off, Let’s Clarify A Few Things About All-natural Latex Mattresses
This video will deal exclusively with 100% all-natural latex foam mattresses. The latex mattress pros and cons mentioned here do not apply to mattresses that contain blended foam. Blended foams typically contain less than 30% natural latex. There is no significant advantage to purchasing a mattress with blended foam as the mattress will be off-gassing similar amounts of chemicals to conventional polyurethane mattresses. Companies that include natural latex in their foam blend are mostly motivated by being able to market their product as “natural latex memory foam,” even if the foam contains less than 30% natural latex.
Enough said; on to the pros and cons of all-natural latex mattresses!
Advantages of 100% all-natural latex mattresses
The advantages are similar in whether you’re looking to purchase an all-natural latex mattress made in the Dunlop or Talalay manufacturing process. Let’s look at a few of them.
10. More Durable
Endowed with great elasticity, all-natural latex foam regains its original shape after use and molds itself perfectly to the user’s body. Contrary to polyurethane-based foam, which can lose its shape over time, all-natural latex maintains its original shape and lasts longer. All-natural latex mattresses last 2-3 times longer than polyurethane mattresses.
9. Available in Many Firmnesses
Like conventional mattresses, all-natural latex mattresses are available in various firmnesses but generally range from medium to firm. Check the manufacturer’s ILD (Impression Load Deflection) rating for the particular mattress you are interested in. A higher ILD score will be for firmer mattresses, while a lower ILD will be for softer mattresses.
8. Environmentally friendly
Even though natural mattresses outlast conventional mattresses, they are biodegradable. Contact your vendor to find out if any chemicals, nylon, dyes, or adhesives are used in fabrication. This will indicate whether your full natural latex mattress is 100% biodegradable. Since your all-natural latex mattress lasts longer, you will reduce consumption while, at the same time, purchasing a biodegradable product.
7. Pain Relief
Some people with chronic nerve and joint pain report significant relief in their symptoms after sleeping for a few months on an all-natural latex mattress. Those suffering from lower back pain report that the relief of pressure points contributes to a reduction in chronic pain.
6. No Off-Gassing
You spend a lot of time in your bed. And sleep is the time that the body needs to heal and repair itself to be ready for a fresh start in the morning. You could develop a chronic inflammatory condition if you spend that time inhaling toxic gasses released by synthetic materials in conventional mattresses. Off-gassing chemicals are contained in fire retardants, adhesives, and petroleum-based materials used in conventional mattresses. Volatile chemicals from synthetic materials are time-released into your home environment and can cause adverse health effects.
Health risks associated with exposure to volatile organic chemicals in polyurethane foam affect the nervous and immune systems. Potential illnesses include cancer, neurological disorders, autoimmune weakness, asthma and allergies, infertility, miscarriage, and child behavior disorders.
Natural latex mattresses have virtually no smell or off-gassing, even when new. Owners of new all-natural latex mattresses report a sweet, natural, and inoffensive smell when lying on their mattress.
Look for Green Guard, Oeko-Tex, and Eco-Institut certifications to ensure that your mattress is made of certified organic or natural materials. Beware of companies that list natural latex blend as a material in the mattress specifications. Stay away from memory foam if your priority is a mattress with no off-gassing. Memory foam is mostly made of polyurethane which typically contains high VOCs.
5. Wool Natural Fire Retardant
Chemical fire retardants used in conventional petroleum-based mattresses have been linked to many health issues. These health conditions include immunotoxicity, endocrine and thyroid disruption, reproductive toxicity, adverse effects on fetal and child development, neurologic dysfunction, and cancer.
Natural latex mattresses use wool as an effective fire barrier. Wool is a protein fiber. It is naturally fire-resistant. It refuses to support a flame. The naturally occurring nitrogen and lanolin in the wool allow it to self-extinguish.
4. Good For Allergy Sufferers
All-natural latex mattresses are antifungal, anti-bacterial, mold-resistant, mildew resistant, and resistant to dust mites. Mattresses can be a breeding ground for unwanted organisms that pose health risks. With an all-natural latex mattress, you’ll be keeping them at bay!
3. Fewer Nighttime disturbances
Spring mattresses and waterbeds transfer motion from one side to the other, causing a disturbance in your partner’s sleep. On the other hand, natural latex foam has the quality of isolating motion. When a partner tosses and turns on the other side of the bed, the natural latex foam greatly attenuates the motion. Latex mattress users report occasional tossing and turning from partners is barely noticeable.
Natural latex beds that use coils in construction do not transfer motion more than non-coil mattresses, as the coils are individually wrapped. Coils provide pinpoint support without transferring any motion.
2. Heat Regulation
Natural Latex mattresses tend to ventilate much better than memory foam or straight polyurethane foam. This makes for a more comfortable sleep since you will be less prone to overheating. Natural mattresses are typically covered with cotton and wool, which are breathable materials.
1. Very Few (non-toxic) Chemicals are Used In Fabrication of latex mattresses
Some manufacturers use certified organic wool and cotton in their mattresses. You might be asking why wool must be certified organic because it is nothing more than sheep’s hair. The difference is in how the wool is sheared, washed, and prepared before being sold. Certified organic wool means no harsh chemicals were used in the cleaning process.
Some non-toxic chemicals like baking soda are used in the Dunlop and Talalay manufacturing processes. It is difficult to determine which chemicals are used and in which quantity, as it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
The actual latex foam is sourced by mattress companies from latex foam manufacturers like Talalay Global as a “primary material.” Natural mattress companies then use the Dunlop or Talalay Latex foam, cotton, wool, metal coils, and thread to assemble various mattress models.
Disadvantages
Let’s review some disadvantages of purchasing and owning a natural latex mattress.
6. Cost
100% natural latex mattress models are typically priced higher because of the higher cost of production. Natural latex mattresses range from 779$ (see which one) to 3000$.
5. Harder To Move
An all-latex core mattress is harder to move than a conventional polyurethane hybrid. This is because natural latex is heavier than polyurethane. And since an all-latex core mattress like the Plush Beds Botanical Bliss doesn’t have any spring coils to give in some structure when you position the mattress upright, it will bend and cave in the middle.
Natural latex hybrid mattresses are easier to move because of the coil layer’s support; movability depends on the make and model of the mattress. Natural latex hybrid mattresses are generally heavier than polyurethane hybrids and are, therefore, harder to move.
4. Weight
There are many variables when looking at the natural latex mattresses available online. Everything from materials to construction specifications influences weight, so it’s hard to say if natural latex mattresses are heavier than their polyurethane counterparts.
Look up the weight of the mattress you’re interested in to see if it’s weight will be an issue. Consult our side-by-side mattress review chart to see how different mattress models weigh in.
For most people, weight is a non-issue, as all-natural latex mattress companies featured on NaturalMattressFinder.com offer free shipping. Additionally, it’s not like you’ll be moving or carrying your mattress daily. You might have to move it slightly for vacuuming or sheet changing. Keep in mind that you do not have to rotate your natural latex foam mattress as often because the foam is resilient and maintains it’s shape over time.
Comparing conventional vs. natural latex mattresses, we see that the natural latex mattress is slightly heavier. The Casper mattress, a 10-inch conventional queen-size mattress, weighs 83 pounds, while The Eco Terra Mattress, an 11-inch natural latex queen-size mattress, weighs 100 pounds.
3. Limited Opportunity To Test
You might still think that buying a mattress online is a crazy idea. However, it is quickly becoming a widely accepted practice because the buyer’s risk is completely removed from the equation. Most companies offer trial periods, free shipping and a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee, making buying a mattress online a no-brainer. A direct manufacturer-to-consumer relationship and a manufacture-on-demand business model cut out the markup normally added by brick-and-mortar stores. So why not cut out the middleman and order your mattress online directly from the manufacturer?
Direct-to-the-consumer mattresses eliminate the need for a middleman. In essence, this is how natural latex mattress manufacturers can cover the risk of a product being returned. Mattress companies that sell their products directly to consumers online keep the portion of the profits that would normally go to brick-and-mortar mattress stores. Hence, natural latex mattress companies can absorb the loss and ensure full customer satisfaction if a return or refund occurs.
You’re out of luck if you absolutely must test a selection of mattresses in a store to pick the most comfortable one for you. However, most mattress companies have dozens of comments on their websites for each model. These comment sections will give insights into your mattress’s softness, firmness, and overall comfort.
2. Delivery Options Vary
This section refers exclusively to online natural mattress companies and explores the overall buying experience, not the actual mattress.
Most brick-and-mortar mattress stores provide store-to-customer delivery and have options for full setup in the home.
Some natural latex mattress companies offer a full setup as an option. This service varies from one manufacturer to the next. Check the shipping options for your preferred natural latex mattress brand to see if full-service delivery is an option for your order. Be sure to budget additional fees for this service.
1. Old Mattress Removal Options Vary
Removal of your old mattress may not be offered at delivery. In some cases, you could be responsible for discarding your old mattress. Fortunately, some local goodwill organizations will offer to pick up your old mattress free of charge.
Let’s Review Some latex mattress Pros & Cons.
Here’s a quick overview video about the pros and cons of natural latex mattresses. It’s the same content as the text below.
Pros.
- Durability:Â 100% natural latex mattresses last longer than their polyurethane counterparts.
- Firmness:Â natural latex mattresses are available in a variety of firmnesses.
- Environmentally friendly:Â Natural latex is biodegradable. Other natural mattress construction materials like cotton and wool are also biodegradable.
- Comfort: Your natural latex mattress may alleviate chronic muscle and body pain.
- No Off-Gassing: natural latex mattresses won’t time-release chemicals into your sleeping environment and house.
- Natural Fire Retardant: the wool top layer of latex mattresses acts as a natural fire retardant.
- Great Option For Allergy Sufferers:Â natural latex mattresses are hypoallergenic, which means that the materials are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
- Less Nighttime disturbances:Â natural latex foam attenuates motion from a partner changing sleeping positions.
- Better Heat Regulation:Â all-natural latex, cotton, and wool regulate heat better than polyurethane and nylon.
- No Toxic Chemicals:Â chemicals used, if any, are non-toxic.
Cons.
- Cost:Â natural latex mattresses can be more expensive, depending on the model and manufacturer. You can get a natural latex queen-size mattress for as low as 779$. (See which one)
- Weight:Â natural latex mattresses generally weigh 25% more than their polyurethane counterparts.
- Limited Testing Opportunities:Â most natural mattresses are available online, so you won’t be able to compare them side by side in a store. On the other hand, online mattress sites have customer reviews that can help you make an informed decision.
- Delivery and Takeaway options vary:Â full setup and mattress disposal might not be available.
Final Thoughts
Latex mattress pros & cons boil down to this: if a slightly higher cost and fear of the unknown are two things you can overcome, you should go for a 100% natural latex mattress. The benefits of a natural mattress far outweigh the disadvantages. In recent years, natural latex mattress prices have decreased. Some models are even on par with polyurethane store-brand mattresses. And, with a risk-free trial, you can ensure you’re fully satisfied before committing to your all-natural latex mattress.
