Eco-friendly mattress for your RV: A comfy way to help the Environment OCT 07 Written by: Adeline Yuboco 10/07/2011 11:05 AM

October Outdoor Living Newsletter

Eco-friendly mattresses help you sleep better and help the environment at the same time

There's nothing like a large, comfortable mattress to crash into after a long day of hiking, shopping and visiting tourist attractions during your RV trip. That's why lots of RVers pay careful attention to the kind of mattress that they get for their RV to make sure that it is comfortable, spacious and within their budget.

But do you know that the kind of mattress that you choose for your RV not only affects your sleep, but the environment as well? Most of the conventional mattresses that you can buy in your local home depot were manufactured using materials containing lots of different chemicals and synthetic compounds which are not biodegradable. That means, they stay in landfills for a long period of time. As they decompose, these chemicals and compounds break down and make their way into the soil, water and air, causing damage to our environment. That's the reason why more and more RVers are getting rid of their conventional mattresses and replacing them with eco-friendly mattresses.

What are Eco-Friendly Mattresses?

On the outside, eco-friendly mattresses look very much the same as conventional mattresses. What makes them different is that most - if not all - of the materials used in making the mattress are manufactured using materials that were derived from nature. Because of that, they are biodegradable, meaning that as the materials decompose, they don't cause any harm to the environment. Eco-friendly mattresses can also be easily recycled and used to create newer mattresses and other products that are sold in the market.

Types of Eco-Friendly Mattresses

There are generally four kinds of eco-friendly mattresses that are available :

• Organic Cotton Mattresses. Cotton is one of the common materials used in making conventional mattresses. What makes this an eco-friendly mattress is the fact that the cotton used here are organically grown. That means that the cotton growers do not use any chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which can eventually stick onto the cotton fibers and make them not only harmful to you but also to the environment.
• Organic Wool Mattresses. These mattresses are mostly made out of organic wool fibers - a complex natural textile fiber that is extremely durable. It has a natural ability to also repel water, preventing it from developing mildew. Some of these mattresses are built with coil springs to help make sure that your body is supported and well cushioned as you sleep.
• Natural Latex Mattresses. Another kind of eco-friendly mattress for your RV is one that is made from natural latex. These mattresses are made using the hardened milk sap of a plant called Hevea brasiliensis, more commonly known as the Rubber Tree. This particular kind of mattress has an inherent springiness to it which allows it to push back to give you that much needed support without the help of coil springs. The milk sap used in the manufacturing of this kind of earth-friendly mattress contains antimicrobial properties that protect you from mildew and dust mites.
• Combination Eco-Friendly Mattresses. Finally, there are some eco-friendly mattresses that are a cross between any of the three mentioned earlier. For example, there are some organic cotton mattresses that use natural latex instead of coil springs to give you that much-needed support while you sleep.

Tips in Choosing an Eco-Friendly Mattress

If there is one thing that deters many people from buying eco-friendly mattresses is the price. Eco-friendly mattresses tend to be expensive than conventional mattresses. That being said, it is important to make sure that the eco-friendly mattress that you choose will be worth your money. Here are some tips to help you choose an eco-friendly mattress for your RV:

• Consult your doctor.  One of the things that you need to first do before buying an eco-friendly mattress is to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Although eco-friendly mattresses are made of materials that do not harm the environment, some people are allergic to them, especially if you are thinking of getting an organic wool or cotton eco-friendly mattress for your RV. Your doctor will be in the best position to help you narrow down which eco-friendly mattresses you can buy to help you save the environment and stay allergy-free at the same time.
• Inspect the labels.  Don't just take the word of the manufacturers that their mattresses are eco-friendly. Take some time to check the labels attached on these mattresses to see whether or not they used any chemical substances like glues and dyes during the manufacture process.
• Do a background check.  In addition to checking the label attached to the eco-friendly mattress, it also helps to take some time to do a research on the company or manufacturer of the mattress. Visit their website to see if they have received any citations and awards from organizations that promote eco-friendly products and those that make an effort to save the environment. Take some time to also check websites that provide reviews about the product line and quality of customer service that they provide. These would definitely free you from any potential frustration and headaches in the future.
• Review their policies.  Another thing to remember when buying an eco-friendly mattress for your RV is to look at their return or exchange policy, especially if you are buying your eco-friendly mattress online. Check also the extent of the warranty they have for the mattress that you are getting to make sure that you can enjoy your eco-friendly mattress for a very long time.
• Lie on it.  The average person spends one-third of his or her lifetime lying down in bed. That being said, it is very important to make sure that the eco-friendly mattress that you get for your RV provides you the comfort and support that you need to get a good night's rest. Getting an eco-friendly mattress would not do you any good if you are not comfortable sleeping in it at all.

5 Places to Buy Eco-Friendly Mattresses Online

There are many companies out there that claim that their mattresses are eco-friendly mattresses, but in truth, they are anything but. In order for you to be sure that the mattress is not only eco-friendly, but also provided by a company that will provide you excellent customer service after you buy their product, here are five different eco-friendly mattress online stores to consider.

• Abundant Earth. This is another online store to consider, especially if you are looking for an eco-friendly mattress on a tight budget. Abundant Earth offers a wide variety of products for your home and RV that are guaranteed to be earth-friendly. If for some reason that you are not satisfied with the eco-friendly mattress that you purchase, you can exchange this within 30 days from the time that you receive the mattress.
• Lifekind. Lifekind is America's number one company selling and distributing organic mattresses, pillows, toppers, and beddings. Their products are made using organic and eco-friendly materials produced by local farmers that practice responsible agricultural methods. Oregon Tilth - the most respected name in organic certification - has certified the factories where they manufacture their products. Their products have also been one of the first to be certified by Greenguard for the low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions based on its strict standards. Lifekind offers a 90-day exchange to their clients on all of their products after it is delivered in the event that you are not satisfied with their product.
• Mattress Insider. MattressInsider is America's leading supplier of replacement RV mattresses. They offer eco-friendly mattresses in all of the common RV mattress sizes. Standard shipping is free across the nation. As for returns, if you aren't 100% satisfied within 30 days you may ship it back for a full refund.
• Natura Sleep Solution. Natura offers a range of natural latex and wool eco-friendly mattresses that have been certified by the OCIA International - the world's largest, oldest and most trusted leaders in organic certification. They also have showrooms across the United States where you can inspect their products.
• Savvy Rest. Based in Central Virginia, Savvy Rest is one of the leading eco-friendly mattress companies in the United States. Their mission is to provide customers with products that are free from any toxic chemicals that are commonly used with conventional mattresses. Their product line includes eco-friendly mattresses, toppers, beddings and pillows. All of their products come are covered by a 90-day exchange policy where you can return and exchange the mattress that you bought from them with another one in the event that the size that you chose doesn't fit the bed in your RV or the mattress is not as comfortable as you have hoped. Their eco-friendly mattresses also come with a warranty ranging from ten to 20 years, depending on the brand and type of mattress you bought.
• The Natural Sleep Store. Another place where you can buy affordable eco-friendly mattresses is the Natural Sleep Store. What's great about this online store is that they have showrooms that you can visit to check their different eco-friendly mattress to find one that fits your budget and provides you a comfortable sleep. They also offer free overnight shipping for adult-sized mattresses and beddings. They offer a 90-day exchange policy for all their eco-friendly mattresses as well as a complete warranty between ten and 20 years, depending on the brand.

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