Thursday, October 20, 2011

Let’s Talk Mattress Pads

WBCN used to have a radio show called The Big Mattress. I was on that show once. The topic was recent immigration to Boston. Charles Laquidara asked me to do a simultaneous translation so any French-speaking immigrants listening would understand. Today I run B&B Chez Sven with three big mattresses and, by the end of the season, they all need ...new mattress pads. A cinch to find, you say? Not anymore. Good mattress pads have become as rare as Democrats pleased with Obama’s first term.

Did you know that mattress pads may contain flame-retardants, a family of POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) called PBDEs? Indeed, now we have to worry about chemicals in mattress pads as well as in the mattresses themselves. Cynthia Gaw, a University of California student working on a senior thesis project about flame retardants in foam, discovered half of the mattress pads she had examined contained flame retardants, despite the fact there’s no flammability standard that requires manufacturers make them that way. (Read about PBDEs on this EPA information page, as well as in the great chapter that summarizes the topic in Slow Death by Rubber Duck.)

The laws to prevent bedroom fires were written back when no one knew better. For one thing, many people still smoked, which is why flame retardants seemed to make sense. No one realized these chemicals in themselves would prove harmful. Unfortunately the molecules make their way out of furniture into household dust.

Body burden analyses have shown flame retardants can accumulate in our bodies and cause health problems, ranging from hormonal changes to disruption of the reproductive system. The thyroid can be affected, as can the neurological development of infants and children. Flame retardants are a four-million dollar industry, so this dreadful situation is not going to change any time soon if the chemical companies have their way. (Have you already told your senators to support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011?)

Do you know the composition of your mattress pads? If foam, they may be harming your health. I was going to take part in Cynthia’s study, but my mattress pads do not contain foam, which is the good news. (If you want to participate, email foamstudy AT gmail DOT com for instructions.) The bad news is I have not found a satisfactory mattress pad for 2012.

Here’s what I want in a mattress pad:
1.) No synthetic fiber.
2.) Doesn’t bunch up overnight.
3.) All cotton on top.
4.) Easily washable.
5.) No flame retardants.
6.) Made in the USA.

(Read how to avoid toxic chemicals in your home here.)

Do any innkeeper-readers have mattress pads to recommend? Do you worry about flame retardants in the home environment? Do you have friends who have had reproductive problems or testicular cancer?

Comments (16)

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Living Large's avatar

Living Large · 693 weeks ago

I don't know the chemical make up of my mattress pad. It isn't organic, so I'm assuming there are some chemicals there. I'll be watching to see if any of your readers have recommendations.
Christine's avatar

Christine · 693 weeks ago

I don't know what the purpose of mattress pads might be for you, but for us, it's waterproofing ability, and for that, we always, always buy wool. I highly recommend it. It's naturally waterproof and breathable as well. There are fluffy wool pads as well as flat wool - both are nice! I am guessing you might not have to replace them each year, either, which would be a good bonus.
Oh geez, another hidden toxin in my home. I hadn't thought about this. Mine are a few years old. I am sure they contain all of this bad stuff. I'll be interested in any recommendations made here.
When we bought our mattress, the manufacturer gave us the option of a few different mattress covers (which is probably different from a mattress pad). If we didn't buy one of those covers, our warranty would be voided. My husband-to-be has asthma and allergies so we opted for the supposedly hypoallergenic mattress pad, which seems to be fine for his allergies.
Hum, I usually just buy what I find on sale at Marshall's. I haven't thought much about the mattress pads, I'm interested to read recs here too.
And if I may tag on, I'm searching for a new *mattress* and finding myself overwhelmed. It's been 20 years since we've bought one and it's desperately needed (desperately!) but I'm having a terrible time finding one that doesn't freak me out with its chemical makeup!
My recent post In Which Seattle Woos Me
1 reply · active 693 weeks ago
Kris, check out Ikea. I believe their mattresses do not contain flame retardants.
The Cuddledown company has all kinds of "greener" options- also try Garnet Hill.
I don't know about Garnet Hill, but Cuddledlown may have pricing options for business owners. One of my clients is an interior designer and she gets great pricing for bedding from them. You can check them out online.
Lynn SK-
1 reply · active 693 weeks ago
Thanks, Lynn. Will check out Garnet Hill. I have used Cuddledown in the past. Now I am trying an all-cotton pad from Coyuchi. Fortunately, both companies give innkeepers wholesale prices!
Thanks for the excellent tips and directions, Sandy. This is a huge help to me.
My recent post The 5-Question [Author] Interview: Dennis Danziger
Emailed by Lynn K: "I just got my latest catalog from Gaiam Living, and in it they have organic cotton mattress pads and wool filled/cotton covered ones, in
king sizes. Made exclusively by them. shopgaiam.com, or 800-254-8464. Hope this is helpful"
I'm delaying my look at my mattress pad. In fact, I might take a nap, instead, but then I'd be lying on it.
My recent post Never Say “Doll”
Good timing - I am in desperate need of a new mattress pad, so this post and the helpful comments give me lots to go on in my search!
My recent post Ingredient of the Month: Shcarole
Oh boy. I just bought a new mattress pad YESTERDAY. Now I have to go check and see how it shapes up re this post.
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This discussion about mattress pad will be handy for me when I will go for buying a new mattress. Thanks for this helpful allocation.
I’m so glad I found my solution online.

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