Reading through the threads in this forum, I have with no small amount of horror, read stories about people who have purchased beds with good faith, only to find that after some period of time, that MOLD has taken over their bedding, to the extent that it was negatively impacting (and rightfully so) the health of the person sleeping on the bed. Assumptions below:
Questions:
I am not suggesting that all memory foam, air, synthetic latex is going to mold. I am not suggesting that all memory foam and synthetic latex offgasses, but I will tell you that if anything CAN go negative, it will do so in my household. |
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What I will say is there is a connection between Mold and being sensitive to off-gassing from polyurethane products. Both contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). i was exposed to VOCs from living in an apartment with indoor wall Mold last fall. I got sick with earaches and other symptoms. Your wife may have been exposed somehow as well in her lifetime but probably can't recall or doesn't know the source. Probably can't remember being sick either or correlating it with an exposure. My body is filled with toxins from the Mold and the VOCs that were in it. I cannot be in a new car and things like new carpet, perfumes, cleaning ingredients etc make me lightheaded and I have heart palpitations. Otherwise I am very healthy and in my 40s. Because of the chemical sensitivity (MCS) I have developed, memory foam is out for me. i will say however that I bought a memory foam pad recently full of polyurethane and the offgassing was awful but I let it air out outdoors for about a week during dry days and it was much, much better. You could potentially do this with a mattress but it would take longer to offgass of course. Then put one or two towels over it before sleeping. Those will have to be washed every 3 nights or so to get the VOCs out. if your wife had MCS, the best thing is to avoid VOCs and agents that contain them. Her body probably needs to be rid of toxins as well. Cut down of caffeine, sugar, and stop using aspertane. |
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Mold can grow in humid, stale air conditions, on suitable materials. An innerspring mattress has a porous surface that breathes and dries... not prone to mold. An air mattress does not breath and the bladder air can create a temperature differential with the ambient air, which may cause condensation, moisture build-up... perhaps mold conditions. Memory foam does not breath and also warms up... perhaps mold conditions. Latex foam rubber is very breathable (most breathable foam) and does not warm up excessively if properly protected with wool in the cover/pad. And Latex should be used on a base that ventilates. And Latex is naturally anti-microbial, etc... so not prone to mold, regardless of it being 100% Natural/Organic or Blended (with synthetic Latex). Quality materials fully processed should not off gas; cheap materials poorly processed may off gas (memory foams). Latex from reputable manufacturers should not off gas, regardless of it being 100% Natural/Organic or Blended (with synthetic Latex). I don't consider a slight odor that dissipates in due time to be 'off gassing'. I consider obnoxious odors that don't go away to be off gassing. A 100% foam mattress can be hard to get right, especially for support. And all that foam can make moving about on the mattress more difficult for someone with mobility issues. You might want to try it in a store first. Mold is the least of your worries unless you live in a damp, stale basement or similar conditions. GK This message was modified Oct 9, 2013 by GKDesigns
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| YOu want to try an all latex bed in a store before investing in one. The big mattress stores that carry latex mattresses usually have four through six inches of latex on top of inner springs. This feels very much like a normal bed. A 100% latex mattress can be quite difficult to roll around on and that could be an issue for your wife. I found the latex mattresses to be just as difficult to move on as a thick Tempurpedic. |
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Thanks for the advice. I ran across a store who had "foam" or latex mattresses, but the sales person could tell me nothing of the specifics including type, and firmness of layers. So yes, my wife got on one, but without knowing more about the details, I was cautious about knowing what I was looking at. I even went back and talked to another of their staff but whereas they were willing to help my wife get around, they had very little to say that would lead me to believe they knew a whole lot about what they were selling. We live in Chattanooga, and I guess I could find a place in Atlanta that sells latex mattresses, but is not terribly convenient to go there and shop for mattresses. But I am beginning to think that I may just have to do that to complete my due diligence. |