Re: mattress question (response to Diane, plus more)

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

Thanks so much for the suggestion. However, signs point to this remedy not

really being an option with this latex. My recent observations of this latex

give me the impression that it is not a very stable material - I see little

" pits " , tears, and " erosion " that I don't think were there when the latex first

arrived. This doesn't look like something onto which you want to be sprinkling

baking soda. I kinda doubt I would be allowed to do this.

I've been getting the impression that foam may actually be a more stable

material than latex. This could be a last resort (I'm still not ready to give up

on latex quite yet) - but I could get a foam mattress, and possibly do what you

did to deal with the fumes. Many foam/mattress companies might not have as

generous of a policy, though - as far as allowing one to do that without voiding

the warranty.

Did the baking soda disappear into the foam, or does/did it just " sit " there?

But here is a page that basically confirms my impressions of latex's relative

instability - the entire page is informative, but the " Antioxidant " section

gives the most relevant info regarding instability:

http://mattressconsultant.com/dunlopprocess.htm

(I realize the rest of my post veers off in a slightly different direction than

the specific sub-topic that Diane was discussing - but I just thought I'd add

this, as I try to get to the bottom of the latex mattress " fumes " issue. Maybe

I'm simply " thinking aloud " , but perhaps someone might find this useful

somewhere down the line - particularly the links)

The following page contains a comment (1st comment, 2nd to last paragraph) -

that suggests that in order of " odor intensity " - 100% natural Talalay latex

smells the most, while the blended Talalay smells the least. Dunlop is

somewhere in the middle. This might just be someone's own personal opinion -

but it seems to be in line with what my own experience might be, based on what

I've observed so far. Seemingly-informative page, overall:

http://greenlivingqa.com/content/royal-pedic-quilted-latex-matt

My own impressions are that, while the 100% natural Talalay may have a

moderately more intense odor than the blended Talalay - the 100% natural Talalay

has a " cleaner " odor that suggests pure rubber, while the blended Talalay has

more of a " chemical " , " petroleum " smell by comparison. (Then again, the " purer "

smell of the 100% natural latex might be due to the influence of the vanilla

scent that's added to it. I can only *faintly* detect a vanilla scent, but it

seems to be well-blended into the overall latex smell and may have some

influence on my impressions.)

And as I said, " odor " and " offgassing " might be two different things: the 100%

natural Talalay might have a more-intense odor overall (then again, I can't make

a fair comparison because my blended-Talalay mattress has been in use for about

8 weeks, while my 100% natural Talalay samples arrived just last week), but this

doesn't necessarily mean that the 100% natural would be more bothersome. It may

actually be *less* bothersome - since the composition is different. I still

can't say whether my symptoms would abate with the 100% natural, though - so

far, it's been difficult to make that assessment.

I also wonder if the manufacturer of the latex might factor into how a mattress

smells or offgasses. I came across a page that stated that some companies have

more of a proprietary approach to the Talalay manufacturing process -

supposedly, some companies don't even disclose everything they add to the latex.

I can't find the source right now - but IIRC, the source might have been

affiliated with a latex retailer. This statement could have been based more on

ulterior motives than reality - then again, there could be some truth, there.

Here's a page in which Dunlop latex is touted as the overall superior, more

reliable choice over Talalay (for whatever this source is worth):

http://www.habitatfurnishings.com/blog/?p=7

Here's a page that states that blended Talalay latex has more synthetic

antioxidants added to prevent discoloration:

http://www.savvyrest.com/why-savvy-rest/variations-in-natural-latex

Anyway, I recently realized that Marc's and Bill's latex could have come from a

different manufacturer, and it could have something to do with why they have had

a different experience than I've had. The manufacturer of my latex is Latex

International.

Overall, I'm wondering if a 100% natural Dunlop latex mattress, and/or a latex

mattress from a different manufacturer - might be a better choice for me.

~Svetaswan

> > > >

> > > > > Can this mattress be plopped on top of a wooden frame without a

> > > boxspring base?

> > > > > Which Model did you buy?

> > > >

> > > > Actually, I've only purchased a 3 " topper from this company, but I

didn't

> > > notice any

> > > > offgassing from the latex. Since we are now talking about this here,

> > > yesterday

> > > > I unzipped the cotton casing and put my nose against the latex and tried

> > > to smell

> > > > anything. At zero distance away from it, I could detect a slight smell,

> > > but

> > > > it was not a bothersome " chemical " smell that I'd try to avoid. And

> > > nothing

> > > > that I've noticed when it's got a cotton casing, matress pad, and sheet

> > > on top of it.

> > > >

> > > > I think with any latex mattress, it needs to be put onto a solid wood

> > > platform,

> > > > otherwise they tend to sag (although this is based on my experience with

> > > > a latex mattress from another manufacturer).

> > > >

> > > > I'd like to buy one of their full-blown mattresses using the Natural

> > > Sense latex, but

> > > > my wife insists that she must sleep on a metal springs due to back

> > > problems, so

> > > > the best compromise I've come up with so far is for me to have a 3 "

> > > topper on top

> > > > of the metal spring mattress. (and yes, it would certainly be better for

> > > me if we

> > > > could eliminate the metal springs altogether, but based on our

> > > experiences with

> > > > a previous latex mattress, my wife is now convinced that all latex

> > > mattresses are

> > > > bad for her back)

> > > >

> > > > Marc

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

> Anyway, I recently realized that Marc's and Bill's latex could have come from

a different manufacturer,

> and it could have something to do with why they have had a different

experience than I've had.

Yes, that " foamorder.com " latex topper I bought using the " Natural Sense " latex

says it uses a Dunlop process, without any toxic additives, so it is definitely

different from what you've got.

It does however say that this latex will fall apart rather quickly if " exposed

to the elements " (rain?), although I have not noticed it falling apart in my

bedroom... :-)

Also, have you looked at a cotton futon as an alternative to latex?

Marc

[Guest guest]

Good luck, Sveta,

 

I hope that works for you.  My sofa foam was mostly covered with a light

cotton, so the baking soda sat on top of the cotton covering.  Some places it

was uncovered foam and it didn't seem to soak into it.  (I did use it dry, not

in solution.)

 

Hope you find something which works,

Diane

From: svetaswan <svetaswan@...>

Subject: Re: mattress question (response to Diane, plus more)

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 12:29 PM

 

Hi Diane,

Thanks so much for the suggestion. However, signs point to this remedy not

really being an option with this latex. My recent observations of this latex

give me the impression that it is not a very stable material - I see little

" pits " , tears, and " erosion " that I don't think were there when the latex first

arrived. This doesn't look like something onto which you want to be sprinkling

baking soda. I kinda doubt I would be allowed to do this.

I've been getting the impression that foam may actually be a more stable

material than latex. This could be a last resort (I'm still not ready to give up

on latex quite yet) - but I could get a foam mattress, and possibly do what you

did to deal with the fumes. Many foam/mattress companies might not have as

generous of a policy, though - as far as allowing one to do that without voiding

the warranty.

Did the baking soda disappear into the foam, or does/did it just " sit " there?

But here is a page that basically confirms my impressions of latex's relative

instability - the entire page is informative, but the " Antioxidant " section

gives the most relevant info regarding instability:

http://mattressconsultant.com/dunlopprocess.htm

(I realize the rest of my post veers off in a slightly different direction than

the specific sub-topic that Diane was discussing - but I just thought I'd add

this, as I try to get to the bottom of the latex mattress " fumes " issue. Maybe

I'm simply " thinking aloud " , but perhaps someone might find this useful

somewhere down the line - particularly the links)

The following page contains a comment (1st comment, 2nd to last paragraph) -

that suggests that in order of " odor intensity " - 100% natural Talalay latex

smells the most, while the blended Talalay smells the least. Dunlop is somewhere

in the middle. This might just be someone's own personal opinion - but it seems

to be in line with what my own experience might be, based on what I've observed

so far. Seemingly-informative page, overall:

http://greenlivingqa.com/content/royal-pedic-quilted-latex-matt

My own impressions are that, while the 100% natural Talalay may have a

moderately more intense odor than the blended Talalay - the 100% natural Talalay

has a " cleaner " odor that suggests pure rubber, while the blended Talalay has

more of a " chemical " , " petroleum " smell by comparison. (Then again, the " purer "

smell of the 100% natural latex might be due to the influence of the vanilla

scent that's added to it. I can only *faintly* detect a vanilla scent, but it

seems to be well-blended into the overall latex smell and may have some

influence on my impressions.)

And as I said, " odor " and " offgassing " might be two different things: the 100%

natural Talalay might have a more-intense odor overall (then again, I can't make

a fair comparison because my blended-Talalay mattress has been in use for about

8 weeks, while my 100% natural Talalay samples arrived just last week), but this

doesn't necessarily mean that the 100% natural would be more bothersome. It may

actually be *less* bothersome - since the composition is different. I still

can't say whether my symptoms would abate with the 100% natural, though - so

far, it's been difficult to make that assessment.

I also wonder if the manufacturer of the latex might factor into how a mattress

smells or offgasses. I came across a page that stated that some companies have

more of a proprietary approach to the Talalay manufacturing process -

supposedly, some companies don't even disclose everything they add to the latex.

I can't find the source right now - but IIRC, the source might have been

affiliated with a latex retailer. This statement could have been based more on

ulterior motives than reality - then again, there could be some truth, there.

Here's a page in which Dunlop latex is touted as the overall superior, more

reliable choice over Talalay (for whatever this source is worth):

http://www.habitatfurnishings.com/blog/?p=7

Here's a page that states that blended Talalay latex has more synthetic

antioxidants added to prevent discoloration:

http://www.savvyrest.com/why-savvy-rest/variations-in-natural-latex

Anyway, I recently realized that Marc's and Bill's latex could have come from a

different manufacturer, and it could have something to do with why they have had

a different experience than I've had. The manufacturer of my latex is Latex

International.

Overall, I'm wondering if a 100% natural Dunlop latex mattress, and/or a latex

mattress from a different manufacturer - might be a better choice for me.

~Svetaswan

> > > >

> > > > > Can this mattress be plopped on top of a wooden frame without a

> > > boxspring base?

> > > > > Which Model did you buy?

> > > >

> > > > Actually, I've only purchased a 3 " topper from this company, but I

didn't

> > > notice any

> > > > offgassing from the latex. Since we are now talking about this here,

> > > yesterday

> > > > I unzipped the cotton casing and put my nose against the latex and tried

> > > to smell

> > > > anything. At zero distance away from it, I could detect a slight smell,

> > > but

> > > > it was not a bothersome " chemical " smell that I'd try to avoid. And

> > > nothing

> > > > that I've noticed when it's got a cotton casing, matress pad, and sheet

> > > on top of it.

> > > >

> > > > I think with any latex mattress, it needs to be put onto a solid wood

> > > platform,

> > > > otherwise they tend to sag (although this is based on my experience with

> > > > a latex mattress from another manufacturer).

> > > >

> > > > I'd like to buy one of their full-blown mattresses using the Natural

> > > Sense latex, but

> > > > my wife insists that she must sleep on a metal springs due to back

> > > problems, so

> > > > the best compromise I've come up with so far is for me to have a 3 "

> > > topper on top

> > > > of the metal spring mattress. (and yes, it would certainly be better for

> > > me if we

> > > > could eliminate the metal springs altogether, but based on our

> > > experiences with

> > > > a previous latex mattress, my wife is now convinced that all latex

> > > mattresses are

> > > > bad for her back)

> > > >

> > > > Marc

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I've only looked a little bit at cotton/wool futons. It's difficult to switch

directions and start all over again, for one - and to look at cotton/wool

mattresses would be sort-of like starting from scratch. Heck, it took me a long

time to get enough energy and initiative to buy the latex mattress...so it's a

real bummer that the ordeal isn't over.

And I'm concerned about the long-term comfort & support that a cotton/wool futon

would offer - especially for someone with my physical dimensions.

I wonder what kind of foundation those require? I wonder if a wood-slat

foundation (which is what is often used for latex mattresses) is sufficient?

But cotton/wool may actually be the wisest option, or it may turn out to be the

only option. From what I've learned about latex mattresses, it's possible that

all of them may give me problems to a certain degree.

I've put in an inquiry to foamorder - hopefully I didn't reveal too much, and

they aren't scared away by my questions!

~Svetaswan

>

> > Anyway, I recently realized that Marc's and Bill's latex could have come

from a different manufacturer,

> > and it could have something to do with why they have had a different

experience than I've had.

>

> Yes, that " foamorder.com " latex topper I bought using the " Natural Sense "

latex says it uses a Dunlop process, without any toxic additives, so it is

definitely different from what you've got.

>

> It does however say that this latex will fall apart rather quickly if " exposed

to the elements " (rain?), although I have not noticed it falling apart in my

bedroom... :-)

>

> Also, have you looked at a cotton futon as an alternative to latex?

>

> Marc

>

[Guest guest]

> I wonder what kind of foundation those require? I wonder if a wood-slat

foundation (which is what is often used for

> latex mattresses) is sufficient?

I don't think the slats work well for latex mattresses either -- there's a

" lumpy " feeling while sleeping on it. After getting our first latex mattress, I

went down the local lumber store, found some high quality plywood that didn't

smell bad, and had them cut me two large pieces that I put on top of the slats.

Problem solved.

Marc