Learn All About the Benefits of Latex & How to Select the Perfect Firmness
Shopping for a new latex mattress or topper is not something to be taken lightly. There are a number of vendors, and many believe "greenwashing" is a valid advertising technique. We encourage you to know the right questions to ask before you make your latex mattress purchase. With that in mind, FoamSource has compiled the following Latex Mattress Buyers Guide to give you all of the information you will need to order that "just right" latex mattress or latex topper.
Have questions? Please give FoamSource a call at 800-255-0181. Our knowledgeable sales staff is happy to help!
Deciding to invest in any new mattress is often approached with a certain amount of confusion. With the amount of choices out there, and everyone proclaiming the superiority of their product, it's hard to settle on a mattress without feeling you might have missed out on something better. The range of prices, features, and stores can make your head spin.
This latex mattress buyers' guide will help you avoid some of the pitfalls
associated with shopping for a new latex mattress.
Know the sources of high quality latex and be certain that they are certified...
In the latex mattress industry there are few manufacturers producing consistent, high quality latex for use in latex mattresses. Considering the durability and extended warranties offered for latex mattresses, it’s worth the cost to purchase latex that you are certain comes from well established latex manufacturers such as Latex International or Latexco (Latex Green). Both companies have maintained an excellent reputation for quality and consistency and certify both their 100% natural and blended latex.Look out for lower cost latex such with manufacturing and distribution from overseas. It is a common practice for producers of lower cost latex to add a clay type fill that can amount to 15% of the content of their latex. Latex mattresses made with cheaper latex foam will not provide the same feel, support, or longevity as latex mattresses constructed from quality material.
The advantages of latex mattresses...
- The natural latex mattress provides support where it is needed most by contouring to the body's natural contours. It relieves pressure points, particularly at the shoulders and hips allowing for better circulation, and in consequence, less tossing and turning for a deeper more restful sleep.
- The independent cell construction of latex foam is not prone to transfer movement, allowing two people to comfortably share the same bed without disrupting each other with every motion.
- His and Her sided beds are easy to construct, using a different firmness in either core or topper. Latex will respond differently, depending on body size and weight, and many couples prefer a different firmness in their ideal mattress.
- The topper layer, while still enclosed in the mattress cover, will fine tune the feel to your sleeping preferences, and can easily be exchanged to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible when it matters most.
- FoamSource backs all our mattresses with a 60 days comfort exchange, assuring you that we will always created the perfect firmness combination for each and every individual!
- Integrating an open cell structure with a pin core design allows the mattress to breath, essential for removing excess heat and moisture that can prevent a good night's sleep.
- For those who struggle with allergies latex mattresses present a safe haven as they are naturally hypoallergenic, and anti-microbial. This means that molds, mildew, and dust mites that might trigger allergies will not be waiting for you in a latex mattress!
- A naturally resilient and durable material, many consumers are becoming aware of the benefits of a 100% natural latex mattress. Latex foam provides a material for bedding that can easily be used in custom mattresses, perfect for boats and RVs.
Use this simple process to determine that “just right” firmness…
A natural latex mattress is justifiably considered by many to be the world’s finest sleeping surface. The core of the mattress, usually 6”, provides support, while still conforming to our natural contours. For most adults, a 2” topper layer, within the mattress cover, will add an additional level of conforming comfort, particularly for side sleepers.Follow three simple steps to choose the best firmness combinations:
- Start with your preference for a mattress that sleeps with a firm or softer (medium) overall feel. The 6” latex core determines the overall feel of your mattress. When purchasing a latex mattress, be aware that a softer feel in the core will still provide support for all but the largest adults.
- Sleeping position is the next determining factor. Because most are side sleepers, we recommend a 2” topper layer that is one step softer than the 6” core, particularly when the core choice is firm. This combination will also work for most back sleepers. However, firmer combinations can also be a choice for those who only sleep on their backs.
- Size and weight are contributing factors in the select of latex firmness. Smaller and lighter adults will get a similar feel from a softer latex selection to the choice of firmer latex for a larger adult. Remember, at FoamSource we regularly split mattresses for couples when personal preference, size and weight differences are significant.
Finally, your best option is to call us at 800-255-0181, during retail hours (10-6 MST) Monday through Saturday, or Sunday (12-4). We have over 25 years of experience in the design and construction of latex mattresses, both 100% natural and blended. Because we work out of a retail location, in Boulder, CO, we have fitted thousands of customers to their perfect latex mattresses. Please draw on our expertise!
The FoamSource 60 day comfort exchange...
FoamSource backs all our mattresses with a 60 days comfort exchange, assuring you that we will always create the perfect firmness combination for each and every individual!
Two distinct processes are used to create latex for mattresses...
The Talalay Process
There are two methods in which natural latex
is processed into the foam used in latex mattresses and latex pillows. Most
agree that the plushest and most comfortable natural latex is the Talalay process because of
its consistency and feel, both in the core and the topper layer.
First, the raw liquid latex is whipped with curing
agents and additives into a froth. Next, the appropriate amount of latex froth
is injected into the mold. All of the air is then vacuumed out causing the latex to expand and perfectly
distribute itself throughout the mold.
The latex is then flash frozen to -20F
to prevent any settling that may occur. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is then introduced
to cause the mixture to gel. Finally, the latex is vulcanized at a temperature of
220F until it has cured through.
The Dunlop Process
The Dunlop process is similar to the
Talalay process except that the mold is filled to the brim and there is no
vacuum or freezing stage. The Dunlop process can create a firmer feeling, denser product, with a somewhat less even distribution of latex.
As the Dunlop process as been refined, a Dunlop latex mattress provides all of the benefits of 100% natural latex, at a lower cost, while still providing the unequaled comfort that has made the latex mattress so popular.
The cover is equally important in a premium 100% natural latex mattress...
It can be easy to overlook the broad spectrum of materials used to make latex mattress covers. Very basic, cheap materials make the price look good, but do nothing to improve the feel or performance of the latex mattress.
Wool presents a naturally breathable and anti-microbial
medium, quilted to organic cotton covers, in the best natural latex
mattresses. It's a natural fire-retardant, meaning no chemicals in your mattress cover!
Wool is unmatched in its ability to control body temperature, providing a restful nights sleep. Look for the highest quality certified organic wool when purchasing
a 100% natural latex mattress. Organic cotton breaths well and is very
environmentally friendly.
The latex mattress as a sustainable resource...
With resources depleting and non-biodegradable waste being pushed into the earth at an
overwhelming rate, latex mattresses provide an eco-friendly alternative.
Innerspring beds represent a substantial amount of nonrenewable,
non-biodegradable resources that will simply be thrown into landfills.
With the mattress market currently exploding with all sorts of new mattress
designs, shouldn't the environment also be factor in the choice of materials
for your new mattress? This may seem too optimistic at first glance, but the
reality is that such an eco-friendly product is already available.
Natural
latex mattresses are the product of natural latex rubber, which is the milky
sap from the rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis), with a small percentage of
natural fillers.
These trees are cultivated on plantations in South Asia,
South America, Africa, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, providing jobs for numerous
indigenous people. Once the trees have reached the end of their latex producing
lives they are cut down, and replanted with new rubber tree clones. The timber
is used to manufacture furniture and in construction, ensuring that there is no
waste.
On
top of being eco-friendly and biodegradable, natural latex
mattresses supply a superb sleeping surface, relieving
pressure points with outstanding support that many find superior to memory foam.
The natural latex mattress is clearly a wonderful choice for the consumer and
for the environment.
Resources...
Learn more about Latex, Memory Foam and Polyurethane
The FoamSource has introduced this resources directory to help you understand
the wide variety of new bedding options available. The FoamSource also
understands that many bedding products are referred to by different names (a
topper, for example, is also referred to as a mattress pad). We're happy to answer any questions you might have about our products and their benefits!
Go
to the Resources Directory here!
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