Guest guest Posted May 29, 2011 Report Share Posted May 29, 2011 I have found Talalay to have near zero odor while Dunlop has a slight odor and seems to make me feel very creepy. Possibly it's not the latex itself but the stuff they put on to process it. Some people do well with futons, usually wool or silk. I'd go for wool unless you're allergic. For some people, Dunlop is more comfortable than Talalay. I'm starting to think the ILD rating is not enough to go by. They should invent a sag rating. Memory foam doesn't sag at all (but seems to outgas toxic stuff) while other foams if you push down in the middle the foam around your hand is also compressed. Or if you put 3 equal weights in a row, the middle weight would be lower. This is sag. I don't know how much sag is ideal or which materials sag the most... I think it might make sense to try a wool futon, and if it's not comfortable add a 3/4 " Talalay topper. Then if needed another wool topper over that? I am sleeping pretty well on my Talalay mattress (Midori by Organicpedic). It seems very firm, yet my wife thinks it has more sag than the foam futon we have. Seems to bother her back. We have a thin wool topper on it. I imagine, unless you're very heavy, the thinner mattresses or futons may be best because there will be less sag. If you like hammocs than maybe you like sag... Bill On Sun, May 29, 2011 at 2:08 PM, svetaswan <svetaswan@...> wrote: > > > > > Have you and your wife tried the 44 ILD Talalay blended-latex mattress? > (The 100% natural Talalay latex mattresses only go up to 35 - 42 ILD - so > the average is about 38.8 ILD.) A couple of these layers - at least used as > the bottom " support " layers - may be firm enough to support her back. > > Your olfactory/symptomatic experience with latex differs from mine (so > far). It may be that your latex has finished offgassing - but that seems > pretty unlikely because it seems like you didn't even have any troubles when > you first bought it. Other possibilities: > > -you lucked up on some " good " latex, or I'm unlucky > -production methods have changed since you bought your latex > -you used/use Dunlop instead of Talalay - and Dunlop might be different? > -I'm just a lot more sensitive to this (probably the most likely > possibility) > > It has been a bumpy ride for me. Interrupted sleep/insomnia, and other > symptoms that you'd think wouldn't be activated just from laying on a > mattress. I don't think it's allergy-related - because the allergic response > is caused by certain proteins in the latex, and is activated by more direct > (skin) contact with the latex. My symptoms are coming from (very) indirect > contact with the latex - seemingly from the odor/fumes/ " volatile substances " > that are wafting up through all of the bed layers. > > It would be good to know exactly what compounds are causing the odor and/or > the fumes - exactly what is evaporating through the air. Is it something > toxic or harmful? (Although if I'm getting these symptoms from it - it could > be a sign that, though it may not be known as particularly harmful, it may > be harmful for *me*.) > > I've noticed that the firmer the layer is - the less " offensive " it seems > to be....the less it offgasses. The 30 - 32 ILD, which is my top, softest > layer - seems horrible when I have the two firmer layers underneath it. I > recently experimented and had it as the top layer of a 2-layer set-up, and, > while still bad - it seemed to be noticably better. > > So, generally-speaking - the firmer the better, and 2 layers seem to be > better than 3. > > The apparent reality that firmer layers seem to be better for me makes me > wonder if Dunlop latex would be less troublesome - since it is a firmer, > more compact type of latex. I wonder if the more " airy " type of structure of > Talalay makes it more prone to offgassing. > > Furthermore - it seems that I'm discovering how unstable this latex seems > to be. From experimenting with the different layers - I've gotten a chance > to look at the actual layers, and lately, I've noticed little " tears " (rips) > all over the latex, like it's begun some type of deterioration process or is > breaking down. These " structural imperfections " are seemingly minor - but > they are all over the place and it is something that I don't believe was > there when the latex first arrived. I think I read once that latex is very > vulnerable to UV radiation - I wonder if it's vulnerable to all kinds of > light, heat, and other types of radiation? (The weather has really warmed up > in recent days, and I'm wondering if this has something to do with it.) I'm > now getting the impression that it is an unstable material - although it may > take a long time to break down to the point where it no longer performs as > well as a mattress. But this apparent instability may be why it is emitting > these odors/fumes. > > They say that how strongly the latex smells depends on how long it had been > " aired out " by the manufacturer - well, you have to wonder why they don't > take the time to air these mattresses out. You'd think that if they could > easily get rid of the odor/fumes, they would. > > Anyway, this experience really depresses me - I cannot go back to an > innerspring mattress because the interior metal seemingly amplified the WiFi > radiation and gave me exacerbated symptoms...and what I thought was going to > be a much healthier alternative doesn't seem to be working out. From what > I've seen/read, there are negative issues associated with memory foam: do I > want to trade in one offgassing experience for another? I don't know what a > healthy resolution would be. > > ~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 > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2011 Report Share Posted May 30, 2011 I don't remember being in a hammoc - possibly I was in my youth, but I can't use any hammoc experience as a reference point. Oh, well... And unfortunately, I'm a heavy person - particularly for my height. I'm 5'4 " and, last I checked, about 208lbs.. (The story of how I got this way is a lot more complex than sitting on my expanding behind eating Bon Bons - something wrecked my metabolism, but that is a different post for a different forum!) Since my weight is concentrated over a relatively-short area, I have to tread carefully when it comes to selecting a mattress with enough support. The " sag " concept is an important one. I'm worried that a wool mattress just won't do the trick as far as support/comfort - there's a good chance that wool just won't work without involving " toxic " latex or " foam " somewhere in the equation - or *something* supportive. That's what adds to my latex frustration - all indications are/were that the latex was working for me from a comfort/support standpoint. I really haven't had any major issues in that area. *That* was what I was worried about as I was shopping for the latex - but it turns out I was worrying about the wrong thing. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully I don't react poorly to wool as well - after this latex experience, I can't take for granted that anything is " safe " . ~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 > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 Hi, Svetaswan,  I have been meaning to write you with another idea entirely. In 2008, I bought an Ikea sofa. Ikea is supposed to be very eco-conscious, etc, so, since their removable covers are all cotton and all the fire-retardant is on them, I thought, " Great! I can just wash the covers in the washer with baking soda over and over till I get the fire-retardant out. "  Well, it didn't quite work out that way. It was not the covers that bothered me; it was the foam cushions that stunk to high heavens! So, then I thought I could just out-gas it--it was in a closed off unused room with cross ventilation for 8 months.  Winter was coming and it still smelled as bad as day one. I called Ikea and they actually agreed to take it back, but I asked if I tried baking soda on it would they still return it? And they said, yes, they would. So I took a couple super size boxes of baking soda and covered the sofa all over with a layer of baking soda (in the unused room). I closed the door behind me and left it there over night. It was pretty good the next day, but I left it there a week before cleaning all the baking soda off. The I turned the sofa over and covered the rest of it with baking soda, plus the cushions got another dose of baking soda on the back sides, which took a week longer. It has not smelled since.  I cannot say whether this will void any warranties or damage your foam mattress in any way; however, it did not seem to damage my sofa in the least. After 2 1/2 years, my sofa is still like brand new. You might call and ask the manufacturer whether they think baking soda would be okay to try.  Hope this works for you if you try it! Diane From: svetaswan <svetaswan@...> Subject: Re: mattress question Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 1:18 PM  I don't remember being in a hammoc - possibly I was in my youth, but I can't use any hammoc experience as a reference point. Oh, well... And unfortunately, I'm a heavy person - particularly for my height. I'm 5'4 " and, last I checked, about 208lbs.. (The story of how I got this way is a lot more complex than sitting on my expanding behind eating Bon Bons - something wrecked my metabolism, but that is a different post for a different forum!) Since my weight is concentrated over a relatively-short area, I have to tread carefully when it comes to selecting a mattress with enough support. The " sag " concept is an important one. I'm worried that a wool mattress just won't do the trick as far as support/comfort - there's a good chance that wool just won't work without involving " toxic " latex or " foam " somewhere in the equation - or *something* supportive. That's what adds to my latex frustration - all indications are/were that the latex was working for me from a comfort/support standpoint. I really haven't had any major issues in that area. *That* was what I was worried about as I was shopping for the latex - but it turns out I was worrying about the wrong thing. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully I don't react poorly to wool as well - after this latex experience, I can't take for granted that anything is " safe " . ~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 > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.