How to Choose a Non-toxic Mattress or Futon (and What’s the Difference)

Happy New Year! Did you resolve to purge toxins from your home in 2016? If so, you will find our e-book, Detox Your Home in 4 Weeks, an easy guide. I hope it brings you improved indoor air quality, health, and peace of mind.

You’ve probably noticed that at Gimme the Good Stuff we talk a lot about the importance of sleeping on a non-toxic mattress. I’m also aware that all of the mattresses I recommend you purchase are at least a couple thousand dollars, and sometimes much more. Many of you have asked about getting a futon instead of a mattress, as futons tend to be less expensive.

I made this video to explain the difference between a natural, non-toxic mattress and a futon. I’ll also show you what these both look like, including a cross-section of the inside of some White Lotus models.

My Favorite Non-Toxic Mattress

Happsy

Happsy is the best non-toxic mattress-in-a-box option on the market, and comes with a 120-day trial period. Happsy is manufactured by Naturepedic, but is a more affordable option, while still getting high marks for comfort. When it’s time to replace my kids’ mattresses, this is the brand I plan to purchase.

Happsy is certified by GOTS, GOLS, and GreenGuard. Queens go for $1,399.

Use code GIMME225 for $225 off mattresses. (With this discount, Happsy is the most affordable Best Stuff mattress.)

shop on happsy

My Favorite Non Toxic Futon

White Lotus

White Lotus sent along a big box of samples of all of their sumptuous, natural materials when I first reviewed them. They are one of our favorite brands to work with, and they have demonstrated a clear commitment to producing non-toxic mattresses.

White Lotus has a GOTS certification for their materials, and they use some cool ingredients in their products, including:

• Kapok to stuff their mattresses. The “harvesting of the kapok pods provides jobs to indigenous people and helps maintain this vanishing ecosystem,” according to the White Lotus website.
• Wholesale green cotton, which is totally unprocessed once harvested from the bolls – no bleaches, dyes, or fungicides.
• Wool, which is 100%-virgin, lamb’s wool.
• Organic buckwheat hulls (for pillows).
• 100% natural latex (from rubber trees).

shop on our store

What You’ll Learn In This Video

When choosing a mattress or a futon you’ll want to avoid:

• Polyurethane foam (Opt for 100% pure latex instead.)
• Any mattress that’s treated with flame retardants (Wool acts as a natural flame barrier.)

The key difference between a natural futon and a natural mattress are:

• The futon won’t have handles on the side, so they are harder to move around.
• A futon will be slightly thinner than a mattress (usually around 5 inches think rather than 8 or 9 inches).
• Futons should cost around 15% less than a mattress.

What you may be surprised to learn is that both organic mattresses and organic futons are made from the same materials (typically wool, cotton, and latex), and you can put a mattress on a futon frame and a futon on a bed.

I had a blast making this video, and am grateful to White Lotus for letting us shoot it in their super cool DUMBO store. You’ll notice my mom babysitting Wolfie in the background! I don’t totally love watching myself on camera, but we will be rolling out some more videos in the coming month, so I will have to get used to it. Let us know what you think!

Stay sane,

Maia, Founder & CEO