One must remember the landscape of the early 1970ʼs. If you went to buy a new mattress at the time you would find a choice of firm or firmer. Mattresses were, of course, two sided, with a heavy duty spring system and minimal padding consisting of a compressed fiber pad, usually made of cotton, and a thin quilted cover. The whole mattress was 7 to 8” thick. Doctors at the time (Chiropractors had not hit the scene yet) recommended a firm mattress for support. If you could sleep on the floor that was the best thing for posture and support.

Waterbeds were the diametrical opposite of this. Water supported the body evenly by the natural laws of hydraulics, pushing back with equal force when a person lay down. There were no pressure points, just conforming, enveloping support. All this from a product that cost very little and lasted a very long time. The early waterbed business was something that a young person with barely two nickels to rub together could start, feel good about, and feel they were saving the customer from some hard as a rock, torture rack known as the innerspring mattress. What better was there?

So what happened? Well, the waterbed people, many of them hippie, non-business types, were stupid. The public bought into the idea of flotation sleep and often put up with inconvenience, sometimes poor quality, all to get that warm, wonderful sleep provided by natural water. In fact, between 25 and 30 million waterbeds were sold in their 20 year heyday. This fact did not go unnoticed by the spring bed industry. Although some of the big “S” brands did add some waterbed type beds to their lines, most did not. Instead, unlike the stupid waterbed people, they were smart. Waterbed store people tried to see how cheap they could sell their products. At the final showdown, waterbeds were available just about everywhere for $99 for any sized bed. Now the spring bed folks, seeing the success of plush, conforming sleep surfaces, started making plush, even pillow topped, mattresses, offering them to consumers for the unheard of prices of $1000 and more. All this at a time when those “firm”, thin mattresses were selling from $200 to $400. I told you they were smart! Today, if you go shopping for a mattress you can hardly find a truly firm model – everything is plush and thick. Even the “firm” mattresses are cushion firm or plush firm.

So, it may be true that waterbeds are dead and gone, but the legacy of the waterbed era is evident in the choices you find in mattress stores today.

Why was this considered good advice? Because all of the aforementioned companies only make One Sided Can’t Flip Mattresses! So do many other mattress companies, but the top names in the business start with an “S”

One-sided mattresses just don’t last as long as a two-sided mattress you can flip. Many mattress companies and all “big S” mattress companies have adopted the one side, can’t-flip mattress for just one simple reason; there is more profit in them. One sided mattresses are about 25% cheaper to make yet they can wholesale them to the dealers for the same price they did a two sided mattress. Since they are one-sided they know they don’t last as long and the consumer will be replacing their mattress sooner.

Come in to our store and see only two-sided mattresses or ones that have removable covers that will allow you to refresh the mattress. It’s just the right thing to do and Mom knew best!

The Terra OrganicPedic Mattress took top honors because it embodies all aspects of innovative green design, the judges noted. The 12-inch mattress has a removable sculpted-surface pillow top, a 3-inch firm, 100-percent natural rubber latex core with 2-inch layers of softer latex on top and bottom, joined to the core using a vegetable-based adhesive. The mattress cores are made in the U.S. from sustainably harvested rubber-tree sap; the latex is naturally anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and biodegradable, and is certified to contain no harmful substances, while domestic Eco-Wool and certified organic cotton are used in the quilting. OMI’s mattresses are eligible for LEED credits and the judges found the design

We are going to be holding weekly educational seminars at our store in Mattress Store in Seattle. So be sure to check back soon to see the dates these seminars will be held.

Listen Here! Green Diva OMI Mattress Interview

Visit the Green Divas Blog.  Jennifer and Megan are the original ‘Green Divas’. They also are writers, mothers, editors, radio show producers and co-hosts, green product reviewers, foodies, bloggers, and commentators on low-stress sustainable living.

Also visit their other blog at Green Options

Last Week the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) met in Bonita Springs, Fl in an attempt to wrestle down green and organic terms. Other than chemicals added for fire retardants, there are no regulations on what goes into a mattress or what must be disclosed.

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]]> http://bedroomsandmore.com/blog/no-more-greenwashing-in-the-mattress-industry/feed/ 0 http://bedroomsandmore.com/blog/organic-mattress-un-feathering-the-nest/ http://bedroomsandmore.com/blog/organic-mattress-un-feathering-the-nest/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 16:02:33 +0000 admin http://bedroomsandmore.com/blog/?p=163

For anyone who is allergic to or simply abhors down-filled or synthetic mattresses, entrepreneur Walt Bader has a chemical-contaminant-free pillow and mattress line under the label Organic Mattresses.

The organic mattresses and pillows he produces at his factory in a former peach and prune warehouse in Yuba City (Sutter County) are filled with 100 percent shredded or formed natural-rubber latex wrapped in organic wool and cotton.

Contiue reading this great article written about OMI Organic Mattresses

Got a mattress? Need a new one? Take a picture of your mattress and post it on our Facebook page. If your name is randomly selected on April 22 (Earth Day) you’ll win an organic Eco Haven twin, full or queen size mattress.

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It all begins with natural organic materials that are grown using sustainable agricultural methods. This type of agriculture maintains and enhances ecological harmony, conserves precious resources, and sustains the soil in both the short and the long term.

At Bedrooms and More Seattle we have the finest organic mattress made by OMI – Organicpedic.  We carry 4 models by OMI.

The David – Made with three layers of Talalay 100% natural rubber, the open-channel construction provides additional air circulation, creating a comfortable, cool, and safe motion-free mattress. The David is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites.

The Terra – The OrganicPedic Terra is a 4-sided, 12-inch sculpted-surface mattress. It starts with a 3-inch core of firm, supportive Talalay 100%-natural rubber latex. The core is joined with 2-inches of a softer latex top and bottom, and covered with our Signature OrganicPedic quilting. A removable, 2-sided pillow top (3½-inches deep) – also made of 100%-natural rubber latex – is then placed on the mattress. The pillow top is made with 2 surface options: our exclusive sculpted-surface on one side and a flat surface on the other.

The Flora - The OrganicPedic Flora mattress is a 2-sided, 8-inch flat surface mattress made with 3 layers of Talalay 100% natural rubber latex. The 3-inch firm latex inner core is sandwiched between 2 layers of 2-inch soft latex, and covered with our Signature OrganicPedic quilting.

The Lago – The standard configuration of this product is a medium-firm base with a soft sculpted topper built right into the cover. We use our signature quilted cover for this tight-cover mattress. This mattress can be customized to meet the indicidual comfort levels of your consumers. The final assembled mattress depth is approximately 10″.