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

American Woodcraft Metro Bed

American Woodcraft was formed in 1985. We established this business with quality and satisfaction in mind. We continue to manufacture from the ground up. Each piece is bench built using the highest grade materials available. No particle board, press board, or chip board is used!

My name is Jeff Garfield and my wife, Wanda, and I own Bedrooms & More.

It is difficult to read about problems about any latex mattress when we believe in them so strongly. I know that people who love a product rarely write reviews. Someone who has problems or receives bad service is most likely to complain. We get more referrals to our store by latex mattress owners than any other product we have carried since 1972.

Englander has been in business for over 100 years. Like many national companies, Englander licenses use of it’s name to different manufacturing plants throughout the country. For the 22+ years we have dealt with “Englander,” our manufacturing plant has been Tualatin Sleep Products, Tualatin, Oregon. The national “Englander” organization has been very weak, with each franchised plant pretty much building whatever mattress styles they wanted with little national consistency. Our Tualatin Sleep Products builds more than 800 different mattress styles with many dozens of those being latex or part latex. These exact same mattresses are not available through any other plant. We know this from occasionally trying to buy models from different plants to avoid shipping them across country to our customers. How other plants deal with dealers or customers is not standardized throughout the country, however, this is due to change as the individual franchisees have just completed purchase of the Englander name with a goal of standardization.

We have carried, or currently carry, mattresses by Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Englander, Serta, Simmons, Kingsdown, Restonic, King Koil, Springcraft, Springwall, Natura, OMI, Temperpedic, Select Comfort, Boyd and Somma. I have yet to find a perfect product and there are pluses and minuses to all. Some of these brands we found to be unacceptable for various reasons and we took them off our floor. Englander, of all the brands mentioned, we have found to be the most recommended and the company (Tualatin Sleep Products) to be most responsive to warranty and comfort concerns. From articles on the internet, there may be other plants and/or dealers that do not respond as well. Are Englander products perfect? No, of course not. As I said, I have yet to find a perfect product. How do they compare? Our experience puts them right at the top of the list for satisfaction and responsiveness.

I think a lot of the problem with mattresses today is that customers want plusher, thicker mattresses without understanding that the addition of soft surface materials allows for some impressions. One sided, so called no-flip mattresses have contributed significantly to the problem with impressions. When mattresses were all two sided, and hard, thin mattresses were the norm and very few impressions would form. Usually the only material on top of the spring system would be a firm pad, very like a thick carpet pad. This pad would have very little compression plus the warranty would call for regular turning and rotation of the mattress. The mattresses would retain their smooth tops but would offer little in the way of comfort. Firm mattresses now account for fewer than 25% of sales on the West Coast. The plush mattresses lessen pressure points and help reduce tossing and turning. Manufacturers have come up with many types of soft foams and fiber combinations to provide this soft surface. Almost all of these materials have some degree of compression.

A foam manufacturer I spent some time with said that their goal was that, after break in, the soft foams should retain 80% of their thickness and that that thickness could be expected at the 10 year point. This points out that the less soft foam or fiber there is, the less the impression. If a mattress has four inches of soft foams above the spring unit or other core, the compression would be about 8/10’s of an inch. If there are six inches of padding, an impression of 1 1/4″ can form. I have not found a brand of mattress that in a very plush version cannot get some impressions if not turned and rotated to insure an even break in. I suspect that many people are unwilling to do even minimal maintenance to ensure a long lasting product and then are surprised that there is pocketing right where they sleep.

So, does latex stand up to impressions? First, Englander uses 100% rubber latex cores, not synthetic latex (sometimes called pure latex). It has been our experience in 23 years of carrying latex, that latex does not take an impression over long periods of time (most customers say 15 to 30 years). The latex itself, although it can be molded in different densities, is still pretty firm (hard) and so sometimes other materials are used on the top to provide plushness. The less soft material on the surfaces, the less chance of any impressions. Latex only mattresses should have no impressions as there are no softness layers on top.

Here at Bedrooms & More. First, we have about 30 latex models on our showroom floor. About half of those come from our local Englander plant. We have these made especially for us and are made two sided; both sides have identical comfort layers. We recommend, in person and in writing, a turning and rotating schedule to get the most life and comfort from the mattress.  We oftentimes recommend one of the natural models that uses only latex and suggest a topper that can be replaced or turned as necessary for the longest life. A comfort topper can be a great choice as our bodies change over time. What we like today may not be right for us 5, 10 or 15 years from now. Changing to a different topper during the long life of a latex mattress can keep you comfortable for years without the major expense of a new mattress.

What of other brands? The big “S” mattress companies (Sealy, Simmons, Spring Air, Serta) have sold out to financial groups – they are no longer owned by “mattress people”. These companies have gone to single sided, can’t flip mattresses as there is a savings of almost 30% in the manufacturing process. This 30% is not being passed on to you, the consumer, or the retailer. Unfortunately, these large manufacturers do not necessarily have your best interests at heart. These one sided mattresses sold by many major companies have very short life spans and getting warranty service can be iffy. It is now recommended that these “can’t flip” mattresses be replaced in 5 to 7 years. We see many of these people when they are replacing mattresses after only a few years and unsatisfactory warranty service. Often, latex is the best answer for these people.

If you don’t want to worry about impressions, get a latex only mattress and add a topper. Even if the mattress is not only latex, you can expect a longer life (of the mattress) if a reasonable turning and rotating schedule is maintained.

I would give this place a 5 Star rating if it wasn’t for the horrible Mattresses. I always check out the mattresses wherever I stay to see what I’m sleeping on. My wife laughs at me Anyhow, when we first got to the room I laid on the mattress, to rest from the long drive. I was greeted by a huge soft spot in the middle portion of my body. So I tried the other mattress to pick the spot I was going to sleep that night:) Same thing. I felt like I was lying in a hammock. I immediately ripped of the bedding to see what type of mattress was causing this hammocking and saw that it was Simmons Beautyrest. I then proceeded to look at the law tag to see how old this mattress was. I was surprised, but not shocked, that this mattress was manufactured in 2006. 3 YEARS OLD!. Now granted several people had slept on this mattress of different body builds and sizes, but no mattress should break down in 3 YEARS, right? WRONG! Like, we have said all along. if your want your mattress to last beyond 5-7 years, you should buy a 2 Sided Mattress.

We slept horribly! But when it was all said and done, sleeping on a one sided mattress was worth the time we spent at The Great Wolf Lodge!

Ginger Loft Bunk; it can make the room a world unto itself. An open shell waiting for life forms to take shape; crustaceous creatures from the deep… etc. etc. You get TWO desk options, conventional STRAIGHT, or CURVY side-mounted which is really something wonderful. You can choose either the full size or the twin size frame. You get gorgeous corner braces keeping it all strong.

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

Several area Puget Sound Blood Center locations, including Seattle’s First Hill center at 921 Terry Ave., will be open on Monday, the legal Memorial Day holiday.

Blood-center officials said blood donations are usually down this time of year.

All blood-donation centers that are normally open on Mondays — North Seattle, Bellevue, Federal Way, Lynnwood, Tukwila and Olympia — will be open on the holiday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donating blood in the noblest deed one can opt for on the earth because it saves lives. Just imagine you are saving life of a human being! All the other gifts are bought with the force of money but this gift comes out of only feeling! It has also picked up very well in India, Ahmedabad and many NGO like Blood Bank India has also taken up the responsibility to promotes awareness of it. So people are coming forth voluntarily for donation or we can say we are becoming more humanitarian.

After the tests are cleared one could donate blood according to the doctor’s advice. The quantity is decided by the doctor. God forbade no one would need it…. But for those who are in need this acts like life saving liquid. Life is God’s gift, so let’s nourish it carefully. There are some tests to be made before donating but first and foremost is the will, and concern for the fellow beings. Blood is the red colored liquid flowing incessantly in our body. On an average 5 – 6 liters of it is present in human body.

The groups of blood. All human beings will fall in one of the following groups:

A positive or A negative
B positive or B negative
O positive or O negative
AB positive or AB negative

There are also some sub groups as well as a few other classifications.

Blood is the red colored liquid flowing incessantly in our body. On an average 5 – 6 liters of it is present in human body. A donor can donate every three months.

There are three categories of blood donors: -

(1) PROFESSIONAL DONORS – They sell their blood, quality is not guaranteed and can pass on very dangerous diseases to the recipient. It is banned to take it from any professional donor.

(2) REPLACEMENT DONATION – Healthy relatives and friends of the patient give their blood, of any group, to the donation center. In return, the required number of units in the required group is given. This is in practice.

(3) VOLUNTARY DONATION- Here a donor donates blood voluntarily. The blood can be used for any patient even without revealing the identity of the donor. This is the best type of donation where an inspired human being gives blood in an act of selfless service.

Donate Blood Plasma can be carried on very casually. After donating you can even go for work. The volume or plasma is replaced within a day. Four to eight weeks are needed for complete replacement of the red cells. The persons suffering from any blood transmitted diseases, fever, jaundice, Aids. Albeit blood donation is on everywhere. A donor should be healthy and above 18 and below 60 years.

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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