If you sleep on a conventional mattress or use typical bedding materials, chances are you have been sleeping with toxic chemicals. A third of our life is spent sleeping. Natural, organic bedding such as a natural bed, organic bedding sheets, an organic blanket or an organic bed can help to limit the amount of toxins you face while sleeping.

Since the 1960s, most conventional mattresses have been made of polyurethane foam. This foam material is derived from petroleum, which emits volatile organic compounds or VOCs. The recently popular memory foam mattresses are made of this toxic foam. As more people are aware of these potentially hazardous sleeping arrangements, better options for bedding materials have been manufactured and they are becoming increasingly popular. For example, the polyurethane foam mattresses have been replaced with latex mattresses that do not emit any VOCs. In order for a latex mattress to be considered safe and natural, it needs to contain at least 95-97 percent latex.

Other organic bedding supplies are available to buy that are not made with harmful materials. Even infants can sleep in a toxic free environment with an organic blanket and an organic crib. When looking to purchase natural or organic bedding products, be sure to ask to see certification of the products proving they were made with certified organic materials. This is to avoid getting duped for some products available that simply state they are organic, despite them being manufactured with little or no organic materials. The most valuable and trusted certification is the Green Guard certification. Other trusted certifications include Global Organic Textiles (GOTS) for organic wool and cotton; SKAL for organic cotton; and Global Organic Latex Certification (GOLS) certifying organic rubber sap. A few other manufacturers also have their factories and materials certified.