Are Ikea Mattresses Non-Toxic? Choosing a Safe Mattress
If you’re in the market for a new mattress but feel overwhelmed with the information regarding non-toxic or organic options, this post is for you! Today I’m sharing some excellent tips to make your mattress shopping experience easier. We’ll cover the safest options, what to look for in brands, and answer questions like, are Ikea mattresses non-toxic? What chemicals should I avoid, and how do I know what certifications matter?
When shopping for a mattress, you’re probably looking for the best option for your budget. Sound about right?
Where do we even begin?
When choosing a new mattress, it is so important to be aware of potentially harmful chemicals they contain and what to look out for. Because we spend so much time in our beds- over one-third of our lives- we must make the best choice possible to protect our health.
Toxic materials commonly found in conventional mattresses
Conventional mattresses often contain toxic chemicals linked to health issues like respiratory distress, lung issues, hormone disruption, and cancer. These materials include chemical flame retardants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, polyurethane foam, PVC, and vinyl. When shopping for a new mattress, avoiding these ingredients is crucial. Don’t buy a mattress that’s going to pollute your room with toxic chemicals when you’ve worked so hard to choose natural products throughout the rest of your home.
What makes a mattress toxic vs. non-toxic?
It all comes down to the ingredients. A company can claim to offer clean alternatives to conventional brands, but they won’t make the cut unless they are truly using organic materials like organic cotton and natural latex. If price is a big deciding factor and you are looking at polyurethane or memory foam, it’s crucial to choose a brand with independent certifications like OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or Greenguard Gold. We’ll take a closer look at mattress certifications later in this post.
Are Ikea mattresses non-toxic?
Ikea offers a variety of mattress sizes and types for every room in your home. From crib mattresses to full size, the guest room, and beyond. Everyone in your home will get a better night’s sleep without fearing exposure to harmful ingredients.
The great thing about Ikea products is that they follow strict regulations regarding the chemical compounds they allow in their furniture and bedding options. They work hard to minimize the harmful effects that exposure to these ingredients can cause by using more natural materials, and as a consumer, I really appreciate that. It has become more challenging to find honest disclosures from companies regarding the materials they use in their products, so to find a company that shares this information openly without giving their customers a hard time is refreshing and proves that they may be among one of the best options when researching safe brands.
I spoke with a customer service representative about the ingredients used in 3 of their most popular mattresses to hear straight from them what materials they use in production. While Ikea is a better choice than mattresses with no certifications or concern for toxic materials, they still use ingredients that could potentially emit harmful VOCs. The good news is that I specifically asked about polyurethane foam during our conversation. Here’s what they had to say:
What mattress types are available?
Ikea offers multiple types of mattresses, like latex, foam, spring mattresses, and more. The best choice for your needs will depend on the size and level of firmness you prefer. This is an important deciding factor when purchasing a new mattress, so keep that in mind when researching options.
The materials used in mattresses vary based on size, firmness, and type of mattress. The most common materials used are:
- Memory foam
Synthetic latex - Cotton
- Wool
- Metal springs
- Polyfoam
- Polyester
Adhesives
Raw materials used in Ikea furniture and mattresses
As I mentioned, Ikea provides a link directly on their site to the list of restricted materials they either limit or restrict completely in the manufacturing process. Items like heavy metals, PFAs, fire retardants, formaldehyde, and more. To read the full disclosure list, click here.
Mattress certifications
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
This label certifies that a natural latex mattress is tested against 350 toxic chemicals and does not contain any of these ingredients.
Greenguard Gold
This is a certification that ensures that mattress companies for low chemical emissions.
GOTS Certified
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. This certification ensures that organic cotton and wool contain at least 95% organic content.
GOLS Certified
GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard. This certification ensures that products contain more than 95% organic raw materials.
Formaldehyde Free
This is pretty self-explanatory. It just means the mattress brand does not use any formaldehyde in their mattresses.
Other mattress options to consider
While this post focuses mainly on Ikea mattresses, sharing other brands to consider is also important. Making a larger purchase for your home is a big deal, and having as much information as possible will help the decision-making process. The easiest way to trust a brand when shopping for the best mattress option is to research certifications and materials used in addition to any organic mattresses they may carry. More companies are beginning to offer safer alternatives, making the process so much easier. A few brands to consider are:
Avocado Mattress
Don’t let the price tag scare you! Purchasing a new mattress is a big decision. If it takes time to save up before submitting the order, that’s okay! Invest in something that’s going to last a long time and provides some sort of warranty. Every mattress Avocado sells has at least a one-year warranty, if not longer. This is incredible as it gives you time to test out the mattress for a couple of weeks, decide if it’s a good option, and protect your investment if you decide to keep it.
One of the best things about the Avocado Mattress Company is the fact that they use the safest materials available from sustainable sources reducing waste and providing an eco-friendly option. In addition to using organic products, they don’t use any flame-retardant chemicals. Instead, they use GOTS-certified organic wool.
Yes, they may be one of the priciest options for a good mattress, but you’re paying for a non-toxic option that is safe, includes at least a one-year guarantee, and encourages a pleasant sleep environment without any fear of harmful chemicals.
My Green Mattress
Similar in price point, although a touch more affordable than Avocado mattresses, My Green Mattress offers similar certifications and organic products used in the manufacturing process. Organic cotton and wool are used instead of conventional materials and carry similar GOLS, GOTS, and OEKO-TEX certifications. The difference between the two companies lies in the support and preferred firmness level they provide. While minimal, My Green Mattress offers a larger area of lumbar support, whereas the Avocado brand provides more firmness options.
The best way to make a decision is to test out the different mattresses. Both brands have an option to use the local store finder on their websites so you can test the mattresses out in person.
Making a decision
So, are Ikea mattresses non-toxic? My overall opinion is maybe. I know, not super helpful. While safer than some conventional mattresses, there are still better options out there. If finances are a deciding factor like they are for so many of us in the United States, then yes, I would consider trusting Ikea mattresses. However, if I had saved money and didn’t need to worry about the price tag so much, I would choose Avocado or My Green Mattress, depending on my preferred firmness level.
Ikea offers great options, don’t get me wrong. But if I’m already planning on spending money to replace mattresses in my home, I would rather just save a bit longer and invest in something with an excellent rating, warranty, and organic materials.
Unfortunately, Ikea does not carry any of the certifications we covered. While they confirmed that they used low-VOC polyurethane foam, There are safer options when purchasing a new mattress.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re shopping for one new mattress or every room in your home, it’s important to research the safest options and choose a brand you feel comfortable with. if you’re asking yourself, ‘are Ikea mattresses nontoxic’? I hope this post has been helpful as you make a decision. If you have any questions or want to add any tips, please let me know in the comments below. Happy shopping!
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