Is your bedroom contaminated with harmful substances? You may not have even asked yourself this question yet, since most people choose their bedroom furnishings based much more on their appearance than on the materials they’re made of. Yet healthy sleep is essential for our well-being. On average, we spend 25 years of our lives in bed. This makes it all the more important that our bedroom provides a healthy sanctuary for rest and relaxation. If you want to sleep well, you should choose bedding that has been tested for harmful substances. In the following article, you’ll learn why.
Various studies by renowned testing organizations, such as Stiftung Warentest, show that many pieces of furniture, bedding, and mattresses contain household toxins and harmful substances. These are released into the indoor air primarily immediately after unpacking, but often also over a longer period of time. The emissions consist of a mixture of potentially harmful solvents, formaldehyde, plasticizers, pesticides, flame retardants, and heavy metals.
These are released from mattresses, bedding, blankets, and pillows, as well as from our bedroom furniture, and can lead to sleep problems, allergies, headaches, and chronic infections, as well as difficulty concentrating, exhaustion, restlessness, and a racing heart. The problem: These toxins are invisible to the naked eye and, in many cases, are also odorless. Without a specialized toxic substance test, you cannot detect them.
This makes it all the more important to be aware of potential sources of harmful substances before purchasing your bedroom furnishings. When choosing your bedding, pay attention to its material composition and how it was manufactured. This will help you avoid household toxins in your bedroom as much as possible and ensure you sleep peacefully and healthily.
Mattresses as Sources of Harmful Substances
90% of the mattresses sold in Europe are made from crude oil-based materials and are processed into foam mattresses using various chemicals. Foam and cold-foam mattresses are the best-selling mattresses in Germany. Most foam mattresses are made of polyurethane foams that contain isocyanates and phosphorus-based flame retardants. In addition, the mattresses may contain other chemicals that are suspected of causing liver damage and of being carcinogenic.
If you want to sleep well, you should therefore avoid mattresses made with petroleum-based materials. Instead, you can choose a natural mattress. There are various types of natural mattresses, such as coconut fiber, horsehair, or natural latex mattresses. Natural latex mattresses, such as the Kipli mattress, are not only healthy and environmentally friendly but also highly recommended from an ergonomic standpoint.
Compared to other mattresses, natural latex mattresses offer excellent point elasticity. As a result, natural latex mattresses ensure optimal sleeping posture and help relieve back, pelvic, and shoulder pain. Compared to foam mattresses and other foam-based mattresses, these mattresses are also particularly durable. They can be used for up to 15 years, and their core is biodegradable afterward.
Natural materials are generally considered to be more breathable than synthetic, petroleum-based materials. As a result, natural latex mattresses have natural mite-repellent properties and do not provide a breeding ground for bacteria.
Important: When buying a latex mattress, you should pay attention to its material composition. Due to a lack of legal regulations, even latex mattresses with a high percentage of synthetic latex may be labeled as natural latex mattresses.
Sleep Well Thanks to Natural Bedroom Furniture
Does this sound familiar? Right after unpacking new furniture, you notice an unpleasant odor. These chemical fumes usually dissipate after a few hours and aren’t necessarily harmful to your health at first. However, they may indicate the presence of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is primarily used in furniture made from particleboard and irritates the mucous membranes and respiratory tract. Despite this, the gas with its pungent odor is still found in many products.
To avoid formaldehyde in furniture, you should choose pieces made of untreated solid wood. Kipli manufactures all its solid-wood furniture from PEFC-certified forests and leaves the wood largely untreated. If an adhesive is needed during production, the company uses natural, water-based glue.
The Material Composition of Your Bedding
Home textiles may also contain harmful substances such as plasticizers, moth repellents, or synthetic dyes and bleaches. These can cause skin irritation or allergies, be harmful to health, and irritate the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract. These toxins are then released into the indoor air and enter our bodies through our respiratory tract. If you want to sleep soundly, you should opt for natural and toxin-free products—especially when it comes to bedding—since our skin comes into direct contact with these items.
Avoid Toxic Substances in Your Home and Sleep Healthily
In summary, we can conclude that harmful substances in our bedrooms can be found in all furnishings and bedding. A home that is completely free of harmful substances is therefore virtually impossible. However, by analyzing the material composition of your bedding and furniture and paying attention to their natural origins when making purchases, you can at least significantly reduce the presence of household toxins.
Here’s another tip: When buying bedding, pillows, mattresses, and comforters, look for quality seals. OEKO-TEX is a renowned testing organization that checks products for harmful substances. It’s also a good idea to air out your bedroom regularly. When doing so, use the “shock ventilation” method to completely refresh the air in the room. This removes harmful particles from the air, allowing you to sleep soundly!