What does organic really mean?
Having organic items at home somehow feels
really good. It gives you the feeling that you have something healthy and safe
in your hands. But what does organic really mean?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, organic products are derived from living organisms.
They are of, related to, yielded, or involve the use of feed or fertilizer.
Those of plant or animal origin. They do so without the use of chemically
formulated fertilizers and antibiotics. As well as growth stimulants or
pesticides.
In short: organic products are those which have
been made with pure, natural products. Also, without the use of artificial
and/or chemical substances.
Conventional bedding materials
Conventional bedding usually consists of four
different raw materials. Those raw materials are polyester, conventional cotton,
linen or silk. Often, they are also blended into a mix of the three. However,
in most cases, bed sheets are usually 100% made of polyester. Only if you get
to the higher price segments. You will be able to find either conventional
cotton or silk mixed into the fibers. You will have to pay a lot more to get
100% silk or organic cotton sheets. However, cotton is still the cheaper option
here in comparison to silk! But is that really worth it? Let’s find out!
Polyester - the synthetic choice
Polyester is a synthetic material which is made
of petroleum. It is also used to make PET plastic apart from fabrics. We do not
want to get too deep into the specifics of how polyester is made. This is why
we will give only a very rough description. In general terms, you can imagine
how anti-freeze liquid is heated up and mixed with highly processed crude oil.
At some point, the two condensates together and form a polyester.
Conventional silk - the most expensive of all
materials
Silk, just as cotton and linen, is a natural
material. However, this time it does not come from a plant but from an animal -
the silkworm! The silkworm actually produces two different threads, which
Harden as they get into contact with air. In addition, the silkworm also
produces a bonding agent which holds the two fibers together. The most amazing
part? A single silkworm will twist 300.000 times in an “8-motion” and produce about 1 km of
silk. Isn’t nature amazing?
Conventional linen - the oldest cultivated
plant in human history
Technically speaking, linen is categorized as a vegetable! The threads are made of the fibers of the so-called flax plant. In
fact, it is even one of the oldest cultivated plants in human history! The flax plant is also used for other health-related
reasons: it is very rich in nutrients! It is known to be full of dietary fiber
and omega-3 fatty acids! In addition, many oil painters also use the seed of
the flax plant as drying oil!
Conventional cotton - pesticides, pesticides,
pesticides
Conventional cotton is a natural material which
is picked off of cotton plants. They usually grow during the summer months.
However, they are usually grown with a high amount of pesticides. In fact,
cotton is famous for requiring the highest amounts of pesticides. The pesticides
range from mildly hazardous to very hazardous. In addition, conventional cotton
is genetically modified more often than not. It is then also known as
transgenic cotton. The genetic changes are made in order for the cotton to be
more resistant. Either resistant to bug spray or the bugs themselves. In the
U.S., 94.6% of conventional cotton crops were transgenic.
So, natural materials don’t directly mean organic?
No, unfortunately not! The main difference
between organic bedding and natural bedding materials are the chemicals. Or
those which are used to grow them. However, all-natural bedding materials can
be produced organically. Polyester on the other hand simply cannot. This is
because it is made solely out of synthetic materials - none of it is natural in
any way!
What is organic bedding?
Organic bedding, however, is made of organic
materials. This means that the cotton, silk or linen is grown without the use
chemicals. This includes any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides,
fungicides or any other chemicals. In addition, organic cotton can also not be
genetically modified.
Instead of using chemicals, the organic bedding
materials are protected from insects by using either natural materials or
traditional methods. For example, other plants are grown around the cotton
plants to deter the pesky bugs. The farmers also need to pull out the weeds
manually which grow around the cotton plants instead of using chemical sprays.
What are the different options for organic
bedding?
Now let us have a look at the different options
for organic bedding in more detail. We will have a look at the pros and cons of
organic cotton bedding, organic silk bedding, and organic linen bedding.
Organic silk bedding
The benefits of organic silk bedding
Organic silk bedding has many benefits. For one,
it is a very healthy option! This is because silk can help your skin retain its
moisture. It will make sure that your skin stays hydrated in comparison to the
other options available on the market. Instead of spending money on highly
expensive moisturizing creams, you can spend the few extra bucks on organic
silk bedding!
In addition, silk bedding is naturally hypoallergenic.
This is because silk has hypoallergenic properties as it has a natural
resistance to dust mites, fungus, mold, and many other allergens.
A further reason to opt for organic silk bedding
is that it is very easy to take care of. Against popular belief, organic silk
bedding can be washed in the washing machine. Although this depends on the type
of silk, basically all organic silk bedding which is available for purchase
today do not require dry cleaning anymore.
The final benefit of organic silk bedding? It is
truly a luxury experience which cannot be compared with any other of the
organic bedding materials.
The downsides of organic silk bedding
The last benefit of silk, which is the luxurious
feel, can also be seen as a downside. The issue here is that not everyone likes
the unique feel of silk. Definitely, test them out at a retail store before you
purchase a whole set of organic bedding made of silk!
This is especially true since organic silk
bedding is also the most expensive of the 3 other organic bedding options. If
you have a restricted budget or did not want to spend as much on your bedding,
we have a few more fantastic options for you below!
Organic linen bedding
The benefits of organic linen bedding
Pure organic linen bedding is bacteria
resistant, ventilating, filtering, evaporating and moisture absorbing. Just as
silk, it is hypoallergenic and even recommended for those who have skin
diseases.
The best thing about organic bedding made of
linen? It even gives you a light massage as you lay on it. This is because
there are microscopic breaks all throughout the fabric!
Organic linen bedding is so breathable that it
keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. In combination with a Vita Talalay
latex mattress, you will feel as if you are sleeping on air. The combination is
a very healthy choice!
As it is so breathable, linen has to absorb at
least 20% of its weight on moisture to actually feel wet. You will always have
a fresh and pleasant sleep with organic bedding made of linen!
The downsides of organic linen bedding
The only downside of organic linen bedding comes
down to personal preference. This is because in terms of texture, it is
slightly “rougher” than cotton. It simply comes down to what you personally
prefer. Some will forever be sworn to silk, linen or cotton organic bedding!
Organic cotton bedding
The benefits of organic cotton bedding
Pure organic cotton bedding is highly
breathable. Thanks to this property, it has the ability to transfer moisture
away from the skin. Just as Vita Talalay latex products, it has the ability to
keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.
Organic cotton bedding is also highly
hypoallergenic. Especially if you are prone to allergies and skin irritations,
organic cotton bedding is the best option for you!
Cotton is also extremely soft. The higher the
thread count, the softer and more expensive it is! For example, Egyptian cotton
has the highest thread count. However, you will truly feel the difference
between the cotton types. In addition, the higher thread count will also make
sure that the organic bedding made of cotton is more durable. Especially
polyester/cotton blends have a very strong tendency to pill after they have
been washed a few times.
The downsides of organic cotton bedding
Organic cotton bedding, especially with lower
thread count, is generally more susceptible to general wear. This is why we
highly recommend choosing organic bedding made of cotton with a high thread
count.
Please also keep in mind that cotton may shrink
a little in the washing machine. However, high-end brands will have already
calculated this into the size of the organic cotton bedding. This is why the
first use of the organic cotton sheets may seem as if they are slightly too
big. Don’t worry - this will go away after a few washes!
The final downside of cotton is that it wrinkles
easily. We highly recommend folding the organic bedding made of cotton
immediately after washing to reduce the wrinkles. You can also opt to iron the
material, but be careful here! You should only do so with low heat since you
may otherwise burn the material!
Organic baby bedding
Especially when it comes to our young ones we
want to make sure that we have the healthiest products available to them. We
want to have healthy bedding since we as adults spend about 30% of our day in
bed. However, we all know a baby spends much more time in bed than a child or
an adult! This is why organic baby bedding plays a significant role!
In this case, we recommend using organic linen
bedding. We do so for multiple reasons. It shares the same benefits as the
other materials in terms of breathability and moisture absorption. In addition,
it is also hypoallergenic. However, the reason why we believe it is the best
option for your baby is due to the fact that it is the easiest to clean and
maintain. In addition, it is also the most cost-effective option of the three -
and we all know how the wallet looks like after a new member has joined the
family!
Vita Talalay latex mattresses, toppers, and
pillows
Once you have made a choice about your organic
bedding, you should also remember to opt for a healthy mattress, topper, and
pillow. This is where Vita Talalay latex plays an essential role.
The pure, natural comfort material is also produced
without any chemicals or other harmful materials. In addition, we also use
latex which has been sourced from fair and sustainable sources. This means that
no pesticides, fertilizers or additives have been used to produce the white
gold.
Vita Talalay latex has many benefits and we
would like to invite you to have a look at them. If you are looking for a new
mattress, topper, or pillow, simply click here to find out more about getting healthy sleep.
At Vita Talalay, we do not say sleep well. We
say sleep healthy!
