Caring for your natural fibre mattress
- Use a solid, hardwood timber slatted bed frame to get adequate, consistent airflow to the underside of your mattress.
- Turn your mattress every 6 months to evenly distribute the wear & tear and keep your mattress in a more supportive condition for longer.
- Get into the regular habit of checking for any dampness or marks - do a cursory look each time you change your sheets, and a more thorough inspection when turning your mattress.
- Air out your mattress in the sun every 6-12 months. The UV rays will help dry out any moisture, while also disrupting any bacteria’s ability to replicate and grow.
- If you notice any dampness on your natural mattress, air it out in direct sunlight or hit it with a fan or blow dryer.
- Open your windows and pop on your fan each day as soon as you get up. Sure, making the bed looks neat and tidy, but it’s actually healthier to pull off your quilt and let your mattress soak up all the fresh air it can, which helps stop mould or bacteria from growing.
- Our latex and coir mattress materials are dust mite-resistant, but they still love cotton and wool fibres, so if you’re worried, try vacuuming your mattress every other month. If you use a protector, your vacuuming can be spaced out to a few times a year.
Mould Treatment
A risk we take for natural, healthier fibres is the potential for mould to form. The above steps should help keep mould under control, but if you do discover any spots on your mattress, use a small amount of hydrogen peroxide bleach, white vinegar, or clove oil and gently rub the area, avoiding too much liquid soaking into the mattress. Wipe the mould or stain spots, then dry in the sun or direct heat source. If you did want more in depth information on mould then check out this blog!
Caring for your natural bedding
When it comes to natural bedding accessories, there’s a growing list of fibres that are healthier and more ethical - but as with all natural products, they have slightly different care instructions. Linen bedding is the most popular bedding option right now - and for good reason. It’s incredibly durable, often lasting for a decade or more, but only if you’re using the care best suited to the material.
- Clean your fitted sheet, top sheet and pillowcases once a week to keep your sleeping environment healthy and free from bacteria. If you’re worried about this natural material breaking down faster, you can rest easy because linen actually gets better with every wash - provided it’s the ‘right’ kind of wash.
- To avoid shrinking and material breakdown, wash your linen sheets in lukewarm water (no warmer than 20 degrees Celsius). This temp is warm enough to kill bacteria and dissolve body oils and other dirt, but not so hot that it breaks down the fibres or shrinks your sheets.
- Choose gentle, low tox detergents to wash your sheets rather than chemicals as they’re more likely to damage your natural bedding.
- Air-dry instead of throwing your linen in the dryer to preserve the fibres and support the textile's long-term durability. If you’re in a hurry or it’s too rainy to dry outdoors, use a lower setting (not hot) for a short time, then hang indoors to finish the job.
- For wool quilts, swap the machine wash for regular airing out in direct sunlight, using spot cleans for stains or spills. Remember if you have one of our Organic Wool quilts these can must not be machine washed. If your quilt is cotton, the same care will work, but a gentle machine wash in cold-warm water (up to 30 degree) is also suitable, before line drying.
Caring for your natural pillows
A natural pillow is one of the best product swaps you can do, given the amount of time you’re in direct contact with it. Some of the big benefits of natural and organic latex pillows include hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties, plus resistance to dust-mites, mould and mildew. But there’s still a few nifty tricks to ensure your pillows stay in this healthy state for as long as possible.
- Stand your pillows up on their side each morning to help circulate air around all sides of your pillow, keeping it fresh and moisture-free.
- Air your pillows out on a clothes rack on a regular basis (we like to do it when washing sheets) to help refresh and rejuvenate them. Keep your organic latex or latex blend pillows out of direct sunlight to avoid the material degrading, opting for a shady spot instead. For wool pillows, direct sunlight is recommended for maximum freshness as it will thwart bacteria’s growth.
- Use a pillow protector to increase the lifespan of your pillow by as much as 5 years as it creates an extra defence layer against moisture or bacteria.
- If you opt for a removable pillow protector, remember to wash these with the rest of your bedding, using a cold water wash and line dried approach. For latex pillow and organic wool inserts, skip the wash and use spot cleaning where needed.
Caring for your natural furniture
There’s so many reasons we support buying sustainable furniture, from using responsibly sourced and untreated wood, to the natural fibres in the upholstery and non-toxic and plant-based stains. Much the same as other natural products, though, the use of natural materials and methods changes the way you care for them.
To give your handmade wooden furniture and natural materials a long life with your family, these are the hacks to know about.
- For care of handmade wooden furniture, you can wipe it down with a slightly damp cloth or microfibre cloth to remove dust or spills. Try this gentle cleaner for naturally stained wooden furniture.
- Do not use furniture sprays or any harsh chemicals to clean, as this may affect the colour of the timber or materials.
- Vacuum your upholstered furniture weekly and spot clean any stains as soon as they occur using a mild liquid soap. Remember to spot test a new cleaning product in a small area to ensure it doesn’t discolour.
- For wooden furniture, rugs, and fabrics, try to avoid direct exposure to UV rays, or consider rotating/moving them every 6 months to even out wear and sunlight exposure.
Natural products, natural benefits
It’s no secret that natural products can involve more considered care, but once you get used to the new approach, you’ll hardly notice the difference. What you will notice are the many ways your health and home improve as a result of these natural products. From less allergens and disruptive chemicals in your home, to more sustainable and long-lasting products, the end results speak for themselves.
And ultimately, changing the way you care for your products is a no-brainer when it comes to a safer, healthier home.
