Green Dwellers

From The Heart: A personal message from the owner

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:27:37 +0000

A lot of people ask me why I do what I do when I could be a stay-at-home mom. While I love being a mom and make it a priority to be in car line by 3:00, the self fulfillment and joy I feel when my customers hug me ‘thank you and goodbye’ and then call me back a few weeks later to tell me they had the best sleep ever and what a difference I made in their lives, is what continues to fuel my drive. For me, Green Dwellers is not just a business, it’s a community service. I don’t just sell organic mattresses, I sell sleep and provide a better quality of life. That’s why I go above and beyond to bring you the best products out there. Like you, I am concerned about my health and the health of my family. I have NO tolerance for green-washing and I can’t stand the BS salespeople will tell me just to swipe my credit card.

Green Dwellers is not a traditional mattress store – it is a natural and organic mattress and bedding boutique that seeks to make an educated and informed buyer out of each one of our customers. You are on this web site because you are interested in switching over from a chemical laden conventional mattress and you want the truth…straight-up. And, that is exactly what you will get at Green Dwellers – honest, fact-based information, without the hard sell approach like you’ll get from department and chain stores.

So, regardless of which one of our locations you shop at, you will always get the facts, and our policies are completely transparent. If you’re looking for the cheapest so called “natural” mattress on the market, you will not find it here because in this market you really do get what you pay for and I refuse to sell you a product that does meet my high standards. What you will get is very competitive prices on what I believe to be, after extensive research, some of the best natural latex and organic mattresses on the market and what I hope will be a most enjoyable and informative shopping experience.

If there is any advice I can give you while you’re shopping, is don’t be fooled by all the green lingo. Ask questions, ask for certifications and if they stumble in their words and can’t back up their products, RUN! .….Then call me!

Here’s to our health and the health of our children!

Sleep tight and don’t ever let the bed bugs bites!

Warm Regards,

Mylene

Ft. Myers mother and daughter for Savvy Rest Natural Latex and Organic Mattresses

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:20:15 +0000

The truth about Polyurethane Memory Foam Tempurpedic Mattresses

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:43:12 +0000

Memory foam is polyurethane with additional chemicals increasing its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as “visco-elastic” polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam. Higher-density memory foam softens in reaction to body heat, allowing it to mold to a warm body in a few minutes. A lower-density memory foam is pressure-sensitive and molds quickly to the shape of a body pressing against it, returning to its original shape once the pressure is removed.

Components used for the production of polyurethane memory foams

Components researched: isocynates; methylene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane; acetone; benzene; ethylene oxide; formaldehyde

Hazards

When new, some memory foams give off a distinct chemical odor, which many people find unpleasant and some say is akin to the smell of paint. This odor decreases with airing, but some remain sensitive. Emissions from memory foam mattresses may cause more respiratory irritation than other mattresses.

Memory foam, like other polyurethane products, can be combustible. State and US Federal Laws have been enacted in the USA to require that all bedding, including memory foam items, be resistant to ignition from an open flame such as a candle or cigarette lighter. New bedding laws that went into effect in 2010 change the Cal-117 Bulletin for FR testing. There is concern that high levels of the fire retardant PBDE, commonly used in memory foam, could cause health problems for users.

What Are the Dangers of Polyurethane Mattresses?

Allergic Reactions

Since your body is exposed to the chemicals in a mattress for at least eight hours per day, even a mild allergy to the chemicals in the mattress can lead to a reaction. Some reactions to mattress chemicals include hives, swollen lips, swollen eyes, rashes, flu-like symptoms, difficulty breathing and sinus infections. If these symptoms have corresponded with the recent purchase of a mattress, try to store the mattress for a week and sleep on an air mattress. If the symptoms go away, the mattress may have caused the problem.

Heart Problems

If you have experienced heart troubles in the past, avoid using a polyurethane mattress. Some users have experienced heart-related issues after using the bed only a short while. These symptoms include falsely feeling like a heart attack is coming, irregular heartbeat and a rapid pulse. There are no direct connections noted between an actual heart attack and a polyurethane mattress, but you can reduce these symptoms by removing the mattress if you are experiencing them.

Aches and Pains

The exposure to polyurethane mattresses has caused aches and pain for some users. This exposure has caused both mild and extremely pounding headaches. Other users have experienced achy joints and bones along with muscle weakness after using the beds. One person also experienced a case of an aching kidney along with sore joints. Since many things can cause aches and pains, visit a doctor to rule out all potential causes.

Other Dangers

These mattresses may also cause dizziness, ringing ears, swollen lymph nodes, fever, vomiting and fatigue. If you detect a pungent, chemical odor from a mattress, get rid of it or trade it in for a more natural mattress like a latex mattress.

Mattress Exposure

A lot of time is spent in bed. Infants and toddlers may spend up to 14 hours a day sleeping and playing in a crib. Adults may spend eight hours a day sleeping. You may not be aware of the chemical exposure given by the mattress. Not only is the time spent in bed a contributing factor but also the fact that your face may be on or very near the mattress. There are no government regulations controlling the chemicals used in creating the mattress, and a polyurethane mattress may contain more than just polyurethane.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/list_6971880_dangers-polyurethane-mattresses_.html

Polyurethane Foam Mattress Safety

Flammability

Polyurethane foam is a highly flammable material. Polyurethane burns very quickly once ignited. As such, it generates high heat and consumes a lot of oxygen in a short period of time. In small spaces, this may pose the risk of suffocation to room occupants who may be trapped in the room. Flame-retardants must be used on polyurethane mattresses. This adds more chemicals to the mattress, contributing to further possible toxic exposure.

Allergens

Dust mites can live in your polyurethane mattress, multiplying into a colony of tens of thousands of unwanted guests, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. While dust mites do not carry any disease, they live off of dead skin and hair cells left in the bed. These mites are a leading cause of allergic reactions in the home, including asthmatic attacks in children and elderly individuals. The mites’ droppings are the culprits, causing allergies to flare up because of a protein in the feces that many humans are allergic to.

Government Regulations

There are few regulations when it comes to the creation of polyurethane mattresses. The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a ruling in 2006 regarding flammability standards. Under the Flammable Fabrics Act, all mattresses must comply with performance requirements: Namely, the fabric must reduce and slow the growth rate of a fire. The Act does not regulate the chemicals used to achieve this.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_6054249_polyurethane-foam-mattress-safety.html

The Disadvantages of Polyurethane Foam Mattresses

Discomfort

Polyurethane foam absorbs and stores body heat. Trying to sleep on top of a slab of foam during warm summers can make for a hot and uncomfortable night. Memory foam also may eventually lose its ability to spring back to its original shape, causing depressed areas in the mattress.

Odors

A mattress constructed of polyurethane layers can give off chemical odors and fumes. This is especially pronounced with some memory foam mattresses. Some people may simply find the odor objectionable, while others may become ill with prolonged exposure.

Durability

Cheaper polyurethane mattresses can gradually disintegrate and lose their quality of support as they age. Inexpensive models without memory foam may be light and insubstantial with no edge support, skittering around as pressure is put on one spot.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/list_6594181_disadvantages-polyurethane-foam-mattresses.html

The links below had tons of Memory Foam and Tempurpedic customer reviews. Definitely worth taking a look:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Can-Your-Mattress-Kill-You-76887.shtml

http://tempurpedic.pissedconsumer.com/

TempurPedic a NASA foam? Not quite!

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:23:47 +0000

You may have heard of a space mattress created by NASA from a revolutionary material called memory foam and are eager to buy one. Before you do, let me tell you that there is no NASA memory foam and no space bed technology and companies like TempurPedic only use the NASA connection to sell more mattresses.

A form of visco-elastic foam was, indeed, first developed in the 70s in conjunction with the Space Program to help astronauts absorb enormous G-forces at liftoff and re-entry but that’s not what manufacturers are talking about.

When people compare NASA mattresses to the well-known Tempur-Pedic brand, they assume sleeping surfaces made from this revolutionary technology existed in the first place. But this never happened. So why was it never used?

The original NASA foam was never suitable for sleeping because it broke down in time and lacked the comfort needed to make a good mattress. But the Program never intended to use space foam for bedding. Remember, it was developed for astronauts’ seats, not for sleeping.

Once released to the industrial world, progress was imminent. Years of research and development by the Swedish company Tempurpedic did turn this early recipe into a unique material now commonly known as memory foam. Some people still like to call it NASA foam.

Tempur-Pedic does acknowledge, somewhat vaguely, admittedly, the true NASA connection. Their website says:

An imperfect version of TEMPUR foam material was developed for NASA in the 1970s, designed specifically to conform to any individual’s body and relieve the pressure of the tremendous forces of gravity the astronauts experienced during lift off and flight

All companies should be more open in admitting that what we’re sleeping on today is not a NASA product, but rather, a by-product.

Source: http://www.myfoammattress.net/memory/nasa.html

Introduction – Stages of the Sleep Cycle

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:35:47 +0000

Why do we sleep? The answer is short, simple and obvious…sleep is a necessary process to sustain life and sleep disorders at any level, rob a person of this sustenance. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying each year in part because of undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders. For the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from a chronic sleep disorder and the 20 to 30 million others who experience occasional sleep disturbances, going to bed doesn’t always mean going to sleep. According to The National Sleep Foundation, on any giving night, 1 in 4 Americans rate the quality of their night’s sleep as either “fair” or “poor”. We have tendency to overlook our need for sleep which puts us at higher risk for accidents (more than 100,000 auto accidents, many fatal, are directly attributed to sleepy drivers each year) and more vulnerable to a whole host of physical ailments, including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, to name a few.

If you think nothing really happens when you sleep, think again. Sleep is the time when the brain directs the body to heal and repair itself, rebuild damaged or worn-out tissues, and restore chemical balance. Your immune system manufacturers more natural killer cells to fight infection and disease and your pituitary gland produces growth hormone (in children, growth hormone promotes growth; in adults it helps repair and renew tissue). Even though your body may essentially be motionless while you sleep, your brain is active, cycling though the Five Stages of Sleep, and organizing and storing memories. Even with all this activity, your brain still manages to recharge during a good night’s sleep so you feel energized and ready to go.

THE FIVE STAGES OF SLEEP

Sleep is divided into 5 stages and serve different purposes. Stage 1-4 are non as non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) and the 5th is rapid eye movement sleep (REM), the stage when most dreaming occurs. The brain cycles through these stages about 5-6 times each night. During the first sleep cycle, you spend a long time in deep sleep or Stages 3 and 4, and relatively short time in the 5th stage REM sleep. As the night progresses, your brain continues to cycle through the sleep stages with REM sleep periods getting longer and deep sleep periods shorter. As morning approaches, deep sleep ceases almost completely and your brain cycles between Stages 1 and 2 and REM sleep.

STAGE 1 : The transition between wakefulness and sleep. Your brain and body relax, your breathing becomes more regular and your muscle activity gradually decreases, although you may make some jerky movements as you pass from wakefulness to sleep. You may experience dream-like flashes of images, hear loud noises or even distinct voices. Most people who sleep normally stay in this stage for about 5 minutes.

STAGE 2 : Your heartbeat and respiration slow and become very regular, your body relaxes more deeply. Most spend about 30 minutes in Stage 1 and 2 before passing into a deep sleep Stage 3.

STAGE 3 & 4 : These are deep sleep states. There is no visible eye or muscle movement especially as you progress into Stage 4, which is the deepest and most restorative sleep. The body performs much of its necessary repair work during Stage 3 & 4.

The first deep sleep of the night usually lasts about 1 hour in the young adult before the sleep cycle begins its first REM sleep. As people get older, their deep sleep shortens and they may feel less rested after sleeping.

STAGE 5 (REM) : This is when you dream. Your eyes move rapidly back and forth. During REM sleep you are actually temporarily paralyzed, Mother Nature’s safeguard to prevent the physical acting out of dreams. Brain blood increases, heartbeat speeds up and breathing rate increases. Sleepers usually spend about 90 minutes in the first four stages of sleep before passing into the first REM of the night. The first REM usually last about 10 minutes and become progressively longer in successive NREM-REM cycles with the final REM episode lasting as long as an hour.

The Causes & Diagnosis

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:36:50 +0000

Just because you’ve had a few restless nights does not mean you need to go running to your doctor. However, if you’re staring at the ceiling night after night and drag yourself through your days, then what are you waiting for?

Many people today are living a fast paced life and there are many causes to sleepless nights which doesn’t necessarily mean you have a sleeping disorder, you may be just going through a stressful time in your life. You could be in the middle of a divorce, kid failing in school, bills piling up, company relocating without you, college exams, 8 months pregnant — these are temporary and as soon as these issues are resolved, your sleep habits should go back to normal. This does not mean you have to ignore the sleeping problem. Poor quality sleep is a medical concern no matter what its cause or duration and your doctor can still offer several suggestions to help you sleep better.

Poor sleep presents itself in many ways; you fall asleep quickly but wake up in the middle of the night and pace the floor, or maybe you lie awake staring at the ceiling for hours, or you fall asleep fast but awake much earlier than you would like or even sleep totally fine but awaken unrefreshed? No matter how the problem presents itself, these are disruptions resulting in less-then-optimal sleep.

These are common factors for occasional sleeplessness:

Battling nasal congestion

Consuming caffeine, especially close to bedtime

Exercising too vigorously close to bedtime

Experiencing pain from arthritis, headaches, or illness

Lying on an uncomfortable mattress and/or pillow

Overindulging in rich or spicy foods, especially close to bedtime

Sharing your bed with kids, pets or spouse that toss and turn a lot

Sleeping in a cluttered room

Environment is too cold or too hot

Smoking and/or drinking alcohol close to bedtime

Stressful life event

Taking stimulating herbal supplements

If you start dreading bedtime, find yourself nodding off time and again during the day or if you wake up repeatedly during the night, then that may be a clue you’re heading towards chronic status. Chronic sleeplessness can also be caused by a variety of problem but if just changing your sleep environment or cutting back on caffeine doesn’t solve the issue, chances are you have an undiagnosed sleep disorder.

It’s time to see a doctor if:

Your sleeplessness is starting to interfere with your job performance

You feel sluggish, irritable and less sharp than normal

You’re making lots of mistakes or errors in judgment

You can’t stay focused; your attention keeps wandering

You’re impatient and quick to anger even though this is not normal personality behavior

You keep dozing off, even in important meetings or while driving

Chronic sleeplessness can be associated with a host of physical, emotional and mental conditions including:

Congestive heart failure and heart attacks

Decreased ability to process information

Depression

High blood pressure

Insulin resistance

Memory impairment, moodiness and irritability

Increase risk of accidents and on-the-job injuries

Obesity

Stroke

As you can see, many consequences of chronic sleep deprivation or disruption are quite serious, and some, if left untreated, can even be fatal. If you have one or more of these symptoms, and especially if you have several, it may be time to get a check-up and see what’s causing your sleep disturbance. After you have your diagnosis and are receiving proper treatment and sleeping well again, your world will look like a different and better place.

Physical Therapist Neva Sanchez from Miami buys a Natural Latex Mattress

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:33:16 +0000

Mom cancels Tempurpedic order and buys a Natural Latex Mattress

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:57:25 +0000

Latex Mattress Hoax: Is it natural or is it synthetic?

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:27:55 +0000

Very often people call and tell us they can find latex mattresses at Ikea or Costco for half the prices of ours. People listen up; do you want to sleep on synthetic latex made from petrochemicals and breathe the same fumes your car does every night for 8 hours a night for the rest of your life to save a few hundred dollars? If so, then don’t bother reading on. But if you are truly interested in the health of your family including yourself then please read on…

The only reason we write this blog post is because as a consumer you need to be aware of all the greenwashing going on out there and want to share this story. We were absolutely dumbfounded when a customer called us last week requesting prices for “our” Natural Latex AND Organic Twin size mattresses. She was obviously in the market for something natural and wanted no chemicals for her kids’ environment. Naturally, a mom wants the best and healthiest for her kids right? At $999 she could of had her 3 kids sleeping on one of the healthiest mattress in the industry. Instead she opted to buy the SULTAN ELSFJORD from IKEA for $350. OK, great price right? Really? What do you think you are getting for $350 at retail when the mattress probably cost $100 to make and import? According to their web site, here’s what you’re getting:

SULTAN ELSFJORD

Product description

Ticking/ Ticking: 68 % cotton, 32 % polyester
Comfort material: Synthetic latex, Polyester/viscose (rayon) fiber wadding, Polyester wadding
Protective fabric: Non-woven polypropylene
Fire-retardant interliner: 100 % cotton

Need we say more? While they make no claim this is a natural latex mattress on their web site and we attest to that, the customer reported this: “…but the salesman said it was 80% natural and 20% synthetic and they used lambswool and eco-cotton”…what the heck is “eco-cotton”? This is what we call “greenwashing”. Cotton is either certified organic or it’s not! There is no such thing as “eco-cotton”. There is no mention of anything “natural” in their product description or mention of “lambswool”. In fact all we see is lots of polyester. Maybe the salesperson was new and wasn’t quite aware of what he was selling?…maybe…but then again, that’s the difference between shopping at a big department store and specialty shop. They do claim to carry other models that are 85% natural and 15% synthetic but again, what’s the point if 15% of your mattress is made from petrochemicals and the cotton is not certified organic but full of pesticides instead?

It’s no secret latex mattresses are becoming the new craze but please do you homework, ask lots of questions, ask for certifications. If you are on a budget, and we understand that, and you are ok with buying synthetic, please do so knowing that you are buying synthetic. That’s all we’re saying.

Here’s a little info we took straight from the RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) www.rma.org

THE TWO TYPES OF RUBBER
What are the two types of rubber?
The two types of rubber in common use today are natural and synthetic. Natural rubber comes from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). When a tree matures at the age of six or seven years, the latex is collected from a diagonal incision in the tree trunk. The tapping process does not affect the health of the tree and the tree wound later heals itself. Synthetic rubber is made by man from petrochemical feedstocks. Crude oil is the principal raw material.

Where is natural rubber produced?
Today more than 90% of the natural rubber supply comes from Southeast Asia. As rubber trees require a hot, damp climate, they grow only in the “Rubber Belt,” an equatorial zone that stretches around the world. In 1876, the English, in recognition of the difficulties of securing quality rubber from the jungle, hit upon the idea of growing rubber on plantations. From their efforts, the cultivated rubber tree plantations of Southeast Asia and Africa have developed.

How is synthetic rubber produced?
General purpose synthetic rubber has its origin in two gases: butadiene, a by-product of petroleum refining, and styrene, captured either in the coking process or as a petroleum refining by-product. When the two are mixed in the presence of soapsuds in a reactor, liquid latex results. The dry rubber in this milky liquid is then coagulated into crumbs, washed, dried, and baled ready for shipment.

SULTAN ELSFJORD

Hide your money in your mattress? Put It In A Natural Latex One!

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:13:10 +0000

A few years back, a Tel Aviv woman made all sorts of “weird news” sites when she accidentally threw away $1 million dollars—hidden in her mother’s mattress. Sounds a little nutty but stashing money in one’s mattress was a popular way for Americans to safeguard their cash after the Great Depression and it’s made a comeback in the wake of the recent financial crisis. Personally, I don’t think it’s all that bad an idea, though I’d suggest a different strategy for putting your money in your mattress: invest in natural latex.

Spend on natural latex, save at the pharmacy

Why are so many of us eager to throw our cash at fancy pharmaceuticals, diet plans, and health food stores, but not so keen on doling out dollars for a product that will guarantee to improve our health naturally—a latex mattress? Naturally derived latex mattresses are hypoallergenic so they’re just what the doctor ordered for allergy sufferers. Your run-of-the-mill mattress is a literal breeding ground for dust mites— no friend to those of us with asthma, eczema, or hay fever. You don’t need allergy pills to cure your nighttime sniffling, sneezing, and coughing. You need natural latex!

Or let’s say you’re not a sneezy sleeper. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of health benefits associated with investing in a natural latex mattress. Beds made with non-organic materials must undergo chemical treatment to meet flame retardancy standards. These chemicals are toxic and scientists link them to a long list of health problems like neurological damage, kidney failure, and impaired thyroid function. But mattresses that are made with 100% naturally derived latex and sheathed in organic wool make a bed naturally fireproof and carcinogen-free.

Buy now, pay later

Sure, you can save on a cheap mattress now but rest assured that you’ll end up paying more in the end when you have to buy another one—or two, or three. Wowed by the price tag on bargain basement box springs? They may look comfy and their prices may be convenient but it’s only a matter of time before your sweet dreams start sagging. Mattresses priced to sell for a steal weren’t designed for years of wear and tear. And it shows. What looks like a million bucks on the showroom floor can quickly turn into a lumpy, uneven, depressed pile of padding after just a few months. Natural latex mattresses are priced higher because they are built to last longer—3x longer, in fact.

If you’ve got millions, I probably would advocate keeping them in the bank, not your bed, unless you want to join that Tel Aviv woman in the “weird news” headlines. But once you’ve made that next deposit, withdraw a few bucks to buy yourself a natural latex mattress. It’s the only bed that pays you back with health and longevity.