What’s inside our natural mattresses?

When you are looking to purchase a new mattress, there’s much more to it than whether it is firm or soft. You’re going to spend so much time on your mattress, it’s a huge investment. We believe it’s important to know what’s inside.

Ely Mattresses are non-toxic and made from natural materials. We’ve created a perfect blend of material for sleeping. In this article, we’d like to tell you a bit more about them. Together, let’s dive inside and discover the natural components that make up our incredibly comfortable mattresses.

Wool

The wool we use in our mattresses is springy to touch for exceptioncal comfort, because we source only the finest materials. Due to the shortness of its fibres, it’s dense to the touch. We use the wool of a Dorset Horne sheep, which is an exceptional white colour. Located in the south-west of England, this wool is used for only the finest products. We chose to use wool, and this wool in particular, for the following reasons.

• Wool is 100% biodegradable, unlike conventional mattress materials. Using wool helps the environment, because it doesn’t clog up landfills when it is disposed of.
• Wool also helps to regulate body temperature, which is perfect if you’re a hot or cold sleeper. Mattresses containing wool will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.
• Wool does not retain moisture. Instead, it wicks it away, letting it pass through the material and preventing the growth of mould or mildew. This is important for the overall hygiene of your mattress, as well as its durability. When we sleep, our bodies can lose up to 750 mili-litres of moisture, mainly as steam. Natural materials like wool (and cotton) absorb this moisture and isolate it, so you won’t find yourself sleeping in a pool of sweat.
• Wool is a natural fire retardant. It is also resistant to combustion. Most mattresses have this quality, but only with the assistance of toxic chemicals.
• Wool is hypoallergenic, which means it absorbs air pollutants and clasps onto dust particulars.

Horsehair

We chose to use horsehair when we manufactured our mattresses for a number of reasons, but a key one was ventilation. There aren’t many mattress materials that are fit for this purpose in the same way horsehair is. It helps to create a microclimate, and controls temperature like no other mattress filler. Teamed with wool, another temperature efficient material, it’s a dream come true.

Horsehair is also extremely springy. This natural fibre acts like millions of small, individual springs. Unlike manufactured springs, they never flatten out. This gives the mattress an elevated level of comfort and support.

Due to its hygroscopic nature, horsehair does not absorb water. It’s hollow areas and microscopic capillaries mean that each strand acts as a tiny airway, channelling moisture away to let fresh air in.

Horsehair has been used as a mattress filler since the 1800s, when they didn’t have as much choice as we do these days. We’ve taken it back to basics, and you’ll find this allergen free, organic material in every mattress we sell, due to its antibacterial, anti-mite and anti-fungal properties.

Luxury Cotton

With its natural fibres, cotton is soft, hardwearing, and skin-friendly. Up until the 1990s, cotton was the number one filler in mattresses. These days, many manufacturers opt for foam, instead. This is because it’s cheap, and has the ability to break down quickly, though it is not natural. Just as we did with horsehair, we decided to go back to our roots, choosing cotton for our mattresses because of its resilience and breathability.

Durability is a key component of cotton. Unlike its foam opponent, cotton’s natural fibres mean its able to retain its shape and structure for longer than foam. At Ely Mattresses, we’ve added extra cotton layers, and the same number on each side of the mattress for twice the benefit.

Cotton is another temperature regulating material, and it’s breathable in nature. We’ve mentioned this a few times now, because it’s really important. If you overheat when you sleep, it can be a health risk. It can also cause sleep disruption and poor quality sleep, which can cause a whole host of other issues.

Because it lasts such a long time, cotton adds immense value to your mattress. It’s part of the reason we’re able to offer a 10 year warranty.

Ely Mattresses

Every material in our Ely Mattresses was specially selected for durability and quality, to give you a comfortable sleep night after night after night. We focus on safety, durability and comfort, morphing together materials that are naturally hypoallergenic, springy, long lasting and hygienic.

We’re so confident in our product that Ely Mattresses come with a ten year warranty and a thirty night sleep trial. We also offer 0% interest free finance options.

For more information, read about our thirteen layers. Or, if you’re ready to buy, browse our incredible mattresses.