your visitor’s bedding. For example, there have been reports in the media about potentially harmful or irritating off-gassing from chemicals used in manufacture. Many people are not aware of the health effects of mites and dust that accumulate in certain environments. Their effects could be seen in unexpected areas such as snoring, although this is not definite. Some treatments for snoring include oxygen tanks and uncomfortable masks to wear all night. It is possible that simply having cleaner, healthier air might alleviate sinus and similar air passage issues caused by inflammation and irritation.

It is a fact that common, well know and frequently purchased “traditional” type mattresses are manufactured with techniques and products whose chemicals and materials create off-gassing, particularly when they are brand new and not had time to “air out.” The vast majority of mattresses purchased are new. Futon bed covers are not going to be the solution to prevent these products from generating their gas by-products. They are porous, being fabric, and permeable to air and gas. However, if you have invested in a health-smart organic futon mattress, then you want your futon slipcovers and bed covers to enhance the total benefits of your organic mattress.

You may wonder what is different about the materials and manufacture of these organic sheets, covers and bedding, compared to non-organic ones. There are plenty of other brands and kinds of futon slipcovers. However, organic ones, made of natural cotton, have genuine health benefits you and your guests should want to enjoy. If you have certain guests who you don’t want to get too comfortable, that is a separate issue – can’t help you there, sorry! But honestly, you spend a great deal of your life on your futon, whether using it as a couch or for sleeping or for your friends. Your face, mouth, eyes, the air you breathe while laying down and your skin will be in the close environment of your futon many hours each day.

Constant contact with some inorganic fabrics or out-gassing materials can cause irritation whose origin may have been a mystery. Bedding made with organic cotton, free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers will make these close areas less irritating, safer, more comfortable and more inviting to you and those who you have invited to use them. You are also doing your part – and every contribution is important–to expose the environment of everyone on the planet to toxic chemicals, since pesticides and chemical fertilizers pollute the air and soil as well as the plants they are used on.

Organic does not equal dull – most companies who specialize in healthy, earth-friendly fabrics and materials make them visually appealing, with natural dyes and lovely embroidery or stitching, so they are truly a pleasure to own. Responsible companies who care about the environment, and cater to consumers who care, are generally better employers, who do not run “sweat shops,” but form closer partnerships with their employees, who appreciate that their jobs are valuable in many ways. The effects of your going organic and natural reach beyond just the healthy effects in your own environment.

There are choices of manufacturers for these futon covers so you need to do a little online research to find out which ones are truly conscientious about keeping their products genuinely “green.” Other tips to keep in mind, so you will enjoy your slipcover more: make sure the metal used in zippers is brass for superior performance. Also, when measuring your futon mattress to determine the cover size, add 2 inches to the height, since you can expect some shrinking when you wash and dry the cover. When washing futon covers, use a detergent that is mild, biodegradable, and that contains no bleach. Tumble dry in the low heat setting and remove promptly to prevent wrinkling.

There is a wonderful variety of futon cover prices–online is your best source for checking out the various prices, and what higher price merchandise may offer in the way of higher quality, or what special deals are available. Prices should never exceed a few hundred dollars. The size of your futon mattress and the materials of the futon bed cover are the greatest determinants of the price.

Photo credit

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Some organic cotton ready to be used for your futon.

place where we rest our heads each night should be as healthy as any other.  This is especially true if we are talking about a child’s bed.  Photo credit

Your kid’s bed is the place where they will fuel up and heal and do all the other magical things that happen to the body with restful sleep.  The last thing that you would want is for you or your child to be breathing in toxic fumes or gasses each night.  Of course you don’t want this, however, you might not even know it exists.  There has been a large trend in children toward more cases of asthma and allergies than ever before.  The scariest part about it is that we don’t always know why this is the case.  There are theories and we know that air pollution, pollens and other airborne issues are part of the problem, but this is not the complete answer.  The real question is what can you do to help with the outcome.

One thing you can do is use as clean a bed as possible.  Clean not in terms of having the sheets washed thoroughly, though this helps, but having the mattress be as healthy as possible.  This is often referred to as a natural mattress.  It is really nothing more than a mattress constructed of materials that have not been treated with chemical agents to make them more easily grown or processed.  There are other ‘natural’ choices, too, like a latex futon mattress made of natural materials.  Another term for this could be organic.

This organic futon looks just like any other - it's what it's made of that matters.

In this case, an organic cotton futon is a very feasible and popular choice.  While these are not quite yet the mainstream way to buy a mattress, they soon could be.  If you knew how healthy organic mattresses were, you would be more than willing to pay slightly more for them.  In terms of a conventional organic mattress, the price tag might be in the thousands, not hundreds, even for a queen.  If we’re talking about a futon mattress that is constructed of organically grown cotton or other organic materials, like hemp, the cost is still higher than that of a traditional futon, but much less than the conventional style.  An organic queen size futon is more likely to fall within the $500 USD range – much less than a traditional bed!

Just like with our foods, organic properties ensure that at least you are starting with a chemical free product.  This doesn’t mean that you will end up with something that is completely free from agents that may or may not affect sensitive folks, but the chances are much more in your favor going organic.  A natural mattress implies that these materials were harvested and grown in a way that Mother Earth intended.

There are also organic clothing items that are reported to help people in the same way that we are discussing here.  So, whether you fear the off-gassing that has been anecdotally reported to cause a wide range of health disturbances or you just want to get a great night’s sleep resting your head down on an all natural mattress, maybe even covered in organic bedding, either choice ends with a great result.  You can’t go wrong with a natural organic cotton futon as your primary bed or in a child’s room.

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I’m sure that you already know that there are many different styles of futon mattresses available on the market.  If not, we’ll introduce you to some of those here.  If you did know this, then maybe you are just looking for a little more clarity on which one might be the best choice for you.  Hopefully, you’ll have a better idea by the end of this article as well.

Futons come in the ‘older’ cotton, poly, and wool blended foam infills as they always have.  These styles are more often than not the most inexpensive ones. These are the ones that used to get such a bad rap back when they first appeared on the market in the West.  You see, futons have been used for hundreds of years in Asian countries.  They are most popular in Japan and it is the traditional style of mattress there.  However, the Japanese futon mattress is actually quite a bit different than the style we use in the West.

The Traditional Japanese Futon

A traditional looking Japanese room with futons.

The traditional futon consists of two parts:  an upper quilted part called the kake-buton and the bottom, mattress portion, is called the shiki-buton.  The way that this system works is that they are both laid on a mat, a tatami, and slept on.  In the morning, they are both beaten, traditionally with a bamboo cane, to clean and then aired out to dry.  This allows them to be refreshed each morning.  It also allows the room in which they were used to be open and ready for other needs.  It is part of the lifestyle in countries like Japan where a more minimalist design is appreciated.  Photo credit

Like with many great designs, they become adapted over the years and with different cultures.  This is just as true with the traditional mattresses as it is with futon design.  In the West, we have taken the futon and made it into a more functional piece of furniture.  Here, we use them as both sofa-couches as well as beds.  The types of bed frames that can be used with a futon vary as well; we’ll discuss this below.   

The style of mattress that we have built is a stretch from this traditional style.  What we done is make them more like a conventional mattress; adding inner coil springs, memory foam and even toppers.  So, the futon of today is nothing like the kind that you may remember from your high school or college days.  The reason why those got such a bad reputation was because of poor infill materials leading to a very thin mattress that quickly flattened.  This ultimately led to the mattress being uncomfortable and non-supportive, as well as having the bed frame pressing into your back.  It wouldn’t be too uncommon to wake up with back pains or other aches related to sleeping on a poor quality mattress.

Futon Bed Frames

The more common types of frames are made of wood.  Some manufacturers or mattress stores will include a bed frame with your purchase.  These are often less desirable in terms of quality, but this is not always the case.  Some frames are made of tubular steel and powder coated to help them resist rusting or corrosion that could damage your futon cover.

A custom mahogany frame with storage.

You can always have a custom bed frame built just for you.  These will almost always be more durable and fit your needs and specifications more precisely.  Often, these incorporate storage or shelving.  They may also include headboards and or other unique features like under-mattress storage.

These frames are typically found in bi-fold or tri-fold styles.  The difference in frames comes down to how they will be folded to create the sofa position.  It affects the mattress as well.  It will be much simpler to purchase a futon that you plan on using more for a sofa to get a tri-fold design.  The reason behind this is that it can fold easily into a smaller profile and the mattress will be made of the more flexible materials, like cotton and wool, with the foam inserts.  Photo credit

If, on the other hand, you plan on using your futon as your primary sleeping arrangement, then you can utilize either a bi-fold frame or a fixed-platform bed frame.  The material used for such a mattress could be one with the inner-coil springs or have a thicker profile.  This is what you should consider to make the mattress a more comfortable and longer lasting one.

It is still more likely that your conventionally manufactured mattress will last longer than a futon.  Some factors that go into this are the in-fill materials, synthetic fabrics and the frame of the mattress itself.  More often than that, however, you will likely be considering a futon mattress as a secondary sleeping situation or for extra seating in a home office or entertainment room.

Alternative Futon Bed Choices

If you share the concerns of many about these off-gassing ideas and threats, then you should examine some of the different alternative forms of futon beds and mattresses.  These include things like the organic cotton futon and materials made with hemp.  The organic cottons are the easiest to come by and have the  most trusted names in the field supporting them.  The materials like hemp, bamboo and even choices like wool or latex foam are also available.

You might even be considering a kid’s futon for your child’s first ‘big boy’ or ‘big girl’ bed.  This is an exciting time for both the parents and child, so it should be a special bed.  The more popular choices for these first beds are the themed beds; cartoon characters, movies, or playful frames made of race cars, princess carriages and the like.  These are more for the child than the parent, but the mattress is an important thing to consider as well. Another option is a bunk.  There are futon bunk beds that serve the same function and work in just the same way as a traditional bunk bed does.  This could have also been included in the discussion of the futon frames above.

You can start with a twin and move up to a full futon when they grow or their room space allows.  There are many options here and considering which one is the healthiest way to rest your little one’s head down on each night is of the utmost importance.  Research does show how important sleep is and it is even more important for it to be free of gaseous by-products and other harmful chemical residues, regardless if it is for you or your child.

Cost

One main factor affecting cost will be the size of the mattress.  The smaller it is, like a twin, the less expensive.  There are queen size futons, but you will be harder pressed to find a king size mattress in this style.  There are custom orders available for larger individuals, though.  In fact, you might be surprised to know that many athletes prefer futons because they can be custom ordered to fit them.

For the more simple versions of this type of bed, you can think in terms of the low $100s USD.  This would include styles that are made of just cotton, cotton-poly’s and wools with the various styles of foam padding.  For a more luxurious type of futon, with inner coiled springs, memory foam, toppers and the like, you can expect to pay upwards of $500 USD or more.  Also, you’ll pay more for the organic cotton futon beds and the alternative materials because they just aren’t as heavily sought after as of yet.  These things will change as well.

As your browse around, consider what it is that you really want to use your futon for and then find the manufacturer or site that can best deliver that for you.  Brand names, such as Sealy™, Simmons™ and Beautyrest™ all make futon mattresses, so you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable with the quality that is available.  Also, you can shop the larger online retailers like Amazon and Ebay to find a better deal.  Thanks for stopping by and get a good night’s rest.

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There are so many choices when it comes to the types of beds, sheets, blankets, comforters, etc. you can buy.  It’s one thing if you are looking for such items for yourself, whether it is for your personal bed or your guest beds.  But, something strange happens when you start shopping for your child.  All of a sudden, you start to think about how cute or how cool the bed needs to be.  You also think about the off-gassing of the materials and the paint choices, colors and materials of the bed frame itself.  It gets even more important when you are talking about the various options for a baby crib set, bedding and all the rest.  These little people are very sensitive at this age.

You can actually get a traditional style of frame and use a futon mattress bed instead of the other.  You just have to ensure that the sizes will match up, of course.  This can be a little tricky unless you measure carefully before hand.  There are many styles of beds that are designed for children that you could use a futon mattress with.

Here is an example of a traditional bunk that you could likely fit a futon mattress on.

Even bunk beds, like the one shown can accommodate a child-sized futon bed.  This is a bit of a contemporary looking bunk, but you could just as easily find a match for a white bunk bed or other painted or unfinished futon bunk beds and frames.  In the end, it really comes down to your tastes and the way you want your child’s room to look.  After they are done playing all day, they just need a comfortable play to rest their little heads.  If you find that the size is right, then you can get that futon mattress bed to be a perfect answer to the sleep equation.

Remember, kids could probably sleep in a sleeping bag on a pile of rocks or sticks and have no problems going to sleep or waking up feeling totally refreshed. This simply isn’t the case with you or I.  But, this doesn’t mean your child doesn’t deserve a really fun room to sleep and grow up in.  I remember my first bed.  It was a twin mattress which was probably a hand-me-down from someone else in the family.  Didn’t bother me one bit.  I slept just fine.  Kids don’t really care about sleeping in single beds or big king size mattresses.  But, think about what we know now compared to then.  The materials that the mattresses are made of now are much healthier overall because many people have found that they are sensitive either to the chemicals or allergens present in the mattresses themselves.

A futon mattress doesn’t necessarily solve this problem because they can contain some of these same harmful or even toxic agents unless you shop carefully.  Luckily, the internet has solved much of this dilemma for us.  Now, you don’t have to pollute the air as much looking for that perfect mattress for your child by driving all over town.  In addition to the comfort of a futon for your child, there are also other benefits.  For example, futon covers come in a variety of designs and patterns that are perfect for a kid’s room.  You can find all sorts of prints from your child’s favorite characters.  This makes certain aspects of making your child’s bed that much easier for you as well.

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