Safest Mattress for MCS

January 29, 2018 by Debra Lynn Dadd

Looking at the questions that come into this Q&A, one of the most frequent is from people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) looking for a safe mattress. Even the most natural materials are not tolerated for one reason or another. Not because the materials are toxic, but because of individual sensitivities.

When I first learned of of MCS—forty years ago now—there were no natural mattresses.

I got a metal cot, tossed the mattress and put a pile of cotton thermal blankets on top. It worked perfectly.

Today I got a call from a reader who wanted to know more about exactly what I did. And while talking I had an idea.

Today I am thinking that the best and safest “mattress” for someone who is sensitive to virtually all raw materials would be to take a zippered mattress cover of the desired size and stuff it with cotton blankets and towels. This way the entire mattress could be taken apart and aired and washed as needed.

This might not bee the most plush mattress available and it might be lumpy, but it should be tolerable.

All materials should be pre-washed.

I would roll up the blankets or towels and then stuff the rolls in the case.

I’ve done this to make pillows in hotel rooms and I am always happy with the results. A mattress is the same idea, only larger.

If any of you try this, please comment and let us know how it went.

Also if you’ve done anything else unusual like this to make something to sleep on that you can tolerate, please let us know that too.

Hammocks come to mind as well.