Creating a Low- Tox Sleep Sanctuary
Truth: My bedroom was not always 100% low-tox.
I purchased my first organic mattress for myself nine years ago, 5 years after I got one for my first born!
I had an upholstered bed with flame retardants and, likely, PFAS for years before realizing these chemicals had been used.
In the last 10 years, I realized that one of the most important spaces in our home is our bedroom. We spend an average of a third of our lives there, sleeping, our body recuperating and detoxify. Our bedroom, it turns out, is probably THE most important room to “detox”.
So, slowly, I started to detox my room. Here is what I did and the order I did it in:
️TIP: Focus on the items that are closest to you when you sleep & largest in size.
Note: for kids I do recommend starting with an Organic mattress followed by a solid wood or zero emitting bed/ crib frame from Day 1. The reason that I am stricter with children is that they sleep much longer than adults do and because of their small size they are more vulnerable to toxins
1. Pillows:
I love my Avocado mattress green pillow. You can customize how much or how little insert you have as it comes with a lot of insert!
Other Pillows we have at home are from:
Shephards Dream ( i have a full pillow review of all my family pillows here)
2. Bedsheets, mattress protectors and duvets
Bedsheets: Early on this was a switch I felt comfortable making. I invested in Coyuchi GOTS certified bedsheets, Then recently I came across Aziome: and I am obsessed. Why I like it: Recently I began digging deeper into dyes used in fabrics and realizing that beyond buying organic, choosing items that are not dyed or that use natural dyes without the need for chemical mordants is actually ideal. Sleeping on bed sheets that do not contain toxins like formaldehyde, petrochemicals, ado dyes, disperse dyes, plastics, quinoline dyes…. all things that can accumulate and lead to allergic reactions and more … makes sense to me. Our bodies detoxify while we sleep and sleeping in a truly non-toxic environment is important. Are these expensive? Yes….. but I also don’t believe you need 5 pairs of bed sheets. I rather have one or two that are better quality . Is this the #1 switch to make in the bedroom? No- I would start with the mattress, but our skin is in contact with our bedsheets for multiple hours a day and yes we can absorb toxins through our skin. Finally I love that their indigo dye has been prooven to not only be non toxic but naturally antibacterial and shown to help with sensitive excess prone skin
Mattress protectors:
We have Avocado mattress and Naturepedic
Duvet cover ( white) from Under the Canopy and Coyuchi
Duvet insert from Simply Organic Bamboo code: AIDASPICKS for 25% off
PS. my Organic Clothing Guide has a bonus section with my favorite GOTS certified options for bedding!
3. Non-toxic paint
If you are painting the walls make sure the paint is zero or very low voc, zero APE and contains no antimicrobials. If you are using wallpaper look to my nursery reveal post which has details on what to choose.If you are using decorative decalls avoid those made with pvc.
My choice
Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec 500
Other great options:
ECOS
MILKPAINT
AFM Safecoat
4. Natural latex topper:
when a new mattress was not in my budget I started with an organic natural latex topper. This helps create a bit of space between you and the PU foam and toxins in your conventional bed, therefore reducing your exposure levels a bit. It also makes any bed very very comfortable.
My Green Mattress: https://my-green-mattress.pxf.io/oq9mkO
5. Low-Tox Rug
Many Conventional rugs will emit: formaldehyde, PFAS, heavy metals , phthalates & more.
In my bedroom I have a wool rug without any backing, adhesives, PFAS, flame retardants etc. In my kid’s bedrooms we chose an organic certified rug from Organic Weave (discount code: 3LITTLEPLUMS for 10% off ). I also love Rugsbyroo they sell both Organic Weave & other (more affordable but low tox ) rugs: Discount code ‘PLUMS15 for 15% off!
You can read more on low-tox rugs in my full blog post on rugs
6. PFAS free and polyester free window treatments
Most window treatments are made of PVC, which will emit plasticizers, VOCs and even lead. Most will also contain PFAS chemicals. Try to source natural fiber materials (cotton, canvas, linen, hemp etc) that are free from PFAS, flame retardants and PVC.
My Organic Clothing Guide has a bonus section with my favorite options for organic window treatments!
My window treatments are custom made using linen and polyester backing for blackout. Two Sisters Eco Textiles have a great variety of organic fabric for window treatments
7. Placing cel phone away from bed
This is the first thing you can do to “detox’ your sleeping space- its simple and free and can actually also help you sleep deeper and better! It took me longer to implement because I hadn’t taken a deep dive into EMFs until a few years into my low tox living journey (15 years ago when I started there still was not a lot of talk about EMFs). Basically, a charging cel phone will emit two types of EMFs : radiofrequency energy and electric fields. Best to avoid sleeping next to a charging mobile phone. In fact anything that is plugged in should be 6-8 feet away from your bed. (charge your phone in the bathroom or in your closet). This includes: chargers, lamps, alarm clocks, no electric blankets, no heating pads, humidifiers, etc(from wifithe more distance you place between your cel phpne and yourself the lower the EMF emissions.
8. Organic mattress
This is a big one. The first big low tax living purchase you should consider - especially for kids. I do know that budget can be a constraint ( as it was for me) so when you are ready- buy one!
I absolutely love mine: My Green Mattress
Other good alternatives: naturepedic
9. Lower -tox bed frame
Again, due to the proximity to a sleeping human, and the size (large), this is an important item to consider. For me, due to budget, it took me longer to replace ( again, for my daughter’s crib and my boy’s beds, I did make it a priority and they got a solid wood bed frame from Day 1) . The reason this is important : Composite wood can emit formaldehyde. Upholstery can emit flame retardants, vocs & pfas chemicals. Metal could be an issue with magnifying EMF. Solid wood or an upholstered bedframe with natural latex inserts and PFAS free fabric is an ideal choice
I have: Medley Bramo Bed with Headboard padded with soft wool and natural latex foam f(instead of PU foam), frames are constructed with a blend of solid wood and formaldehyde-free PureBond® hardwood plywood and PFAS free, plastic free upholstery
My boys have a solid wood twin bed frame from Room and Board but sadly it is no longer available.
Other companies to consider:
Nico and Yeye (floor bed model and not floor)
My Green Mattress (have a basic wooden bedframe model)
Romina
Thuma
Ecobalanza
Kalon Studios
Purveyer15
10. Nightstands/ dressers/ desks:
The ideal is solid wood but if you choose composite wood let it off gas before bringing indoors
We chose a solid wood side table for my son’s nightstand… but I cant remember where I bought it!!! Will post in the future! For my room we choose solid wood nightstands from Medley
11. Throw Blankets/ Cozy Blankets
Simply organic bamboo PLUSH throw (63”x51”): DISCOUNT CODE: AIDASPICKS $130 (without discount)
If you want that fluffy feel this is your best option. It is made entirely from their non toxic viscose, made from organically grown bamboo (75%) and recycled water bottles (25%) . It is also OEKO TEX certified
SIMPLY ORGANIC BAMBOO knitted throw (63” x 51”): DISCOUNT CODE: AIDASPICKS
Not as fluffy as the other model, this knitted blanket is soft. It is Oeko Tex Certified and made with 100% viscose from organically grown bamboo.
Aizome Regenerative Blanket (50”x 70”) I love everything Aizome produces because it is all truly plastic and harmful chemical free. They take everything to the next level of purity. Recommend this for everyone but especially for anyone with sensitive skin. Made from 100% regenerative organic undid cotton
AU Baby (55”x 70”) : A favorite of mine for my baby, and they just recently launched an adult sized version! For baby they have Merino wool blankets and cashmere blankets, for adults they have a larger merino wool option. ALL their blankets are made with GOTS and OEKO TEX certified materials and 100% plant dyed
Baby blankets start at $160
Adult blankets start at $330
* FSA/ HSA eligible
Avocado: limited edition merino wool, cashmere, organic cotton, and recycled cotton throws. Some are out of stock, but their merino wool and cashmere ones are available. Starts at $314
Saavy Rest: What I love about this company’s organic cotton blankets is that they come in different sizes, are undyed and are made in the US.
King/Cal King – 110″ x 90″ $189
Full/Queen: 90″ x 90″ $169
Twin/TXL: 70″ x 90″ $139
Throw: 42″ x 42″ - $89
A note on Closets:
If installing a new closet inside a bedroom i would reconsider composite wood bc of the levels of formaldehyde it will emit. Metal is a better option. My kids closets ( not pictured) are from ikea Boaxel. Container store Elfa is a similar option
Remember: you do not have to make all of these changes at once!
Some things you can incorporate today that can help reduce your exposure to toxins are:
Open windows daily to allow fresh air in and toxins out
Clean/dust often since most toxins migrate to dust (this is my current HEPA vacuum of choice for reducing dust in the bedroom and entire home)
Avoid electronics in bedrooms like tvs since these all contain flame retardant chemicals
Use an air filter at night if you have one