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Frequently Asked Questions


ABOUT FURNITURE TOXINS

What kind of toxins are in commercially manufactured furniture?

Here are the dangerous toxins, chemicals, and compounds your furniture may have in its glues, finishes, fills and fabrics: Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Benzene, Vinyl Acetate, Hexabromocyclododecane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Trichloroethylene, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, Phthalates, and Perchloroethylene. These chemicals and compounds are toxic and can result in off-gassing into the air you breathe. They can cause everything from eye- and skin-irritation to nausea to dizziness and headaches. Long-term exposure can result in various kinds of cancers. What’s the solution? Buy 100% organic and chemical-free furniture – from us. We are uncompromising in selecting healthy furniture for you. And our products are colorful, beautiful, stylish, and long-lasting.


ORGANIC MATTRESSES, INC. (OMI)

What is the difference between an organic mattress and a mainstream mattress?

Organic mattresses are derived from natural materials. Conventional mattresses are made primarily of man-made materials derived from nonrenewable resources such as natural gas and petrochemicals.

What are the natural materials used in OMI organic mattresses?

The materials used in our organic mattresses are as follows: Cruelty-free Eco-Wool™, certified organic cotton and 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and 100% GOLS-certified natural rubber latex—all renewable, biodegradable resources. These natural materials are grown, processed, and manufactured without toxic chemicals.

What is Cruelty-free Certified Eco Wool?

OMI's organic Eco-Wool™ is certified cruelty-free and is humanely shorn from free-grazed, hormone-free, homeopathically raised California sheep that roam in pesticide-free meadows. Wool is a natural body temperature regulator, helping you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. OMI's signature quilted cover uses wool as the batting because it is naturally flame resistant allowing OMI to meet all federal flammability standards without the use of chemical fire retardants.

Do organic mattresses come in different firmnesses, and do they have innersprings?

There are two main types of organic mattresses: Natural rubber, which is metal free, and innerspring. Both styles are available with different firmness options.

How is an OMI organic mattress made?

Every mattress is made by hand by expert artisans, using the purest raw materials available in our 100%-organic mattress factory, built solely to manufacture organic products.

What is the difference between natural rubber latex and the latex used in other mattresses?

Our natural rubber latex is 100% pure. Other companies use synthetic latex or a blend of natural rubber latex and synthetic materials.

If organic mattresses don't have flame retardants, are they safe from fire?

OMI's mattresses have been tested at an independent testing facility. They meet both federal and California open-flame standards using only our Eco-Wool™, without the use of chemical flame retardants, suspected to be health and environmental hazards.

Can a new organic mattress be placed on an old box spring?

A foundation is meant to support a mattress, and using an old box-spring foundation under an innerspring mattress will affect the comfort of the mattress and shorten its life. Our natural rubber mattresses are intended to be placed on a wood-slat foundation or platform slat bed. Additionally, an old box spring may harbor such undesirables as dust mites; placing a new mattress on an old box spring will cause the new mattress to become contaminated.

How long will my organic mattress last?

Our mattresses are backed by an industry-leading 20-year limited warranty. Please contact us for a copy.

What sizes do organic mattresses come in?

We offer mattresses from crib size to Eastern or California King, we can even make many custom sized natural rubber mattresses and pet beds.

Are OMI's organic top-of-bed products also made with organic materials?

Yes! Our pillows, mattress pads, and comforters are made with the same organic materials we use in our mattresses.

Where does OMI source their materials?

OMI sources raw materials in the United States to support American farmers, workers, and industry, as well as to avoid any potential contamination from foreign-based impurities and fumigants that are applied to all imported materials.

Why doesn't OMI use machine-washable wool?

Almost all anti-felting (getting wool not to felt or shrink) is accomplished today using what is known as the Chlorine-Hercosett process. This method is believed to cause individual health risks and environmental degradation. Click here to read the full report.

Can you tell me more about OMI?

OMI is the first large-scale 100%-organic mattress factory in North America, built solely to manufacture organic products. OMI maintains a 100%-dedicated organic manufacturing facility, using a "clean-room" concept of cleanliness. OMI's OrganicPedic® mattresses meet the stringent criteria of the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) for low VOC emissions, and are the first to qualify for LEED credits. Oregon Tilth (OTCO) certifies OMI's fabric to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Even the thread OMI uses is GOTS-certified. OMI is the first mattress factory in North America to meet the Global Organic Textile Standard.


BEDDING, SHEETS, HYPO-ALLERGENIC DOWN COMFORTERS AND PILLOWS

What is the difference between a comforter and a duvet insert?

In the U.S. the terms are often used interchangeably. You will see that we use the term "comforter" most often when describing our product line because it is the term most frequently used in the United States. A duvet cover decorates and protects the duvet insert.

What size comforter should I buy?

If you plan to use a duvet cover you already own, be sure to purchase a comforter that will fit the duvet cover properly. The comforter (duvet) should be the same size, or slightly larger than your duvet cover. You can use a comforter up to 2-inches larger with no problem. If the comforter is smaller than the duvet cover it will move around inside the cover. If you are not fitting a current duvet cover then you want to take into consideration how much you want the comforter to overhang on each side of the bed. Once you purchase your comforter you will then want to follow the guidelines stated above for purchasing your duvet cover. Take into consideration the mattress width, depth and bed height when making this decision. The measurement for each comforter style is available when you view product details.

How often should I wash/clean my down comforter?

We strongly recommend that you protect the investment you have made in a down comforter by using a duvet cover. The duvet cover can be removed frequently for laundering without the need to launder the down comforter. If the comforter remains clean and dry, we recommend professionally laundering your down comforter 1-2 times per year.

Are your down and feathers hypo-allergenic?

Yes. Our Snow White Down is washed and processed using the DownGuard™ method. This process thoroughly cleans and sterilizes the down and feathers. We do, however, realize that allergies come in varying degrees of sensitivity and recommend that individuals with extreme sensitivities to down and feathers consider our organic wool option.

Are your products made in the USA?

Our products filled with down are made in our manufacturer's facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If you have a question about a specific product, feel free to email or call us.

Where do you get your down and feathers?

Our domestic Snow White Down is a product of the USA. It is a by-product of the farming operation of our manufacturer's parent company. The ducks are raised for the food industry, not for the feathers, so you can rest assured that our materials are not harvested from live ducks and geese. The use of the feathers is a great example of "up-cycling"—taking something that is a by-product of one process and using it in a beneficial, eco-friendly manner in another process. Our manufacturer purchases their goose fill material from both European and Asian sources.

What is fill power?

Fill power is a numerical designation for the volume one ounce of down occupies. The higher the value the more volume the one ounce will occupy. Fill power also provides an index for determining the lofting, insulation properties and quality of the down.

What is the difference between down and feathers?

Feathers are the plumage found on the outside of waterfowl; they have a two-dimensional quality with a shaft running vertically through the feather. The contoured shape of feathers provides a supportive quality which makes them appropriate for use in sleeping pillows, decorative pillow inserts and feather beds. They are generally not used for insulating purposes.

Down Clusters, often simply referred to as down, are the three-dimensional plumage found under the belly feathers of ducks and geese. They are nature's finest insulation, allowing waterfowl to remain warm even in the most frigid environments. Down clusters have a center core with fibers extending outward from the core, but unlike feathers there is no spine. The three-dimensional quality traps air and maintains warmth without a great deal of weight. Down is also very breathable and allows moisture to evaporate quickly.

Comforter construction provides the performance features and aesthetic appearance of a comforter. Sewn-Thru Boxstitch construction features end-to-end closed boxes that are stitched closed to prevent shifting of the fill material. The box shape is more visible because the top and bottom layers of fabric are sewn together. Box sizes offered include 8, 10 and 12". All our down comforters are stitched edge-to-edge and are finished using double-needle stitching and cording for enhanced durability.

What kinds of dyes are best for people with chemical sensitivities?

There are two kinds of cotton dyes: pigment dyes and reactive dyes. Pigment dyeing is the process by which color is held onto the surface of the fabric by a binding agent. Reactive dyeing is the formulation of a chemical bond between the cotton fibers and the color.

Most of our vendors use low-impact, fiber-reactive dyeing in their fabric products. These dyes are very safe, GOTS certified and "low impact," which means that less water and less heat are used and less wastewater runoff is produced than regular chemical dyeing processes. Recent advances have created fiber-reactive dyes with colors that are brighter and richer than previously available, and they provide excellent colorfast properties on cotton. Fiber-reactive dyes have become the dye choice for many organic clothing manufacturers who want to offer a diverse palette of vibrant colors. They contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances, and they meet all European Union criteria for eco-friendly pigments.

Unfortunately, the actual dyes in almost all low-impact fiber-reactive dyes are still petro-chemical based. Depending upon the nature and degree of their chemical sensitivities, people with mild chemical sensitivities can often wear organic clothing made with fiber-reactive dyes. Un-dyed, natural color or color-grown fabrics are the best choice for people who react to fiber-reactive dyes or who want only 100% natural, virgin fabrics on their skin. (Courtesy: Coyuchi)


MISCELLANEOUS FAQs

What is LEED?

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is redefining the way we think about the places where we live, work and learn. As an internationally recognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED is a green building tool that addresses the entire building lifecycle, recognizing best-in-class building strategies. LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types—commercial, residential and entire neighborhood communities, and works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, and significant retrofit. At its core, LEED is a program that provides third-party verification of green buildings. Building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for the project.

What is OTCO?

Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) is an internationally recognized symbol of organic integrity. OTCO provides a system that combines strict production standards, on-site inspections, and legally binding contracts to protect the producers and buyers of organic products.

In the News

• Green Sleep: Mattress Matters »
• Dyes and Chemical Sensitivities »
• Phthalate Concerns for Pregnant Women »
• Wool vs. Synthetic Fire Test »
• Bau-biologie: Building-Biology & Ecology »

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Eco-Terric
323 Pine Street, Suite A
Sausalito, CA 94965
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