This is a Memorial Day Mattress Sale You Don’t Want to Miss.

If you come into any Urban Sleep Store location between May 18th and 28th we will take hundreds of dollars off the purchase price of any size, 100% certified organic mattress by OMI in honor of Memorial Day. Exactly how much you save on your organic mattress depends on the size you buy.

Here’s the breakdown…

• If you choose any king size Organicpedic mattress by OMI you’ll receive $500.00 off the purchase price.
• If you choose any queen size organic mattress by OMI you’ll receive $400.00 off.
• If your choose any full size organic mattress by OMI you’ll receive $300.00 off.
• Lastly, if you choose any twin size Organicpedic mattress by OMI you’ll receive $200 off.

Why Should You Buy an OMI Mattress During This Memorial Day Mattress Sale?

If you’ve been wanting to purchase an organic mattress, OMI represents the highest in quality and workmanship and literally sets the bar when it comes to purity.

• All Organicpedic mattresses by OMI are made using 100% certified organic materials like cotton, wool and natural latex from sustainable rubber tree forest.
• They are the only mattress manufacturing plant in North America with a certified organic manufacturing process
• All finished mattresses are GREENGUARD certified to be free of chemicals or anything else that may be harmful.
• All OMI organic mattresses come with a 20 year warranty.
• OMI has a purity guarantee that states if you can find a purer organic mattress than theirs, they’ll give you theirs for free.

Why Go to Urban Sleep Store During This Memorial Day Mattress Sale?

Urban Sleep Store understands that Memorial Day is more than just Mattress Sales and commercial discounts. We recognize memorial day as a day of reconciliation. It’s a day that we come together as a nation to honor those who gave the greatest sacrifice to defend our freedom.

With most people these days only associating memorial day with parades and big sales, it’s important to us at Urban Sleep Store that everyone knows we understand that these men and women are the only reason we have the ability to offer you a mattress sale at all.

In simplest terms, honor our fallen heroes this memorial day by giving thanks to the families that made the biggest sacrifice and endured the greatest lost. It’s in their names that we offer you the Memorial Day Mattress Sale at Urban Sleep Store.

Click to Enlarge

That’s right…Urban Sleep Store is expanding and we’re going north. If you live near the San Francisco Bay it’s going to be much easier to get luxurious specialty mattresses from us. We’re adding the finishing touches on our newest location, but while we’re finishing we wanted to take a minute to answer the when and the where of the grand opening because we are getting asked often. We also want to let you know what type of mattress sales will be happening at all Urban Sleep Store‘s during this time.

Where Exactly is Urban Sleep Store Going to be Located?

What’s the Grand Opening Date for Urban Sleep Store in Palo Alto?

Urban Sleep Store plans to open the doors in Palo Alto on May 21st 2012. Yes! That’s right around the corner but don’t hold our feet to the fire. While we are doing everything in our power to be open for the 21st there can always be some circumstance that we don’t have control over. If something changes, we’ll post it on our blog so you will know but as of now May 21st is the date to save for Urban Sleep Store’s Palo Alto grand opening.

What Mattress Sales will be Happening at Urban Sleep Store?

During the grand opening of Urban Sleep Store in Palo Alto we will be offering a number mattress sales. If you’re looking for an organic mattress you can take advantage of the OrganiPedic Memorial Day Mattress Sale. If you’ve been looking into buying a TEMPUR-Pedic mattress, Urban Sleep Store is the only TEMPUR Pedic Mattress retailer in Palo Alto! On top of that, you can take advantage the TEMPUR-Pedic upgrade and save event or the TEMPUR-Pedic Supreme Savings Event. Check the sales below for specific dates and details.

OrganicPedic Memorial Day Mattress Sale

From May 18th through the 28th OMI has authorized Urban Sleep Store to take $500 off the purchase of a king size organic mattress, $400 off the purchase of a queen size organic mattress, $300 off the purchase of a full size organic mattress and $200 off the purchase of a twin size mattress. So come into our Los Gatos location if it’s before the 21st or visit the new Urban Sleep Store in Palo Alto on the 21st or after to take advantage of this awesome organic mattress sale.

TEMPUR-Pedic Upgrade and Save Event

It’s going to be a huge event and Urban Sleep Store wants you to be a part of it. Do you already own a TEMPUR-Pedic mattress? Are you ready for an upgrade? From May 16th through July 8, 2012, you can Upgrade & Save on all Tempur-Pedic mattress sets. During this event, you can save up to $200 on a complete Tempur-Pedic Mattress Set (mattress + foundation or mattress + TEMPUR Ergo Collection base). So come into Urban Sleep Store between May 16th and July 8th to upgrade your TEMPUR-Pedic mattress.

TEMPUR-Pedic Supreme Savings Event

Don’t own a TEMPUR-Pedic but interested in buying one? Beginning May 16th and lasting until July 8th Urban Sleep Store will be honoring the TEMPUR-Pedic Supreme Savings Event. During this mattress sale you can save up to $600 on a TEMPUR-Cloud Supreme Mattress set! Follow this link to see the savings being offered on the TEMPUR-Cloud Supreme during this supreme-savings-event mattress sale. After checking the savings, set a reminder on your smart phone for May 16th and come into an Urban Sleep Store near you.

Urban Sleep Store Would Love to See You in Palo Alto

So there you have it. Our planned grand opening date is currently May 21st, our newest Urban Sleep Store mattress boutique is located at 2951 El Camino Real in Palo Alto between Pepper and Olive right across the street from Palo Alto Square.

Remember, for 10 days in May beginning on the 18th you can save big on organic mattresses by OMI. Also, beginning May 16th, we will be hosting the TEMPUR-Pedic Upgrade and Save mattress sale event as well as the Supreme Savings mattress sale at both Urban Sleep Store locations.

Click to Enlarge

Every Latex Mattress is NOT Created Equal.

Shopping for a latex mattress can often times be a bit overwhelming. Latex mattresses vary greatly in quality – so much so that some aren’t even really latex! Comparing the various models to ensure you get the type of latex bed you’re looking for is essential. Ask a sleep specialist, at Urban Sleep Store in Los Gatos, or simply ask a salesperson at a big box store these 5 questions. It will make shopping for a latex mattress easier and you’ll know what you’re getting in the end.

Question 1: How many inches of latex rubber is in this latex mattress?

This is an important question because sometimes you’ll find that an 11 inch “latex mattress” has only 3 inches of latex in it. The other 8 inches of mattress is filled with foam or other things. On the other hand, there are true latex beds that have 11 inches of mattress with 10 inches of latex. This is a glaring difference that you need to be aware of. Not only will the latter be more structurally sound, more importantly, the difference in benefits from pressure relief will be remarkably substantial.

What You Need to Know: Make sure you know how many inches of actual latex is used in the latex mattress.

Question 2: Is the Latex Mattress Made from Talalay or Dunlop Latex?

With the Dunlop method, the material is combined with something known as centrifuge. Following this, the resulting liquid is then drained into a mold. From there it is put into a big oven and baked, and during this process, the mold basically sinks to the bottom, which ultimately makes it firmer at the bottom then the top.

The Talalay method for latex mattresses simply adds a few steps, because following the pouring of the material; the mold is then sealed and put in a vacuum. Here, 100% of the air in the mold is eliminated, and at this point, the mold is put through something known as flash freezing.

To learn more about the differences in strength, support and longevity between these two types of latex you can read our article here about the difference between Talalay and Dunlop Latex.

What You Need to Know: Decide, before shopping, whether you want a less pure but longer lasting Talalay latex or the Dunlop latex which is a bit heavier because it’s more pure but has a shorter life span.

Question 3: From What Part of the World is the Latex Made?

When purchasing a latex mattress, we are of the opinion that you should buy mattresses with latex that has been made in the USA. Not only to support the purchasing of US products but because the process used to create the latex in the US is superior to most processes around the world.

The primary difference is the amount of proteins left in the latex. In the United States the Talalay latex is rinsed five times to remove these proteins. Talalay Latex made in other parts of the world is rarely rinsed once if rinsed at all so these proteins remain in the latex. These proteins can be harmful for people with latex related allergies so the latex made in the US (that employs the process of washing) leaves minimal potential for sensitization.

What You Need to Know: Make sure the latex used in the mattress is from US made latex.

Question 4: Is it a Natural Latex Mattress or an All Natural Latex Mattress?

The mattress industry has two latex mattress classifications: “Natural” and “All Natural.”

If the latex mattress you are purchasing is “natural” latex that means that its blended to provide the healthy benefits of latex and deliver more comfort, more pressure relief and more durability.

“All Natural” latex is the purer counterpart. If you’re environmentally conscious this may be the option for you. All natural latex is much purer although it tends to be firmer, heavier, more expensive, and less durable.

Question 5: How is the Latex Distributed in the Mattress?

You want the latex in your mattress to be as close to the surface as possible. This ensures the bed will be breathable, mold and mildew proof, dust-mite resistant and pressure relieving.

It’s important to understand the difference between a “latex mattress” and a “mattress with latex in it”. A lot of “latex mattresses” are not latex at all. In fact, they often contain less than 25% latex. Take a look at the white label attached to the mattress. It will tell you the latex content for any brand of mattress. The more latex you have in a latex mattress, the more pressure relief, durability and support it will deliver.

What You Need to Know: How much latex is in this mattress and where it’s located (look at the Law Label).

Pure Latex Bliss Makes a Superior Latex Mattress

This article was an expansion on an article entitled “The Important Questions” on Pure Latex Bliss’ website Blissipedia. Pure Latex Bliss is a wonderfully crafted latex mattress with many options to choose from. Urban Sleep Store is proud to offer the complete line of Pure Latex Bliss Latex Mattresses.

Earth Day Mattress Sale with Urban Sleep Store & OMI April 13th -23rd 2012

Come into Urban Sleep Store between April 13th and April 23rd 2012 for a very special mattress sale. Purchase any size OrganicPedic mattress by OMI and receive FREE organic bedding accessories to go with your new organic bed. Up to $500 worth!

If that’s not enough incentive, Urban Sleep Store is going to sweeten the pot with a very special Extra Bonus Offer !

Here’s How the Earth Day Mattress Sale Works

Mattress Sale Details

• Purchase a King or Queen (mattress or mattress set) and receive five hundred dollars ($500) worth of FREE accessories. Your choice of pillow tops, mattress toppers, comforters and/or pillows.
• Purchase a Full (mattress or mattress set) and receive two (2) FREE wool or cotton pillows.
• Purchase a Twin (mattress or mattress set) and receive one (1) FREE wool or cotton pillow.
• **Does not apply to “in-stock” items, the Sierra, Youth Bed, Hide-a-Bed, or custom orders. Accessories must be ordered at time of mattress purchase. Cannot be combined with any other offers by OMI.

Are You’re an Environmentally Conscious Consumer? This is Your Mattress Sale.

If you were ever going to take advantage of a mattress sale and you are an environmentally conscious consumer, this would be the one. This is not just any mattress sale. 2012 Earth Day is a chance for us to appreciate the earth’s environment and spread awareness of the issues that threaten it’s Eco-system. Currently, Earth Day is observed in 175 countries, and coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network. We can thank Earth Day for the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

An Organic Mattress Sale and Earth Day go hand in hand. So many of the products used to grow conventional mattress materials are employing the use of chemicals and pesticides. When you purchase a mattress during an Earth Day Mattress Sale at Urban Sleep Store you get handcrafted beds that use certified organic cotton, certified organic wool and 100% natural rubber latex from the sap of sustainable rubber tree groves. It’s a great way to support the Earth Day movement and you’ll be lowering health risks in your home by avoiding toxic emissions imposed on you while sleeping on a conventional (chemically laden) mattress.

Here are 10 Additional Way to Support Earth Day

• Plant a Tree
• Spend Time with Nature, Go for a Hike or Bike
• Clean a Neighborhood Park
• Prepare a Meal Thats Earth Friendly
• Improve Your Recycling Efforts
• Unplug Appliances When Not in Use
• Plant a Garden for Yourself or Community
• Switch all Bills to Paperless Billing
• Turn Off Your Cell Phone, Computers and T.V. for the Night
• Pay it Forward

If you don’t think you can benefit from this Earth Day Mattress Sale, up to $500 in organic bedding accessories and an Exclusive EXTRA BONUS Offer from Urban Sleep Store please share this page with some who can by using the links below.

Are you shopping for an organic mattress? Are you overwhelmed with all the terms and phrases used to market the purity of a manufacturers mattress like “green” “natural” and “Eco-friendly”? If so, it’s likely you’ve fallen victim to “green-washing”. In this article, we will talk about what green-washing is and how to safeguard your family against it by learning 9 potentially dangerous words and phrases used in green-washing mattress campaigns.

Green-washing is a term used to indicated that false claims are being made about the purity of a particular organic mattress (or any product) or brand of organic mattresses. They don’t have any real proof of purity, like organic certifications, so they make outrageous claims using terms like the ones we are about to discuss. The sole purpose of these claims are to dupe the consumer (YOU) into believing that the product being advertised is free from harmful chemicals, toxic emissions and safe for your family, home and environment. Sadly, the opposite is true more often than not.

If you are someone who is concerned about the impact conventional mattresses can have on the health of your family, the air quality in your home and pollution level from landfills then you’ll be happy to learn about these 9 potentially dangerous words or phrases.

9 “Green-Washing” Terms and Phrases in the Organic Mattress Market

“Green”

The term “Green” is used everywhere in marketing these days and advertising your mattress as such is no exception. It works well because the term evokes an emotional response in environmentally conscious consumers interested in earth-friendly options. Because there are no regulatory agencies policing this type of thing, manufacturers of products (that are made largely from toxic chemicals) are jumping on the “green” bandwagon because absolutely no proof is required to substantiate their claims of being “green”.

“Natural”

If it’s natural then it must not be artificial…write? Wrong!! This is perhaps the biggest misconception in the Eco industry. This is the most widely used term in green-washing today. When a company wants you to believe that their mattress is chemical free they may say it’s natural. Don’t fall for this ploy. Oil is 100% natural but you don’t want to sleep with it. The bottom line is if it’s not certified organic it’s not organic. This is just another tactic to separate you from your money.

“Chemical-Free”

Since we don’t associate chemicals as something we want to sleep with, using the phrase “chemical-free” sounds really good. The truth is that nothing is chemical-free. Chemicals are the building blocks of life and everything that surrounds us. Advertisers are using the feelings we associated with term chemical free in order to sell you their mattress. Certified organic is the only term you should look for.

“Eco-Friendly”

We see this term slapped on just about anything when a company is trying to convey a sense of environmental consciousness to consumers. The truth is that they don’t want to get too specific about their actual environmental practices so they use broad, all-encompassing, terms like “Eco Friendly” to define their products. However, if you look a little deeper, you’ll usually find that their ecological responsibility is a far cry from being “Eco-Friendly”. Remember, just because it’s in a “green”-themed package doesn’t mean a thing. There is no testing or requirements needed to use this term so manufacturers have no problem taking advantage of it, even if they’re describing mattresses (or other products) known to be chemically laden.

“Green Factory/Organic Mattress Factory”

Just because you see the words “green” or “organic” in a company or factory name doesn’t guarantee that the products coming out of that facility are organic. Oregon Tilth, founder of GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), is an established third party organization. They define the requirements needed for certification of organic textiles. By doing this, they provide assurance to the end consumer that a textile based product, like an organic mattress, has been certified. If the factory you know of is not certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard and they are using a term like this in their name…well…it’s green-washing.

“Healthy”

No mattress on Earth can make you “healthy”. An organic mattress simply gives your body the time it needs to recover from free radicals and pollutants instead of battling dust mite fecal matter and other nasty allergens that build up in conventional mattresses. When your body has a chance to recover completely you wake up feeling better. Still however, the organic mattress isn’t making them more “healthy”…it’s the absence of the stuff in standard mattresses and the ability to recover.

Regardless, advertisers use this term frequently to imply that their mattress will bring about health benefits to the consumer and is therefore a better choice than the competition. Again, no mattress can make you healthy. Your best chance to avoid green-washing is to look at the ingredients for organic mattress certifications.

“Hypoallergenic”

The prefix in this green-washing favorite is “hypo”, which in Greek means less or below. So the term “hypoallergenic” implies that the product in question is less likely to trigger allergic reactions in those who suffer from allergies. The important thing to note is that the term was created in the 60′s by a cosmetic company. It has no medical foundation whatsoever and the are are no regulatory agencies to determine whether or not the product claims are accurate. Always look for organic certifications.

“Untreated”

In the textile industry (cloths, mattresses, etc.), treating something refers to an exterior application of some type of chemical. Green-washing advertisers have a field day with this one because as long as their product, regardless of how chemically laden it may be internally, has not been dyed, coated, or treated with some type of exterior application can bare the term “untreated” and is technically true. Now you can’t be fooled. Look for a certified organic mattress.

“Non-Toxic”

Even a true certified organic mattress manufacturer will not say that their mattress is non-toxic. It may not be made using chemicals and it may not off-gas any VOCs but nothing in the world can be 100% non-toxic. Anything can be toxic if exposure is high enough. Green-washers don’t have any problem using this term when describing their product. Let certifications speak for themselves. Don’t believe the hype.

Is Your Organic Mattress of Choice Truly Organic?

As you can see there are no shortages of terms and phrases that have the potential to be used in an unethical way. We aren’t saying that all organic mattress manufacturers and/or retailers are green-washers id they they are using these terms and phrases. We’re just saying to look for the organic certifications from qualifying third party organizations to ensure you’re protected against fraudulent claims about the purity of your organic mattress.

Click to Enlarge

Serta iComfort or NexGel gel mattresses? Which one is better? It’s no secret that traditional box spring mattresses result in an inferior night’s sleep and that more and more customers are turning to gel mattresses in order to give their REM cycle a boost. But, not all gel mattresses are created equal and you really have to cut through all the “marketing clutter” in order to find out which type of gel serves your slumber better. This can quickly become a confusing task.

While the reasons to upgrade to a gel bed are many, the type of gel mattress you choose can affect your quality of rest. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Why Choose the Serta iComfort or NexGel Mattress over a Spring Mattress?

The consensus opinion on gel beds tends to be one of skepticism. Most people believe that they are only a superior option if you are elderly, have bone or joint problems, or are a restless sleeper. The reality, however, is that a third of all Americans have made the change from springs to gel beds. What’s the big deal?

Springs are designed to meet and brace weight in a central area, pushing against hips, knees and shoulders as they sink into the mesh. This resistance strains joints while you sleep and results in poor blood circulation and stressed limbs.

True gel mattresses, on the other hand, cushion all parts of the body by spreading out the impact of lying down across a network of gel honeycombs. Becasue of the natural design of the honeycomb, the gel support does not push back against your limbs and thus greatly reduces pressure on sensitive areas.

Many companies are jumping on the gel band wagon as they try and profit from the materials benefits. The Serta iComfort is the latest creation combining memory foam and gel together.

Serta iComfort or NexGel, What’s in a Name?

The Serta iComfort is a gel infusion memory foam mattress. NexGel is a true patented honeycombed gel mattress. The memory foam in Serta’s iComfort keeps the contours of your body in place and the gel infusion is supposed to keep the sleeper cooler. While it may sleep cooler than other memory foam mattresses, the problem (we believe) lies in the fact that Serta’s iComfort does not have NexGels’ Ortho-Gel technology which has excellent heat absorption that leaves the sleeper cool and dry.

Memory foam does not have the ventilation needed for air to flow properly and avoid heat from building up. The gel itself may be cool, but the layers that are built upon it (which you will actually sleep on) can overheat quickly. Customers have readily criticized Serta’s iComfort beds for their overheating. The lack of air flow, furthermore, means that it’s far more prone to dust mites and other nasty allergens than NexGels gel mattresses

If Serta iComfort Tends to Sleep Hot, What do NexGel Mattresses Have to Offer?

Gel cushioning technology is quite new. Only a decade and a half ago, the very first inventors laid down a patent for this cushioning in order to help patients get relief from joint, neck, and spine pain. As we stated, the market has seen an explosion of gel beds that seek to capitalize upon a customer base that is fed up with their box spring mattresses.

Unlike a Serta iComfort memory foam gel injection bed, NexGel mattresses use a honeycomb of Ortho-Gel. Ortho-Gel is a solid rubbery material that bends under pressure without returning the same pressure to a single point (as a spring would).

How is the Structure in a NexGel Bed Differ from Serta’s iComfort?

The honeycomb flexes when a person lies upon it and this flexing spreads the load of a body part to hundreds of neighboring cells. Unlike springs, which do not touch one another and share no weight, the cells can transfer weight from a single point all across the bed. Even when you get up, the mattress does not spring back up but slowly returns to its shape.

In contrast, Serta’s iComfort does not have any honeycombs to distribute the weight of the sleeper. They rely on memory foam to do this. Therefore, the gel they infuse into the memory foam may act as a coolant for the memory foam but it isn’t doing much in the way of support. If you like to sleep cool and dry the Serta iComfort may pose some challenges.

What Does a NexGel Bed Feel Like Compared to the Serta iComfort?

The cushioning of the gel beds distributes your body weight throughout the entire span. Your arms and feet weigh less than your torso and legs, so there is less support needed. For heavier-duty sections, where a sleeper puts the most weight down, the support increases. You do not sink, as you do in a Serta iComfort memory foam bed, but rather stay at an even level. A description of the material may be helpful, but for many more people it simply must be felt to be believed.

If you spend too many hours of the night wondering if you’ll fall asleep or if you wake up in the morning feeling like you have just ran half a marathon, changing out a box spring or gel infusion mattress for a true gel bed could be your solution. The Serta iComfort mattress may be a step up on iron springs and memory foam but, in our humble opinion, it’s still nowhere near as effective as a NexGel mattress.

Just come into Urban Sleep Store before this mattress sale is over and claim your money. Don’t need a king or queen size mattress? No problem, you still get $150 gift card with the purchase of an organic full size mattress or $50 for the purchase of a twin size organic mattress by OMI.

Some restrictions do apply so come into Urban Sleep Store today and take full advantage of the coolest mattress sale of 2012! $250 dollars for FREE!

It’s that time of year again and Urban Sleep Store is proud to announce their Presidents Day Mattress Sale will start on the 16th of February 2012. Find huge savings on OMI’s OrganicPedic line of organic mattress. Hurry in, the sale only lasts from February 16th to February 26th.

All customers purchasing a mattress during Urban Sleep Store’s Presidents Day Sale will receive complimentary delivery of their new mattress and recycling of your existing set.

*See Store for Mattress Sale Details.

Presidents Day Mattress Sale with OMI – Save on OrganicPedic Mattresses!

Experience pure organic comfort with OMI’s OrganicPedic Mattresses. Presidential saving on OrganicPedic Mattresses will only be available until Feb 26th so don’t delay.

• $750 off when you Purchase a King Size OrganicPedic Mattress
• Save $500 on Queen
• Save $250 on Twin or Full

In this last article of this series entitled Bay area mattress stores, we are going to compare The Futon Shop and Urban Sleep Store to see which of these two popular mattress retailers offer the best options for an organic mattress in the Bay area.

Buying a suitable mattress is a really important part of getting a good night’s sleep. If you have never had a really comfortable bed, you simply do not know what you are missing when it comes to feeling refreshed and awake in the mornings. However, it can sometimes be hard to determine the best place to start shopping for a mattress and how to compare them.

Based on our experience, we’ve found that our consumers (demographic) look at five basic factors when evaluating and comparing mattresses. These five factors are:

• Mattress brands on offer
• Cost and value
• Manufacturing location
• Suitable organic certification
• Guarantees

Let’s look at each of these factors in order to see how The Futon Shop and Urban Sleep Store Compare. If you are considering one or both of these mattress stores as a possibility then hopefully this article will shed some light on your questions and you will have a better idea about where to begin.

Mattress Brands On Offer at The Futon Shop

When you are trying to find the very best mattress for your needs, it is vitally important that you have a great choice of brands. Since different brands inevitably offer different advantages and disadvantages, it is important to have some good variety on offer. One of the main advantages of Urban Sleep Store is the presence of a number of different brands. Moreover, each brand has a series of mattresses to choose from.

By comparison, The Futon Shop offers only a single brand of premium futon sofa beds, organic futons, futon mattresses, covers and organic bedding. While several options are available (soft, medium, firm etc.), the limitations of a single brand and the fact that these mattresses are for Futons are key to why many people prefer Urban Sleep Store when looking for an organic mattress. More choice means that you are more likely to find a design that fits you and your body perfectly.

Cost And Value of Mattress Offered by The Futon Shop

It is always important to be careful when considering the cost and value of organic mattresses. Most mattresses that are claiming to be organic are made using some organic materials but the manufacturing process and finished product are not certified organic. The assurance that your mattress not only uses 100% certified organic materials but is also manufactured using certified organic methods and then tested for purity as a finished product will inevitably have an effect on the price. Conventional wisdom says you get what you pay for.

The Futon Shop, for example, offers a variety of futon mattresses that range from $269 up to $1450 that are made using certified organic cotton and wool. However, if you don’t own a futon this isn’t going to work for you.

On the other hand Urban Sleep Store offers a variety of mattresses that range from those that use some organic materials to those that go through a triple level organic certification process. The mattresses at Urban Sleep Store range from $899 to $10,000 so from the extensive range on offer, you can be sure to find a model that suits both your back and your budget.

Where does the Futon Shop Manufacture Their Mattresses?

If you are at all concerned about the environment then it is very important to consider the location where your mattresses are manufactured. One of the major problems facing the world today is that the proliferation of outsourcing has resulted in massive environmental overheads in the form of transportation emissions.

Thankfully, the organic mattresses from each of these Bay area mattress stores are made right in California, very close to their points of sale. Coupled with the organic certifications, this results in a very low carbon footprint therefor creating the most environmentally-friendly situation possible. You can sleep even more easily when you know that the making of your mattress did not harm the environment in any way.

Does The Futon Shop Have Suitable Organic Certifications?

Although many companies are now jumping on the “organic” bandwagon, you do need to be careful who you trust. Many of these companies do not possess true organic certifications, which means they can not be relied upon to provide truly organic mattresses.

While The Futon Shop does employ the use of U.S. grown, certified organic cotton and wool in their handmade mattress manufacturing, their manufacturing plant and the finished product have not been certified organic.

On the other hand, the Organicpedic mattresses by OMI offered at Urban Sleep Store have all completed the triple level certification process. In fact, the plant that manufactured these mattresses is the only mattress manufacturing plant in North America that has been certified organic. The plant is so strict that it’s employees may not wear perfumes, smoke at the plant or use fabric softeners in their clothing to ensure that they don’t contaminate the factory with chemicals.

Moreover, the OMI organic mattresses at Urban Sleep Store come with an organic purity guarantee. It states that if you can find a purer organic mattress than what they offer, they will give you theirs for free. That shows absolute confidence in their product and that’s why Urban Sleep Store is proud to offer their organic mattresses to you.

As it happens, both The Futon Shop and Urban Sleep Store provide non-organic models should you be on a stricter budget.

Guarantees Offered at The Futon Shop

It’s vital to get a good guarantee with your organic mattress. Since your bedding is expected to last years and even decades, it is important to be sure that it can be replaced if something goes wrong. Realistically, most mattresses are entirely dependable, but occasionally a manufacturing fault might raise its head, and it is always worth being prepared.

The Futon Shop offers a 3 day exchange policy, which seems a little shy and is a bit different than the guarantee offered at Urban Sleep Store. We’re not sure why it’s so short but Urban Sleep Store offers a 90 day comfort guarantee that allows you to sleep on your new mattress for a full 3 months and if you’re not satisfied they will arrange for pick up of your old mattress and delivery of the mattress your exchanging it for.

Warranties

As far as warranties go, The Futon Shop offers a seven-year warranty on all futon mattresses. While this is by no means a poor time period, it does rather pale in comparison to the warranties available with some of the brands on offer at Urban Sleep Store. The Natura organic range as well as OMI’s line of organic mattresses both come with twenty-year warranties which really helps to justify the price point.

Conclusion

On many points, the organic mattresses available from each Bay area mattress stores are similar. They use certified organic raw materials (level 1 of a triple level certification process), they are reasonably priced and are all manufactured in California.

There are a couple of things, however, that stand out in Urban Sleep Store’s favor. First, the greater range of brands on offer is important because it provides more options in terms of both comfort and price. Second, the longer guarantees from Urban Sleep Store are very reassuring, providing peace of mind that your investment in a healthy mattress alternative will last for decades to come.

This is the 7th article in this series of articles and it compares The Natural Mattress Store to Urban Sleep Store. Every shopper wants value for her hard-earned money and one of the first rules of smart shopping is comparing the products on offer to find the best deal.

If you live in the San Jose or the surrounding Bay Area and want to buy the best organic mattress that is suited for your needs and well within your budget, all you need to do is go through the articles listed in this Bay Area Mattress Stores series. You’ll find comparisons of 8 stores with detailed information on various types of organic mattress stores in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay and how they compare to Urban Sleep Store.

In order to offer you pertinent information, we’ve decided to compare these stores based on five factors that we find are most important to you based on repeated inquiries. These factors are…

• Brands that are sold
• The price range of the mattresses
• Organic mattress options available
• Mattress manufacturing locations
• The guarantees/return policy offered

The sole aim of this article is to offer objective and valuable information to potential customers so that they can save the legwork and compare the organic mattresses available at these stores from the comfort of their home in order to make a sound purchasing decision.

Brands Carried by the Natural Mattress Store

The Natural Mattress Store prides itself on selling its exclusive in-house line of organic mattresses retailed under the Eco-Cloud brand. Each Eco Cloud mattress is made of the “best quality materials” inside and out and categorized under various collections depending on the materials and comfort level offered.

You can select from its Tranquility range of all-natural Dunlop process latex mattresses or Clarity range of organic mattresses that are made of 100% natural Talalay process latex. It offers seven other choices of organic mattresses under the Eco-Cloud brand, which come with varying level of firmness to suit diverse needs. The store also carries full line of Keetsa mattresses.

In comparison, Urban Sleep Store carries five lines of mattresses that encompass a wide range of product choice including 100% natural latex mattresses, certified organic mattresses as well as TEMPUR-pedic mattresses that is the top selling mattress in the USA. Its OrganicPedic line of mattresses by OMI is in high demand and, like the other lines retailed by Urban Sleep Store, offers several collections to choose from.

When shopping for a mattress, especially an organic mattress, it’s best to have a wide range of options. The range of brands, each with their own collections, at Urban Sleep Store offers more choice for the consumers than the one brand offered at The Natural Sleep Store.

Moreover, we feel that a mattress store that offers it’s own brand is going to always recommend that brand even if another mattress may be better suited to your needs. We aren’t saying that this is the case with The Natural Mattress Store but it’s something you should keep in mind as you shop around.

The Price Range of Mattresses at The Natural Mattress Store

The Awareness collection is a 9 inch natural latex mattress from the Eco-Cloud brand offered at The Natural Mattress Store. You can get the King or Cal King size for around $3200. The same quality mattress can be bought at the Urban Sleep Store.

Urban Sleep Store stocks mattresses in the price range from $899 to $9995 to suit every pocket without compromising on the quality of materials or comfort levels offered. Plus, most mattresses offered at Urban Sleep Store, especially our organic mattress lines, come with a 20 year warranty in contrast to the 12 year warranty available on the Eco-Cloud brand of mattresses.

While we all know that specialty and organic mattresses will warrant a higher price than conventional mattress, a twenty year warranty offers a huge amount of justification for investing in this level of quality.

Does The Natural Mattress Store Carry Certified Organic Mattresses?

This is a big question in light of the fact that The Natural Mattress Store claims to “offer the widest selection of premium organic mattresses nationwide”. While this Bay Area mattress store says the wool, cotton and latex used in their mattresses are certified, we can’t find any certifications on their website to back this up.

Update! The Natural Mattress Store has contacted Urban Sleep Store and provided proof of organic certification for the materials used to manufacture their mattresses. We are happy to relay this information to the public via this article and apologize the The Natural Mattress Store for any misunderstanding. We do recommend the the Natural Mattress Store make these certifications readily available for those inquiring about their mattresses purity.

Even though the materials used by the Natural Mattress Store are found to be certified organic the finished product and the manufacturing process aren’t. So, in our opinion, The Natural Mattress Store, does NOT carry the purist certified organic mattress on the market. Conversely, the Organicpedic mattresses retailed at the Urban Sleep Store all go through a triple level certification process to ensure the purity of the mattress for our consumers.

First, the store has four organic certifications for the raw materials used which are cotton, cotton fabric and thread, wool and 100% natural latex (natural latex is Oeko-Tex certified to be free of chemicals and other harmful substances). Next, is its manufacturing plant which is the first (and currently the only) factory in the United States to meet the Global Organic Textiles Standards (GOTS) and it’s located in the US just a couple of hours from Urban Sleep Store. Last, but most important, is the organic certification of the finished mattress by GREENGUARD and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). This is to ensure that no cross contamination of the organic materials has occurred (typical in non organic manufacturing plants) and that the finished product is pure and safe for the consumers.

As if the triple level certification process was not enough, Urban Sleep Stores Organicpedic mattresses come with OMI’s purity guarantee which is the ultimate guarantee of purity that you can get.

Where are The Natural Mattress Store Mattresses Manufactured?

The Natural Mattress Store’s Eco-Cloud mattresses are manufactured in its factory in California just like Urban Sleep Stores line of organic mattresses in Northern California. If carbon footprints are a concern of yours then you will be happy with the manufacturing location of both of these Bay Area mattress stores.

What Type of Guarantee Does The Natural Mattress Store Offer?

All the organic mattresses sold at The Natural Mattress Store come with 90-day comfort guarantee. If you are unsatisfied within 90 days the Natural Mattress Store will come out to your house and change out the layer of latex or springs in their mattresses to better meet the firmness level you prefer. Though you will not have to pay for the new latex or spring exchange (you can exchange an unlimited amount of times) you will have to bear a nominal delivery fee for the service call.

On the other hand, Urban Sleep Store offers a 90-day comfort guarantee with all its products. This means that the customer has a full 3 months to try their mattress and if they aren’t satisfied Urban Sleep Store will arrange for pick up and delivery of the mattress you feel suits you best.

It’s important to note that Urban Sleep Store has a very low return rate due to the fact that you deal with real sleep experts and not just mattress salesmen and women. Moreover, since you can’t really get a true feeling for a mattress in only 15 minutes, on Mondays you can set up an appointment with Urban Sleep Store for an extended test period in a private room. This allows you (and your partner) to test the mattress for an extended period of time prior to making your final decision.

We feel our approach of listening to the consumers and paying attention to her unique sleep habits, age group and other defining sleep factors is a better approach to “fitting” someone for a mattress than offering an unlimited amount of exchanges.

To Sum Up the Comparison Between Urban Sleep Store and The Natural Mattress Store

We feel that Urban Sleep Store outscores The Natural Mattress Store for the following reasons.

• We truly offer the largest collection of 100% certified (from raw product to finished good) organic mattresses.
• We feel we offer a more logical, hassle free approach to returns.
• You get a 20 year warranty on our organic mattress line (OMI’s OrganicPedic Mattresses)
• OMI’s purity guarantee that states if you can prove another mattress is purer than theirs they’ll give you theirs for free.

We feel The Natural Mattress Store sells great mattresses. They are far more natural than unhealthy conventional mattresses, and now that they’ve shown us the organic certification for the materials they use we can say the materials are organic. However, unlike the organic mattress line at Urban Sleep Store, the manufacturing process and finished product are not certified as of yet.

Both Bay Area mattress stores offer safer and healthier options than traditional, big box mattress stores. It’s our belief that Urban Sleep Store outshines The Natural Mattress Store in many respects as we stated in this article… but it’s your choice now. Go visit Urban Sleep Store and The Natural Mattress store and see what YOU think.