Question from hanahmeg
I’ve been looking for new bedding for our new king size bed. Obviously it is not cheap, especially for organics. Is it possible that over time, and plenty of washing, that non-organic bedding could lose it’s harmful toxins? We purchased a bio-green (not organic, but non toxic) memory foam bed, and would like to keep everything non toxic, but also I am on a budget. Are there any bedding brands that maybe are not organic, but are at least low on harmful toxin levels?
Debra’s Answer
Nonorganic cotton sheets do not contain residues of pesticides. They are removed during processing.
However, nonorganic cotton sheets that have permanent press finishes emit formaldehyde. So you want to get plain cotton percale sheets, cotton flannel, or cotton jersey sheets.
I am looking for a non-toxic quilted bedspread that does not contain questionable imported fabrics or stuffing. I cannot find a pretty quilted floral bedspread (not comforter, not duvet, not coverlet) anywhere. It is even hard to find a bedspread of any kind that one can be certain is not treated with chemicals of some kind.
A few years ago on the Internet there were some staid non-toxic New England style chenille bedspreads, but even these are hard to find now. ( I may have to resort to this type of bedspread if I can find it although it is not a type I particularly like.)
Can you suggest a source where I might find a bedspread I am looking for? Does even quilted, floral yardage exist that perhaps could be made into a bedspread? (I assume that would be quite expensive to do.)
I would appreciate some guidance. Thank you.
Take a look at this page at Vermont Country Store. Most, if not all, of these bedspreads are 100% cotton.
Hi Debra. Are Vermont Country Store’s cotton items not treated? I didn’t see that stated, and some items say “no iron”, which often means a toxic finish has been applied. Also, if there is cotton batting inside a quilted item, isn’t there a danger of pesticide residue because batting is not highly processed, like fabric?
I have also looked for cotton quilted bedspreads (like we had when I was a kid) and they are so hard to find I decided to go with with eco wool comforters and organic cotton duvet covers. Another option I’ve considered are vintage quilts, but they are usually considerably smaller than bedspreads. Thanks!
When shopping in places like Vermont Country Store, which have some hand-to-find items, but are not dedicated toxic-free, we have to pick and choose. I didn’t intend to give the impression that all the items on the pages were acceptable, only that cotton bedspreads do exist.
You are correct in everything you stated. I wouldn’t expect them to state that items are “untreated” but they should state if they are permanent press.
Taking another look at the list, here are some items that I think would be OK.
First, any of the “chemille” bedspreads would be OK. It’s just a cotton fabric with cotton “fuzz” used to make a pattern. These wouldn’t be treated with a no-iron finish, but again, if they were it should say so.
Then the second bedspread on the page is woven in Portugal. It’s a thick woven cotton. Again, that type of cotton wouldn’t be treated.
The fourth item “rib-cord” is corduroy, which also isn’t treated.
Without going through every bedspread one by one, the seersucker spreads are also not treated, many of them are knit which are not treated…
I didn’t read every one, but there are a few that are clearly not cotton. One says cotton/poly, the quilts have microfiber backing, so I wouldn’t get those. But for the most part, these bedspreads are acceptable, though not ideal.
I personally don’t have a bedspread on my bed. I just have a cotton flannel sheet in the summer, and a comforter in the winter with wool blankets on top.
But if someone wants a natural fiber bedspread, they exist.