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Non-Toxic Bedding

Most people drift off to sleep each night in a cloud of plastic and chemicals. Our mattresses are made of polyurethane foam that has been treated with fire retardants. Over this we stretch polyester mattress pads, then sheets (which also may have a polyester blend) treated with formaldehyde for a permanent press finish. Our heads rest on pillows of spun polyester. Our blankets may be acrylic, or perhaps electric, generating an electromagnetic field across our bodies.

Whether it be clothing or home furnishings, the solution is the same: a return to natural materials. In the last decade, bedding made from cotton and wool (especially futons) has once again become widely available. One hundred percent cotton sheets - which need ironing - are back in linen stores. Look for "green cotton," which has not been bleached with chlorine or treated with formaldehyde, or better yet "organic cotton", which has been cultivated without the use of pesticides.

For cold winter nights, you can use comforters made from natural materials like organic cotton and fibers, and flannel sheets. An old-fashioned hot-water bottle placed at the foot of the bed just before retiring works wonders.

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