Organic Wool Bedding Information

The Blessed Earth Philosophy

At Blessed Earth we manufacture in Australia a wide range of organic wool products, including mattresses, toppers, quilts and pillows.

Our aim is to offer you the healthiest and most environmentally-responsible wool bedding products on the Australian market.

While most manufacturers use any cheap wool and hold it together with resin, we insist on the finest White Suffolk fleece wool, the ultimate in comfort and long performance life.

The unique qualities of Blessed Earth wool bedding products:

• Purity – Most of what bedding manufacturers call “wool”, which they use as a layer over latex or polyurethane foam, actually contains between 10% and 90% Dakron. It can also be held together by a synthetic resin. This resin is quite toxic and with usage and bodily heat, the resinous fibres tend to crumble, creating lumpiness and loss of product integrity. We use only stud "White Suffolk" fleeces.

 

• House dust mites don't like wool - This is great news for allergy sufferers. The lanoline in wool is a natural deterrent and with no crumbling resinous fibres, there is nowhere for dust mites to set up camp.

 

• Excellent heat regulator - People often associate wool with warmth and even overheating. This may be true of cheaper, resinous or Dacron/wool blend products but not of pure fleece wool, which allows air to flow naturally and is an excellent insulator. Cool in summer, warm in winter...

 

• Fire resistant - Wool is difficult to ignite and does not char or melt.

 

• Excellent wicking qualities - Wool can absorb bodily moisture up to 30% of it's own weight and dissipate it naturally into the atmosphere. Your Blessed Earth wool product will do this indefinitely as long as you keep it well ventilated.

 

• Bio-degradable - When you're finally finished with your B.E. wool product, you can use it on the compost heap!

 

• Resilience - The wool used in Blessed Earth wool products is specially selected for it's resilience - also known as "loft" or "bounce". This quality is especially important for pillows and will guarantee your bedding product's maximum performance and life.

We have taken every conceivable measure to ensure that the bedding product you purchase is completely pure, environmentally responsible, and supremely comfortable. In fact, it is the finest range of it’s kind in the world.

Wool that has not been carbonised (cleaned with sulphuric acid) tends to retain some residual lanolin odour. Most people find it endearing, some others may not. You are welcome to return your unused wool item but [please understand that if the lanolin odour is no stronger than the rest of our stock - and we send out thousands of items - you will be required to pay the return freight. Once a bedding product has been used it can only be returned in the case of faulty workmanship.

 Wool Mattress

The usual dimensions of our mattresses are:

Cot 130 x 70cm; Single 93 x 193cm; King Single 107 x 203cm; Double 140 x 193cm; Queen 153 x 203cm; King 183 x 203cm; Super King 203 x 203cm.

Please note howevere that all our mattresses are custom made and we can make any size you want, within reason.

Testimonial: We have just had our first night on our new King mattress and feel fabulous. It was the best night’s sleep in ages for me and for that I thank you. It reduces my overheating at night considerably. So much so that I wasn't woken up by this once. The mattress is beautifully made and I couldn't be happier. H.T.

The Blessed Earth wool mattress has been developed as a natural, healthy sleeping surface.

As all mattresses are tailor-made we can make any size you want, however standard sizes are: Single 93cm x 193cm; King Single 107cm x 203cm; Double 140cm x 193cm; Queen 153cm x 203cm; King 183cm x 203cm

They are made without metal springs, which create a harsh energy and an electromagnetic field that can interfere with our health and sleep patterns. Much has been written lately about the hazards of electro-magnetic radiation from power-lines; mobile towers and the phones themselves; and about the way metal springs in mattresses become virtual antennae which amplify the electricity within the home. As with most of these things, there are those who ridicule the idea and there are those who accept it as a matter of common-sense. It requires sophisticated equipment to measure these fields.

R. Douglas Fields, Ph. D, writes in Scientific American: “As we sleep on our coil-spring mattresses, we are in effect sleeping on an antenna that amplifies the intensity of the broadcast FM/TV radiation. Asleep on these antennas, our bodies are exposed to the amplified electromagnetic radiation for a third of our life spans. As we slumber on a metal coil-spring mattress, a wave of electromagnetic radiation envelops our bodies so that the maximum strength of the field develops 75 centimeters above the mattress in the middle of our bodies. The author notes that the rate of breast cancer in Japan is a lot lower than in the west, and attributes this to the fact that they do not sleep on (spring) mattresses, and their TVs operate on a different frequency”.

Please refer to Dr Mercola's article on the subject.

Each Blessed Earth mattress is a hand-made masterpiece, meticulously constructed from organically scoured wool filling and certified organic Denim exterior. It does not feel like a conventional innerspring mattress and offers a degree of softness without bounce, thereby minimising partner disturbance.

We are often asked about the choice between a standard and a thick mattress. Most people buy a thick mattress as, if used by adults, it will be a better mattress in 10 or 20 years. Possible reasons for a standard mattress are:

 

The person using the mattress is very light. The mattress could be for a small child who is not likely to become a large child.

Perhaps the user is a light adult sleeping alone.

Quite often people wanting a mattress for a caravan or mobile home will get a standard. It is easier to get out for occasional airing and there may be space restrictions.

 

The other main question is: “Do I need a topper”.

Once again, 85% of our customers buy a topper for additional comfort, however if you like a firm mattress you won't need one. You may still decide to buy one as the topper is easier to air than a mattress. Airing is good for your mattress however don’t be alarmed if your busy lifestyle or frailty prevents you from doing so. Dr. Mercola airs his wool mattress every 6 months or so.

Very occsasionally a customer will find the mattress too firm, even with a topper. If you are finding the mattress with topper too firm please call the helpful staff at BE to discuss solutions best suited to you.

A small child doesn’t need a topper – however we have found on countless occasions in our showroom that kids love the feel of the mattress but they love it even more when we put the topper on.

Conventional mattresses are highly engineered to hold their shape with the help of metal and synthetic materials. It would be unrealistic to expect a wool fibre mattress to do that.

Thousands of customers love their mattress after years of use. Occasionally, a customer will find the settling uncomfortable. Select carefully - settling of your wool mattress is not a fault; it is to be expected. If you find it uncomfortable after adding more layers of wool through filler pads or a topper, it may be that this type of mattress is not for you.

Blessed Earth’s Mattress Wool

When we first started making wool mattresses over 10 years ago, we had the luxury of a stockpile of Demeter certified wool which we made into mattresses, toppers, quilts and pillows. The whole product range was Demeter certified; a world first for wool bedding. Due to a technicality, the product itself is no longer certified. In fact, the growth in demand for mattresses and reduced supply has meant that we no longer have enough organic wool for our mattress requirements.

Until we can source new certified growers, we will give preference to growers who:

• Are known to care for their flocks as though they are organic, as is the case with most small growers.
• Follow organic practices but cannot afford certification. We have one grower who lost certification on a technicality.

Wool Quality: 
The quality of the wool is of paramount importance in the making of a futon mattress, or any wool bedding product for that matter. It has to be Downs wool, so called because the sheep originated from the Downs region of England. 
They are nuggetty sheep and grow wool that has a high micron count (it is coarse) with a natural crimp, which makes the wool springy. This is called “loft” and the greater the loft of the wool, the greater the support the mattress will provide.
A lot of the so-called Downs wool on the market has been cross-bred with other varieties and does not have the necessary loft. We learnt this the hard way!!! The wool we use is exclusively pure bred and is of exceptional quality.
This product is proudly made in Australia and is certified by WOOLMARK. It carries a 5 year workmanship guarantee, the maximum allowable by WOOLMARK.

Slat base: 
We recommend a slat base and, if possible, occasional airing in sunshine for softness and hygiene. As a convenience to our customers, we can often offer a basic, inexpensive bed base made from natural, kiln-dried Baltic and other pines. They come in an easy to assemble kit and are very sturdy.

One of the great features of your wool mattress is that it breathes, better than any other fibre, keeping you dry and healthy. While a slat base makes best use of this quality, it is not absolutely essential. The mattress will perform even on a conventional ensemble base, however you might not get the full benefit of the mattress's ability to breathe.

Keeping your mattress dry: 
Wool mattresses, just like their cotton counterparts, need to be kept dry. For this reason we recommend regular airing. There is no hard and fast rule on this and it comes back to using common-sense. A lot depends on the climate you live in, how much air and sunlight the room gets, etc. In a dry climate and well ventilated room, the mattress probably doesn’t need to be taken out at all. However if there is any surface dust mite activity, sunlight will kill it and generally freshens the mattress. If you are not able to air the mattress on a regular basis by putting it in the sun, we recommend you purchase a topper which is light and easily aired. Your mattress is an important investment and when managed properly, will give many years of wonderful service. Using a topper, while by no means essential, will further extend the life of your mattress. 

Some thoughts on mould:
We use no anti-mould treatments on our mattresses and the possibility is always there, though very rare, that some surface mould can appear in the cotton cover. The number of reports we have had of this happening is less than 1% of the total number of mattresses we have sold and is invariably due to neglect. Surface mould can be easily treated by sponging with a natural anti-mould solution and thoroughly drying the area with a hair dryer and sunlight.
Wool itself does not absorb moisture, even though one of its greatest qualities is its ability to wick moisture away from the body. In the unlikely event of a problem occurring, usually only the cotton cover will be effected. In the few cases reported to us, it does appear that a candida-like condition in the sleeper can contribute, as can a varnish on the wooden slats. If your bed has varnished wooden slats, we recommend you place a fabric layer between the slats and the mattress. In fact, if there is mould in your environment it may pay to put a cover over the slats even if they are raw wood. This will help the mattress to breathe where it contacts the slats.
Cotton and polyester will absorb moisture and not dissipate it as wool will and this can lead to a bacterial condition inside mattress using those materials. Anyone who has done bush-walking will know not to wear cotton or synthetic socks for that reason. We would never recommend any synthetic fabric under any circumstances. Cotton is a wonderful material, as long as it can be washed, however it cannot be washed inside a mattress. Wool is a self-cleansing material inside a mattress and as long as common-sense maintenance is observed there will be no issue with mould.

Construction: 
Our mattresses are individually hand made to order, using only the finest, most sustainable materials available, without compromise. The covering material is a tightly woven, undyed certified organic cotton fabric, especially selected for its durability and softness. 

The key to the long term comfort of a wool futon mattress lies in the tensioning of the tufting; that is, the process of tying the two sides together with a cord and “buttons”, which prevent tearing of the outer fabric. A queen futon, for example, requires 59 individual tuftings. For that we use a heavy duty cotton cord, rather than nylon, and hand-made fleece buttons that have been scoured to “eco” specifications. These buttons cannot be felt when you are lying on them and do not protrude as normal buttons can.
The wool we use has great resilience when carded. We make a point of showing customers who come to our store how when you make a ball of it in your closed fist and the open your fist, the wool will fly out of your hand. 
Your mattress will tend to settle then stabilise. By settling we mean that the puffy areas between the fleece buttons will reduce in size slightly but never down to the height of the buttons.

The American “FutonLife” magazine offers the following appraisal of the genuine all-wool futon: 
“If you have ever heard the expression “sleeping on a cloud,” and you wanted to actually feel that sensation, then the all-wool futon is for you. Wool is extremely resilient and therefore provides great support. Wool is also a naturally flame retardant fibre…. 
Permanently crimped wool is available, and several products have been given the endorsement by the Wool Bureau to use the “Wool Mark,” the officially licensed logo, designating that the product has passed a battery of tests concerning the quality of the fibres as well as the level of fibre migration through the ticking material. 
The cost of wool is high but the quality of the finished product makes it a viable and superior alternative to other materials.”
We are happy to report that the Blessed Earth Futon mattress does in fact carry the highly regarded Australian Woolmark seal of approval and the crimped wool spoken of in this excerpt is the stud Suffolk and Dorset wool we use exclusively in our bedding products.

Here are some of the unique qualities of Blessed Earth wool bedding products:

Purity – Most of what bedding manufacturers call “wool”, which they use as a layer over latex or polyurethane foam, actually contains between 30% and 90% Dacron. It can also be poorer quality wools held together by a synthetic resin. This resin is quite toxic and with usage and bodily heat, the resinous fibres tend to crumble, creating lumpiness and loss of product integrity. We use only stud "White Suffolk" (Downs wool) fleeces.

House dust mites don't like wool! - This is great news for allergy sufferers. The lanoline in wool is a natural deterrent and with no crumbling resinous fibres, there is nowhere for dust mites to inhabit. 

They breathe - The carded wool is very porous, enabling air to circulate through the mattress, keeping you dry and healthy.

Purifier - According to an excellent article on the CSIRO website, wool filters volatile organic compounds (VOC's) such as Formaldehyde from the atmosphere.

Excellent heat regulator - People often associate wool with warmth and even overheating. This may be true of cheaper, resinous or Dacron/wool blend products but not of pure fleece wool, which allows air to flow naturally and is an excellent insulator. Cool in summer, warm in winter...

Fire resistant - Wool is difficult to ignite and does not char or melt.

Excellent wicking qualities - Wool can absorb bodily moisture up to 30% of it's own weight and dissipate it naturally into the atmosphere. Your Blessed Earth wool product will do this indefinitely as long as you keep it well ventilated.

Bio-degradable - When you're finally finished with your B.E. wool product, you can use it on the compost heap!

Resilience - The wool used in Blessed Earth wool products is specially selected for its resilience - also known as "loft" or "bounce". This quality is especially important for futons and toppers and will guarantee your bedding product's maximum performance and long life.

Freight:

We deliver most of our mattresses by TNT courier or their authorised on-forwarders throughout Australia and endeavour to subsidise the freight as much as possible. Should you wish to arrange your own courier, set out below are parcel dimensions for the purpose of obtaining a quotation.

Mattresses are delivered folded in half. It is best not to keep them folded for protracted periods:

Approximate Freight Specifications:

Dimensions                            Weight   cu.m.

Single 92lx92hx40w cm ...      22kg        0.32

K Single 110lx92hx45w cm ... 26kg       0.40

Double 140lx92hx40w cm ...   28kg       0.53

Queen 155lx92hx40w cm ...   32kg        0.66

King   185lx92hx45w cm ...     38kg       0.75

When ordering online please provide a mobile phone number if you have one.

We prefer it if you call our representatives before ordering to discuss your needs and ensure you are making the best choice. 

Please choose your product with care.

• Due to the nature of our organic product, and the chance of chemical contamination, we unfortunately cannot accept returns on the basis of a change of mind. 
• Please note that under the health act mattresses, toppers, pillows and quilts are non-refundable unless deemed faulty.
• In the case that a product is faulty or damaged, we will accept a return for inspection and we will decide on the appropriate action. (repair, exchange refund or credit) 

Some more testimonials:

"I thought I would let you know we LOVE our new mattress..  VERY  different from our previous latex mattress - definitely firmer, less  bounce, cooler, but a keeper." D & T QLD

"Hi there blessed earth crew, we just wanted to thank you so much for the beautiful mattress and topper.... wow its like lying on a bed of marshmallows or clouds.... Divine and exceptionally made. You should be very proud of your ethical business."   Yuli and Jananta, Vic.

"Just to let you know we have received the mattress and we are in heaven! It is so beautiful even just to look at. To lie down on it is just a totally different experience than what we've had ever experience before. This is my husbands dream come true mattress. Firm and solid... Thank you so much for offering such a quality and health and all Australian made!!! All the best" 

"We all love our Blessed Earth wool mattress. The custom size has enabled our family (2 adults, 2 children) to sleep together in absolute comfort. We really appreciate the fine craftsmanship and quality and know the mattress will last for years and years. It was a great investment!" - Cindy V Albany WA

"I just wanted to let you know how happy we are with the mattress we recently ordered. It just feels fantastic and it's by far the best mattress we've ever had! We will highly recommend it to everyone we know as it is truly a world class product." - R.M. Kensington Vic

"We absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE our new mattress!!!!! So happy that we bought it... We are finally getting a good night's sleep after years of not..." - F. & S. F.

"I think I slept in heaven last night. The mattress is superb - don't know how I lived without it..." - Evie Walker, Melbourne

"Well... I was a little sceptical when it arrived... BUT! I had a fabulous nights sleep thank you! It's like nothing I would have imagined and I find it hard to describe" - C.S. Broadbeach

"Just wanted to say thank you and to tell you how beautiful our mattress is after many years." - Evangeline.

"There is something restful and peaceful about sleeping on wool, with just wooden slats between you and the earth - we were reminded of the sold kapok mattresses that we all used to have as kids - surely they were more healthy days!"

"Well we have had our first night! The mattress plus topper is brilliant, we love it and it exceeds all our expectations. It feels so relaxing, as it seems to melt away any tension from your body, just like a good massage. My husband is a remedial massage therapist and is full of it praises, its ability to support his body in all the right places, aligning his spine, aided by the pillow  now supporting his neck correctly, as it doesn’t sag, as it did with a conventional mattress."  - R.T Toodyay

"I just wanted to say that the mattress arrived on the 6th, and it is the most comfortable thing I’ve ever slept on. I wish you and your artisans all the best, it’s great that these traditions are still alive today." - R.S. Victoria

 Wool Toppers

The "Topper" is also called an under-quilt or under-blanket.

It is a separate pad, the same size as the top of your mattress, which fits on top of the mattress and is held firmly in place with elastic loops.

It’s main fuctions are to provide comfort; to prolong the life of the mattress; and to provide an organic barrier in the event that the existing mattress is toxic. It can also add years to the usability of a tired old mattress if you are not in a position to buy a new mattress.

Cot: 70 x 130cm , Single: 91 x 190cm, King Single: 107 x 198cm, Double: 137 x 190cm, Queen: 153 x 198cm and King: 183 x 198cm

Our toppers are made from organically scoured fleece wool filling and certified 400 thread count organic cotton covering. The outer layers of wool are certified organic.

The super toppers are approximately 5 cm thick. Measurements are:

• Single 190 x 90cm
• King single 198 x 107
• Double 190 x 140
• Queen 198 x 153
• King 198 x 180cm

The amazing wicking qualities of wool will keep you naturally dry and a topper is easier to air than a mattress or futon. However, we do recommend the use of a protector over the mattress and topper.

The super topper is new to the Australian marketplace. Our factory has developed the technique to fill them with a whopping 1500gsm of pure fleece wool, providing guaranteed luxury.

Toppers add wonderful comfort and relief for sore joints and at the same time will keep your mattress or futon completely dry. They are especially recommended for convalescents and are also perfect for softening an old or hard bed.

The filling is high micron count white Suffolk fleece wool that has been cleaned with bio-degradable, approved organic detergents and the outer casing is made from certified organic 400 thread count sateen finish fabric.

The unique insulation qualities of wool will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.

Please Note: Wool toppers cannot be washed. Regular airing in sunshine is a great way to freshen up and sanitise your topper. A note about scouring: Scouring is the process by which wool is cleaned. The conventional process is to "carbonise" it using sulphuric acid, which dissolves all vegetable matter that might be contained in the wool. Obviously, we refuse to use that process and as a consequence there may be occasional impurities in the wool. which can show through the cover. Similarly, the covers on all our wool bedding products are unbleached organic cotton. Consequently there can be the occasional slight mark on the product which would normally be bleached out in a conventional product. Please regard these as beauty spots - further evidence of the purity of the product you are buying. This product is proudly made in Australia and is certified by WOOLMARK. It carries a 5 year workmanship guarantee.

Testimonial

"Dear Raithe, We would like to thank you for our topper. We are very happy with it. Test-sleeping it, waking up refreshed and recharged. We also noticed less aches and pains, deeper uninterrupted sleep and less need for sleep." - M.S.

 Wool Pillows

The Blessed Earth Wool Pillow is especially designed to offer both comfort and support.

The pillow is 46cm x 70cm and approximtely 12cm thick for the standard and 15cm thick for the thick version. The thick has a firmer feel than the standard pillow. It will pack down about 20% over time, nowhere near as much as cotton, and will always retain a natural resilience. It has a certified organic cotton casing and contains a number of layers of certified Organic or Bio-Dynamic wool.

Please Note: Blessed Earth advises the use of a pillow protector to ensure the long life of your pillow as washing of wool pillows is not recommended. Regular airing in sunshine is a great way to freshen up and sanitise your pillow.

Testimonials

"I've always invested generously in a good night sleep, spending much on luxurious high percentage down pillows. I thought I would give wool pillows a try when I read an article from Mercola. I ended up buying one (heavily marketed) from Mercola.com, and one from Blessed Earth. Soon after, I purchased a pair of pillows from Blessed Earth. I finally understood what people meant when they say Australia and NZ produce the best wool. The wool pillows from Blessed Earth are the result of this wonderful Australian wool. The pillows are fully packed with high quality wool that offers support and comfort through the night. No more fluffing and patting unlike down pillows. Wool also wins over down for me as I'm allergic to dust mites" – XO

"Hi Blessed Earth, I purchased 2 of your wool pillows 2 weeks ago. Can I just say this is the best purchase I've ever made. Within a week my sore neck and chronic sinus was completely gone and I had my sense of smell back, my 2 year old who has rarely slept through the night is now doing so easily. I can't wait to buy some more for the rest of my family. Thank you so much" – Emma

 Dr. Mercola on Wool Mattresses

Blessed Earth are great fans of the work done By Dr Mercola. His institute has likewise applauded the work we are doing and given permission to use his material.

Below we have assembled a very brief précis on the subject of wool bedding. We hope you find it helpful and invite you to surf his opinion on countless subjects.

Article by Dr. Mercola

Why a Metal Mattress or Bed May be Particularly Dangerous

The vast majority of beds (90-95 percent) contain metal springs and/or frames. Unfortunately, these metal frames and metal box springs can amplify and distort the earth’s natural magnetic field, which can lead to a non-restful sleep along with a range of other symptoms including:   Headaches, Hyperactivity, Nightmares, Depression and Fatigue, Eyestrain and Muscle cramps.

Avoiding EMF Exposure is Very Important for Pregnant Women and Babies

If you have a baby, it is especially important for you to use a non-metallic bed for your baby, as their immature bodies are even more susceptible to EMF damage. A safer alternative is a wooden basinet or wooden crib, as opposed to metal varieties.

Further, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD performed a small study showing that autism can actually be predicted based on the EMF levels of your sleeping quarters while pregnant!

He found that if you sleep in strong electromagnetic fields during pregnancy, your child will likely begin to exhibit neurological abnormalities within the first two years of life, such as: Neurological dysfunction, Hyperactivity and Learning disorders