Go Green Bedding

Archive for July, 2009

Sleep Number beds are one of the hottest rages right now. I hear good things, but like to snuggle so I don’t want the ridge in the center of the bed. But that is personal reference. Talking to a dear friend who loves hers, she has had problems finding high quality twin extra long fitted sheets. The solution to that is here!

Go Green Bedding sells adult quality sheets. The majority of twin-extra long sheets available are targeted to college students. I remember my college days and the frequency with which I washed my sheets. The point being, the sheets i had in college were for college. After graduating, I have replaced all of those with nice sheets that sooth me to sleep with their feel.

Athens linens and Perla linens are sold individually. This means you can purchase two twin extra long fitted sheets and one king sized flat sheet. You are not left with extra twin top sheets and a king fitted sheet that do not work with Sleep Number Bed. Unless you collect mismatch sheets, this is the perfect solution. You order the pieces you need and know that they are the quality you deserve.

Apollo’s 40th Anniversaryis this month. What a remarkable thing! Space travel doesn’t make headlines as it did in days past, but it is still just as exciting. The latest mission to space is underway and it makes me think about the products that are available because of the scientific advances of NASA, one in particular.

NASA needed a material that would cushion the astronauts from the unparalleled g-forces of launch and re-entry during space missions. In response the their request, a material was produced, that was called visco-elastic memory foam. There is no definition for the word visco, but the word is derived from viscous, which means gummy or pasty.  Elastic means being able to return to it’s original shape after being deformed. You all remember the picture of the hand impression on the foam. If the material was pushing up against your body, it would immediately spring back when your hand was removed. The other quality, of visco foam, is that it’s temperature reactive.  When it is heated, it becomes softer and when it is cooled, it becomes firmer. A body laying on the material will heat it, making it softer under that heated area.

This material made it transition to mattresses. It was revolutionary! A person is able to get the support they want with out worrying about the pressure created on the body by inner-spring mattresses.

The catch is it is made from petroleum and the odor is strong. It takes a few days at the least and a month or more at the most to get that smell out of your home. Also petroleum is a fossil fuel, which means there is a limited amount of it on the Earth.

Dr. Sass, inventor of the Somina Sleep System, did not like these two points and others. In response, he improved the design and modified it to be designed for sleep - not for rocketing through space. First he replaced the main ingrediant in the foam. Replacing petrol-oil with soybean oil solves two problems. Itf is a renewable source - meaning it is not harming to planet to make AND it does not have the odor!

Another improvement is the recovery time. With traditional visco-elastic memory foam products, the time it takes for the foam to bounce back is a while. With Somina products, you will not be left with a void when you roll over during the night. The original material is temperature reactive. So, in the winter it will take longer for the mattress to form to you and in the summer, it will provide less support. The improved Somina foam is not like that!

On this Apollo anniversary, take a minute to look up at the stars and thank the men and women who dedicate their lives to the mission. We all reep the benefits of the science behind it. Then order a Somina Contour Pillow and feel the difference design makes.

Bath Robes and shower shoes are two things that every college freshman will need. If your child has never used a robe then it will be a new realm. Before my freshman year in college, I do not own a robe. My mom, being the wise woman that she is, got me a robe anyway. And I have to say that it was definitely used daily - along with shower shoes. The dorm that I lived in had community showers. It is so much easier to use a robe to get to and from the shower instead of hauling a change of clothes both directions. A robe is also good for heading to the dining hall - be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Since you will be using your bathrobe everyday, you need to get one that will hold up to the job. Christy Waffle Robes are a good basic robe that works marvelously. It is 100% cotton and durable. Karen Luu Minke Robes are THE luxureous robe choice. Once you feel of the material used, you will never go back to a terry cloth robe. They are available in a wide range of colors and styles so it will be easy to find one that matches your personality. It is a robe that will take you through all of your college days and beyond. 

Shower shoes are easy - go to a box-store and get a pair of $5 flip flops. They work perfect for the job and then you can throw them out when the year is done. Bath robes and shower shoes: don’t leave home without them. And trust me, they will become your favorite outfit before long.

Mattress Encasements work a lot better than mattress covers - that should go without saying. By using a cover that encases the entire mattress will ensure that whatever is in the mattress will stay there. This is extra important for dorm mattresses. The number of people who have slept on a mattress before you is countless - you definitely want to form a barrier between you and those germs.

Another benefit is the relief to your allergies. Dust and other allergens get caught in a mattress and can be released everytime you sit or lay on your bed. A mattress encasementwill keep these particles out of the air in your bedroom. Protect-A-Bed covers have a patented Bug Lock with Secure Seal on the zipper which is guaranteed to lock everything inside.

Once you enclose your mattress, it is done. With a mattress cover, you will end up pulling off a corner when you are changing your bed linens or can slip when you adjust your sleep position. This should be a one time chore, not one that is repeated every other week with laundry.

There are a wide range of check lists that a student gets when they graduate high school and are preparing to head to college: Bed and Bath Linens, Cleaning Supplies, School Supplies, and Vaccines? Yes - Vaccines. Vaccinations are generally thought of all the shoots that a toddler gets by two or the boosters that a 5 year old needs to enroll in school. Though there are not requirements for vaccines to be enrolled in a university, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) publishes a list of recommendations. This list can be found at the CDC website.

A new addition to the list is Meningitis. Since the early 90’s, cases of meningitis among adolescents and young adults has increased by 60%! This disease can take one of two forms: swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord OR an infection of the blood. 10-15% of American who contract meningitis will die; up to 20% of survivors will have long-term disabilities. This diseased is caused by a bacteria and is spread through air droplets and direct contact - such as coughing, kissing, and sharing items that come in contact with your mouth.

Living in a dormitory, close quarters with lots of other students increases ones risk of getting a disease. That, coupled with irregular sleep habits, poor nutrition, and other lifestyle factors increases the risk 6X more! Students can reduce their risk of contracting this disease by getting a vaccination and not sharing certain things. Another preventative measure is to use a UV-C Sanitizer Wand in your dorm room over all surfaces weekly. This wand kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria by harness light. The UV-C Pluggable Air Sanitizer will keep the air in your room healthy to breathe.

Protect the well being of your child. It is cheaper to invest in quality products that keep your student healthy than to constantly worry about them falling ill. Go through the recommended vaccines for college students and send them equipped to fight off bacteria.

Now-a-days everyone is looking for a new way to save green. Money is generally tight and we and to make sure that we are living within our means. Some people have the idea that going green costs more, but that is not the case.

While there are green products that are more expensive on the market, there are also ones that are not. A set of quality towels is around $50 and a set of quality organic cotton towelsis around $40. Another misconception when it comes to eco-friendly products is that there is not a good selection. Christy Organic Cotton towels are available in 10 colors. There is a shade to coordinate with any decor.

Another cost that is often overlooked and never taken into consideration is in relation to health. Time is money; we all know this. Our health is priceless and any time that is taken away because of allergies or illness is money that is lost. Organic and eco-friendly products keep chemicals out of our home and help ensure that the air we breathe at home is pure. UV-C Sanitizer Wands are another way to ensure your home is germ and bacteria free without bringing in harsh chemicals.

Going green does save green. It not only keeps our Earth healthy but our bodies as well. Buying quality products the first time around saves money because you are not replacing those items every year. Buying quality GREEN products saves money because you are not replacing those items every year AND you are not introducing chemicals into your home that could adversely affect your health.

College days are fast approaching. It is now July and August follows, which is the start of college. College life and moving into the dorms will be upon you soon. By now, you have had time to go through all of your graduation gifts and see what is missing.

Mattress encasement  was most likely not one of the things you received, but it is one of the most vital items you can take with you into the dorm. If you stop to think about how many people have slept on that mattress before you and what they could have done on it… it should make you gag just a bit. You have this nice comforter and matching sheets - you are so excited about decorating you new home with with roommate. But before you put your awesome bed linens on, put a mattress encasement on. It completely encases the mattress and ensures that what ever is in the mattress, stays there.

UV-C Sanitizer Wands are incredible! They kill germs with the power of light! There is no easier way to disinfect your room than with a Germ Guardian Wand. It is compact and effective. The last thing you want to worry about it where to store bulky cleaning supplies in your small dorm room.

There are a million things you have to do and get before your start your college days. Getting these two items will enable you (and your parents) to rest easier knowing you are protected from germs and bacteria.