My only complaint with the plush version is that it doesn’t have straps (the standard does, but I haven’t tested that). Although it doesn’t slip (it stays in place thanks to the cotton cover), the corners sometimes bunch up when you change the sheets and need to be smoothed out.
Best Organic Bedding
It doesn’t really make sense to spend $1,000 on an organic mattress and then buy non-organic sheets that will lie directly on your skin. Here are some of our favorite organic sheets to top your new organic mattress. For more options, check out our guides on the whole Best sheets, Best Cooling Sheets, Best Bamboo SheetsAnd Best Linen Sheets. All prices listed here are for a queen bed unless otherwise noted.
Soft cotton sheets
These are the best organic cotton sheets I have tested. They’re soft, but not too silky, which I don’t like (if you do, check out the avocado leaves below). Brooklinen organic cotton sheets are made from GOTS certified organic cotton. They are also Oeko-Tex certifiedmeaning they are tested and contain no known toxic chemicals. The 300 thread count makes it very crisp and soft, but it’s not so tight that you end up sleeping hot. This is a great choice for summer or if, like me, you sleep warm even in winter.
For a silky feeling
These 600 thread count sheets are like sleeping on silk or satin. One way or another, they are actually 100 percent GOTS certified organic cotton from India. The only potential problem here is that because they are so densely woven, they sleep a little warmer than you might be used to. Avocado also has a 400-count version that I haven’t tested, but it might be a better choice for hot sleepers.
Soft, crisp hotel-style sheets
I first tested the Antipodean wool duvet (see next section), which I loved, but I recently started sleeping on these sheets and am confident enough to say that they are excellent. They remind me of the sheets you find in high-end hotels – wonderfully crisp, soft, clean white sheets. Like all the organic cotton sheets offered here, these are naturally hypoallergenic. They’re made from ultrafine, long-staple organic cotton, with a thicker weave that gives them a bit of weight. Everything Antipodean makes is sustainably grown on low-impact farms that practice regenerative farming methods. These are also breathable. I have yet to sleep in real warmth with them, but so far they have been doing well on nights when the only bedding I needed was the sheet.
Linen sheets
Organic linen sheets are a potential heirloom purchase: high-quality, well-maintained linen will last for years, even decades. That said, if you’re used to 600 thread count cotton like the sheets above, linen sheets are much different. They are rougher, although they get softer with each wash (cold water, mild detergent, let cool or hang to dry). What doesn’t change is their weight. If you like heavy blankets, these are the sheets for you. Linen is also more breathable and cooler than other fabrics, making it a good choice for those who sleep hot. It’s also durable. Avocado’s organic linen sheets are some of the heaviest I’ve tried and will likely last for many years. The bottom sheet is fitted (sometimes linen sheet sets are both flat) and there is a matching sheet. duvet cover ($439).
A superb organic wool duvet
To complete your organic bedding collection, you need a good organic duvet. My favorite that I’ve tried is the Antipodean Organic Merino Wool Quilt. As one of the authors of our merino wool guideI was well prepared to love the Antipodean Wool Quilt, but I was even surprised at how much I love it. Like most wool items, the Antipodean wool duvet is capable of amazing feats that seem too good to be true, like keeping you warm while being breathable enough that you rarely get too hot. (I’m a hot sleeper and can attest to that.) Wool is able to do this because it’s what’s called an active fiber, meaning it responds to changes in temperature of your body and the environment as she did when she was insulating, warming and cooling a sheep. The result was a comforter that gave me one of the best nights’ sleep I’ve ever had. One thing to note, this comforter is much heavier than most people are used to. I don’t mind it, but it almost feels like a weighted blanket at times.
Organic pillows
We have a whole pillow guidebut we’re going to add some more organic choices here, because if you’re trying to get away from the phthalates and other chemicals, your pillow is just as important as your mattress.
The top organic pick in our pillow guide, the best part about the avocado green pillow is how easy you can modify it. For example, I hate soft pillows; I like almost flat pillows. So I simply unzipped the Avocado pillow, removed half of the stuffing (my kids used it to make sock puppets) and finally had the pillow of my dreams. My son, who loves overstuffed pillows, took some of the extra stuffing that Avocado gives you and overstuffed his pillow. Everyone wins. The filling here is shredded GOLS certified and GOTS certified organic latex organic kapok. The quilted organic cotton cover is nice and soft and doesn’t get too hot. I’ve had mine for four years now and it’s as good as the day I got it.
How We Tested and What to Look for in an Organic Mattress
Mattresses are large and testing them takes time and space. WIRED Gear team members have been testing mattresses for many years, and we’ve slept on every mattress on this list for at least a few weeks, often more — in many cases, years longer. That said, we have no way of testing them all. Here are some general tips, tricks, and things to look for when shopping for an organic mattress online.
- Know what kind of sleeper you are: Different mattresses are designed for different sleeping styles. Are you a side sleeper? Stomach sleeper? Back sleeper? Or are you like me, a little bit of everything (what we call a combination sleeper)? Knowing the answer to this question can help you narrow down your search for mattresses that suit your sleeping habits. This is where mattress reviews like ours come in handy; we test for every type of sleeper.
- Do you like firm, soft, medium? Mattresses come in different firmness options, often within the same model. Which one is right for you depends on how firm you like it, as well as any issues you might have, like back pain.
- Springs versus foam: Organic mattresses come in two basic flavors: traditional innerspring design and pure foam. We’ve primarily tested and recommended springs in this guide, although pure foam designs have improved in recent years, and we’re in the process of testing a few now. The big difference in my experience is the amount of heat the foam retains. This is a good choice for cold sleepers, while hot sleepers are better off using a traditional pocket spring design.
- Find a trial period: Everyone makes mistakes; To avoid having to live with a potential mistake, make sure the mattress you’re considering offers a sleep trial. Everything listed here offers some sort of sleep trial period after which, if you’re not satisfied, you can return the mattress.
- More expensive does not mean better: Organic mattresses aren’t cheap, but there’s no reason to spend a fortune just to get a good, eco-friendly night’s sleep.
- Check the warranty: Lifetime warranties are rare these days, but most of the mattresses we tested offer warranties of around 25 years. Some companies cap it at 10 years, but view them with suspicion. A good mattress should last more than 10 years, and good companies are willing to stand behind their products for that long.
- Wait for a sale: Mattresses go on sale regularly, usually every few months for most brands. Unless you need a new mattress now, you’re probably better off waiting for the next big sale.
What makes a mattress organic?
To help you understand the often confusing world of organic mattresses, here are some terms and certifications to know.
The big name in organic certifications, and in particular organic cotton certification, is the Global standard on organic textilesusually abbreviated as GOTS. He is not only interested in how cotton is grown and processed, but also in ecological and social criteriaand he uses third parties to independently verify that standards are respected. If you are curious, you can read version 6 of the standard online.
