A Talalay latex mattress is one of the best latex mattresses available today that offers superb quality and durability as well as unsurpassed comfort.
If you want the ultimate in sleep experience, a Talalay
latex mattress is one of the best latex mattresses that
is available on the market today provided of course, that
it is processed and handled correctly by its
manufacturer.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that 'Talalay'
actually means a brand of mattresses, which it is not.
What is a Talalay latex mattress?
Actually, Talalay is one of two primary methods of processing the sap from rubber tree plants into natural latex material. The other method is termed 'Dunlop' and refers to a different way of processing the sap into natural latex. The Dunlop method was the first method used to process rubber tree sap into latex.
The Talalay method was developed later which uses a slightly more refined, high tech method of processing raw natural material to be made into latex bedding such as mattresses, pillows, toppers
and many other products.
The Talalay procedure begins after the rubber tree sap has been processed into latex and poured into molds. The various molds are sealed and the procedure continues in a vacuum. Next, the molds are flash-frozen which stabilizes the material into a very resilient consistency.
These added processing steps generally produces a more consistent cell structure from the top to the bottom of each separate piece. Because of the added steps that it takes to produce this type of natural latex material, a Talalay latex mattress is generally more expensive than material processed with the Dunlop method.
However, it's fact also that the Dunlop method produces extremely good material and is in fact preferred by many people because of the smaller amount of steps in the processing method. Also, the material is more durable and heavier if processed with the Dunlop method.
Dunlop or Talalay: Which processing method is best for you?
You may ask, which is better? Actually, experts say that neither is actually better than the other and that it is a matter of preference. It's really a matter of which type feels better to each consumer. Talalay tends to be softer and offers more firmness grades while Dunlop latex is firmer lasts longer.
So, if you prefer a firmer mattress, then Dunlop produces the firm qualities. But if you prefer a softer top layer on your mattress, then a Talalay latex mattress would be perfect. In fact, some manufacturers use both types to produce their mattresses. They will use Dunlop latex for an internal layer and Talalay for the softer, top layer on the mattress.
Important Shopping Tips
For those who are concerned with nontoxic bedding materials, both of these processes produce organic material for an all natural mattress or other latex sleep products. You just need to be careful to purchase latex that does not include any fillers, binders or toxic glues in the product.
One good rule of thumb about selecting a latex mattress is that if a queen mattress, for example, costs less than a $1,000, there will almost certainly be fillers in the material. Some manufacturers add clay to make the latex go further in production.
Also, some companies use support around the edges (called racetracking) that is made of cheaper materials such as polyurethane foam. While this can make the edges of a mattress firmer to sit on, it also introduces toxic materials into the sleep accessory, plus racetracking takes up about 20% of the actual sleep space on a mattress surface.
For a really want a quality, nontoxic product on which to sleep, you may want to consider a Talalay latex mattress which will provide you years of comfort and enjoyment.
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