Question from Tonia
Hi Debra,
If latex wasn’t an option. What would be less bad: 100% soy based foam, or the CertiPur-US polyurethane foam?
And what do you think about this headboard:
www.overstock.com/#/9098385/customer-reviews.html?selectedOption=13075177
Debra’s Answer
First of all there is no such thing as 100% soy-based latex. If you’ve found one, please let me know. I’d like to see it. Typically soy-based foam is only about 30% soy and the remainder is just standard polyurethane.
Here is my analysis of CertiPur-US: CertiPur-US Polyurethane Foam
Personally, I wouldn’t use either one of them. If they were the only options…I don’t know which I would choose. Eating soy messes up my hormones, so I don’t think I would want to sleep on it. I would choose one of the natural beds I’ve listed at the Beds & Bedding page on Debra’s List
The headboard…in the Details it says it’s made of “wood” and then in the Specs it says “MDF, veneer, wood”.
MDF is fiberboard with resins that might contain formaldehyde, veneer requires adhesives that usually contain solvents, and you need to know what type of wood is used. Finish is unknown and may outgas solvents. Without actually physically inspecting this piece, I wouldn’t buy it. Try an unfinished furniture store for a similar style that would be made from solid wood and apply your own nontoxic finish.
This unfinished solid pine bed frame is from Bare Woods Furniture. There are many others.
