Here is a collection of questions that we are commonly asked and our answers to them. We've organised them into sections.
General
How do you describe mattress differences?
Mattresses can be described in terms of thickness, density, and support.
How deep the mattress is.
We focus on the depth of latex as this is the material that supports and distributes weight.
Density
The main softness or firmness feel of a mattress.
Soft contours around the body. Firm has more resistance to body pressure.
How much weight is accommodated by the mattress - at a given density and thickness.
To have the required support, soft mattresses are usually made much thicker than firm mattresses.
Whatever the thickness and density, most mattresses should have enough support to avoid people feeling the frame hard through the mattress.
How much will delivery cost to my address?
In Auckland we will personally deliver and set up your frame, mattress or whole bed for $60, or we will courier small items.
For the rest of New Zealand we have wholesale accounts with four freight companies so we can provide the cheapest delivery rates.
You are welcome to phone us to get a delivery quote prior to ordering. Alternatively - on this website - once you have added products to the cart and entered your address, the next screen will show freight.
If you have a rural address this website won't be able to calculate a delivery cost, so please contact us and tell us your address. We will work out cheapest distance surcharge to your rural address, and also the cost of delivery to your closest freight depot as an option.
Who are "Natural Beds"?
We are a team of seven permanent staff who hand-craft beds. We specialise in beds that are sustainable, healthy, long-lasting, supportive and - above all - amazingly comfortable. We are unique in making bespoke beds, customised for individual sleep requirements. We sell directly to people across New Zealand. Natural Beds is a sister company of Futonz with an emphasis on organic and natural materials. Our mission is to bring you the best sleep experience based on your personal requirements.
The owner and operator of Natural Beds, Ralph Behrens, started making natural Japanese mattresses in 1983 at the first futon manufacturer in Australia, and in 1987 brought the ethos and knowledge back to New Zealand. Starting with pure cotton mattresses, Ralph then incorporated wool to produce mattresses that suit New Zealand's climate very well, by regulating humidity. Continuing to research and innovate, Ralph developed a latex mattress range based on 100% natural latex (foamed rubber) with wool and natural fabrics. Ralph has continued to research and innovate, sourcing natural sunflower foam from Italy as the most sophisticated natural option for mattress comfort and support. Natural Beds is the exclusive New Zealand importer of Lalan Organic Eco-Latex, a plantation that does not fell native jungle, grows rubber trees sustainably and organically, and pays their employees a fair wage.
We manufacture here in Oratia, Auckland, with our experienced and committed team of mattress crafters, carpenters and our valiant seamstress. If you contact Natural Beds you'll be writing or speaking with someone with hands on experience making (and sleeping on) natural mattresses and timber frames.
Your quality of sleep really is the reason we get up and make beds.To this end we are happy to answer questions, offer advice, provide bed trials and exchanges in order that you have the most enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding experience possible when choosing a quality bed. We back this up with comprehensive guarantees, and we're also flexible about meeting your personal requirements and delivery arrangements.
Please contact us, we'd love to help you get your perfect bed.
How long will my order take?
Some products we have in stock, some we make when you order.
Please phone us if you need a product urgently and we will do our best to prioritise it.
As a guide:
| Usually in Stock | Usually within a few days | Usually within a week | Usually within two weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dorsal Mattresses |
Latex Mattresses
|
Futon Mattresses Topper Pads Devon Sofa Bed Frame Siesta Sofa Bed Frame |
The other bed frames |
Delivery in Auckland is preferably on Tuesday or Thursday, or scheduled to suit your availability.
Delivery in the North Island is usually the next day after being sent.
Delivery to the South Island usually takes two or three days.
Futon Matresses
How should I care for my Traditional Futon?
Maintainance
Traditional Futons are 100% natural cotton and require daily turning to perform best.
- 'Flip over' daily (top surface becomes bottom)
- Put in sunshine once or twice a year on a dry, non-humid day.
Dry atmosphere and sunshine will cause the cotton strands to expand and re-fluff the futon a bit.
Reconditioning
After about 4 years of nightly use, the futon will have compacted enough for us to add another layer of fresh cotton into the existing cover, if you wish.
Latex Mattresses
What are the benefits of latex?
Why do you use latex in mattresses?
Natural latex is among most advantageous of bed materials:
- Exceptional durability. Natural latex foam outlasts soft inner sprung and synthetic foam mattresses
- Healthy. Latex is non-toxic.
- Good for sleep posture. Latex has excellent weight support and contouring in a wide variety of densities.
- Resistant to water, mold, temperature and humidity.
- Uninhabitable by dust mites and stays clean.
- Latex is only vulnerable to UV and sunlight (so keep the latex foam core inside its cover if airing outside, and if washed, dry in shade.)
Our Latex is Not Synthetic
Latex does not off-gas harmful chemicals, and is better all round than sprung or synthetic mattresses.
Memory foam is made of synthetic materials like polyurethane, solvents, adhesives and other chemicals. Tempurpedic has been taken to court based on their mattresses off-gassing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde. VOCs have been related to sickness, allergies, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome.
Tempur foam or memory foam is often compared to latex. A significant difference is that latex is 'temperature neutral', whereas memory foam often gets softer as it gets hotter. For this reason memory foam mattresses can be hot and sticky to sleep in. We regularly hear people complaining of feeling 'trapped in a hole' in a memory foam bed because they sink-in as the foam softens and can't roll over in their sleep.
For those people upgrading from a memory foam mattress who are looking for a natural 'moulds to the body' feel may like a 'very soft' latex mattress - often described like 'sleeping on a cloud' - with a knitted cover so that even the fabric has the flexibility to contour to the body.
Polyester foam, Polyurethane foam and plastic foam are made from synthetic or petrochemical derivatives. We avoid using any synthetic foam in our beds because it sags faster, contains multiple toxic materials, lacks elasticity, and is often 'closed cell' and so it doesn't breath. The structure of polyester mattress foam is not stable, and it will begin to sag over weeks and months. There are no advantages to synthetic foam mattresses except that low-quality foam mattresses can be made very cheaply. As it is hand gathered from rubber tree milk, latex foam is more expensive but far better value. It is more comfortable from the first sleep and will stay like that much longer, plus organic latex is completely non-toxic.
How durable are latex mattresses?
Latex
High purity rubber foam keeps its support, shape and springiness for many years without discernable change. We guarantee this for 10 years, but many latex mattresses last decades with reasonable care.
Wool
Pure wool also retains breathability, insulation, and humidity reducing properties. Pure wool eventually 'felts' as the natural fibers tangle and smooth together. We recommend turning the cover over, or around, at least every year to even up the smoothing across the mattress surface. Other than the cover looking less fluffy, the wool felting does not effect the mattress performance or longevity.
Cover
The cover fabric is a special three layer knit structure which makes it strong, flexible and breathable. It contours with the latex, retains the wool and provides a breathable surface to the mattress.
What will be the most comfortable mattress for me?
Easily customise your mattress.
Choose the 'Custom Feel' order option to personalise each layer of your Seraphic mattress.
Choose from "Soft", "Medium" and "Firm" options. The favorite combinations for these densities.
You have 90 days to swap layers with us to make your mattress softer or firmer.
For detail on choosing layers, please see our article: Personalising a Seraphic 20 mattress.
For ideas about mattress types and different sleep styles see: How to Buy a Mattress.
What's the difference between the Seraphic 20, Seraphic 15 and Seraphic 10?
The amount or thickness of latex differs between Seraphic models:
Seraphic 20
- Twenty centimeters of latex (highly configurable custom layer options).
- Soft to firm.
- Ultra-deep soft latex choices. Even the outrageously plush "5 soft, 5 soft, 10 very soft" latex choice.
- Luxuriously thick medium feels.
- Exceptionally deep firm options.
- Suitable for any body weight.
Seraphic 15
- Fifteen centimeters of latex.
- Medium to firm.
- The favourite feel is medium latex density: substantial, pressure-easing, comfortable. Suitable for adults and kids.
- Deep, firm latex feel. Suits any weight.
- Occasionally the Seraphic 15 is custom ordered with soft latex choices which is usually suitable for lighter adult weight or kids.
The Seraphic 10
- Ten centimeters of latex.
- Firm.
- Best performance with firm latex selections (to avoid pressure points at shoulders and hips).
- Sometimes custom ordered as a thin medium. Softer options are suitable for kids weight (please order over the phone to confirm this).
Read more about Seraphic density choices in the "Seraphic Choices" article.
What is latex?
Latex is the sap or 'milk' of the rubber tree. To extract the latex, a sliver of bark is hand cut from the trunk of the rubber tree, and the milk is sustainably 'tapped' into a cup. This labour intensive process results in one or two cups of milk per tree per day.
Here at Natural Beds we import organic latex foam of outstanding purity from a Sri Lankan sustainably-grown rubber plantation and latex foam manufacturer called EcoLatex. No pesticides are used on the trees and no synthetics are used in manufacturing.
This organic latex foam is made with a modern Dunlop method where a precise amount of latex milk is foamed with carbon dioxide, vacuum expanded to a foam of a given density, then temperature cured into layers of elastic foam.
EcoLatex has several organic, ethical and sustainability certifications including Global Organic Latex Standard, Forest Stewardship Council and Fair Rubber.
Organic latex foam is non-toxic, unappealing to dust mites (which can cause of sleep allergies), resistant to mold and mildew, as well as being the best performing and most environmentally friendly bed material available.
Which mattress will suit me?
Our customers' favourite mattress is the Seraphic 15 with 'medium feel' layers of latex. Balanced to suit most people's sleep requirements of support and comfort. Thick enough to completely avoid pressure points with all but the softest latex.
The most versatile option is the Seraphic 20 medium. It can be made firmer or softer simply by ordering the latex layers differently. If you like a very soft mattress, we recommend the soft Seraphic 20. It is so thick that even the fluffiest latex can be used without any pressure points.
If you like a firm and compact mattress with little bounce, we recommend the Seraphic 10.
Can a latex bed help ease my arthritis or back pain?
We hope so but it is difficult for us to say.
Physiotherapists, osteopaths and other specialist doctors give professional advice regarding the most suitable properties of mattress for given medical conditions.
How long will this latex mattress last?
We expect that the high-purity, organic latex layers in these mattresses will last decades. We recommend a new quilted cover about every 10 years - or use a thick, natural mattress protector.
Fortunately it is simple to put a new cover on latex layers, and this does wonders to refresh old latex mattresses.
With reasonable care many people get decades of use from their latex mattress.
We have a ten year warranty on the manufacturing and materials of all our full latex mattresses.
Does this latex mattress need special cleaning or care?
Latex mattresses are incredibly durable, but benefit from reasonable care.
- Un-zip and flip the quilted cover over every six months or so to spread surface wear
- Wipe clean minor blemishes with a damp cloth
- Quilted wool covers can be dry cleaned as desired
We recommend that all beds are kept in rooms where air can circulate and not retain moisture. The fabric in our latex mattress covers is not treated with preservatives or mould suppressants, so keep the mattress in a dry environment.
Latex is innately bacteriostatic, meaning it resists mould. Latex is also resistant to dust mites.
Latex mattresses can last a very long time and stay in great condition.
Does this latex mattress come with any guarantees? And what is the warranty?
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There is a 7 night trial that comes with all latex mattresses (unless you order a custom size of mattress)
If you want a refund within this time, just let us know and we'll collect the mattress up for free and give you a full refund on the product price minus the original delivery charge.
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You can exchange layers for up to three months - completely free
Simply let us know what size and density layer of latex you want to swap. We'll pick it up and deliver the alternative layer.
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Ten year warranty
- If there is a problem with the materials, or our manufacturing causes a fault, then we'll fix or replace your mattress.
- If there is any sagging in the latex layers at all then we'll replace them (the pure wool quilting will eventually loose some fluffiness, but this is hardly noticeable and does not affect the feel of the mattress at all.
For full details on our guarantees, please read the "Natural Beds Guarantees, Warranties and Promises" article.
How can I clean this latex cot mattress? Does it need special care?
Each mattress has a zip-off cover that can be dry cleaned (hand washing will cause the quilted wool layer to shrink).
The latex core can be wiped clean and dried outside in the shade. Latex foam isn't damaged by water, but can take a long time to dry out.
The latex will last for decades, so with care this mattress can last for generations.
We recommend using a breathable and waterproof mattress protector on top of this mattress and under baby's sheet. We recommend a careful choice of natural blanket to suit the season and room temperature.