FAQ
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GENERAL INFO
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The strength of latex odor depends a lot on the freshness of latex and the individual's sense of smell. It is a fact that odor does go away with time-airing the product out in the shade would help.
Most people do not mind the smell, and they can use the product immediately when it arrives. Very few people mind the smell and there are some who remain bothered by it for several months.
Do I need to purchase an entirely new mattress or bed?
If your mattress still offers enough support you can upgrade it by placing a mattress topper over it.
On your website I can easily tell what I am buying but in some other stores I am left to guess. And if I asked, I still couldn't get the information that I need. Why is that so?
The answer is simple. Since we deal with only the best manufacturers and choose to carry only the best products around we have nothing to worry about but keep our prices and service excellent
Why was my credit card billed immediately upon placing my order and not when the order was shipped?
We use a highly secured merchant credit card processor that handles and processes our customers' payments. Once you have placed your order, all the billing information is collected in encrypted form and your credit card information does not enter our internal system here during or after payment validation/authorization. The merchant processor requests authorization from your bank or credit card company to pay the amount of your purchase and only if the payment went through will our internal system receive an order confirmation. Once your order is confirmed, then we are able to process it. Your bank or credit card company will not hold the funds for us and make it available once we are ready to ship your order, thus, your payment is collected upon placing of your order. Can you imagine any company processing an unconfirmed order?
We have no intention to collect your payment and hold it for our own use. However, processing of your order may take some time, depending on the type of product that you purchased. To be fair to you, we advertise the approximate shipping time and if you continued to place your order, that means that you have understood our terms and conditions and agreed to wait. Most customers don't really have an issue with it since most credit card companies offer a grace period for purchases before assessing finance charges.
We do our best to keep the shipping time as short as possible. Some of our products ship on the same day while few others take up to 15 business days. In case of unexpected delays, we do notify our customers as promptly as possible.
ABOUT BED LEGS ____________________________________________________________
What is the maximum weight that the Universal Bedlegs bed legs can support? Do the shorter bed legs support more weight?
Our Universal Bedlegs® bed legs are strong and durable and have very high rated weight capacity. The 3" leg, for example, is rated to hold up to 7,000 lbs of weight. In a laboratory testing, a single 3" leg was tested and proven to take up to 7,000 lbs of direct weight or pressure before it would break. A single 10" leg passed a 5,000 lb test.
If properly installed (three legs individually attached by a base plate on each rail at the bottom of a boxspring), the legs create a bed support system that can handle a lot of weight. A bed leg system can easily support 2,500 lbs of combined weight, including the mattress and people and any weight on it.
Note that unlike the metal bed frame, our bed leg system will not provide horizontal support for your boxspring. This means that your boxspring needs to be well constructed and durable. If the boxspring is broken or if it made with soft wood that can easily break, the legs will hold the wight but the boxspring may break.
GENERAL FAQ ABOUT LATEX FOAM TOPPERS & MATTRESSES
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The holes on my Talalay latex are not uniform and do not go through. Is it defective?
No. That appearance is normal, and it has no effect on the feel and durability of the latex foam.
The appearance of the holes depends on how far from the top or the bottom surface of the latex core your latex topper was slit.
All Talalay manufacturers use 6-inch thick latex molds only. This means that the 6-inch cores are molded, and the toppers are slit from the thick latex core.
The picture below shows a cross-section view of a 6-inch core sample. Although different manufacturers use exclusive latex molds, the latex molds have this in common: the top and the bottom of the mold have tapered pins that do not line up nor touch in the center. “The pins ensure that the temperature is evenly distributed in the latex, and that they all reach the same cold temperature and warmth. The pins also allow the latex to cure in maximum consistency.”
Notice in the picture that the top surface looks very smooth, and the holes are uniform. If we took a picture of the bottom, it would look just the same as both surfaces touch the mold.
By examining the cross section view, anyone can understand that the holes on a 6-inch Talalay do not go through, but on some toppers, all holes go through while on others only some do, depending on the thickness and where which part of the latex core they came from.
In the second picture, we wish to show a one inch topper that was slit from somewhere in the middle of the core. It looks like this one-inch topper was the third one-inch cut from the top, which explains why some of the holes are smaller and father apart, and some holes do not go through.
None of these really matters. The topper passed its firmness rating test, and its appearance and all are what made it what it is.
My Talalay latex has large air pockets. Is it defective?
Note that during any Talalay latex production, it is impossible to perfectly size the air pockets and make them regularly spaced. It is not possible to really control the air pockets. Random and irregularly sized air pockets (large and small) are definitely normal and NOT a defect. In addition, the air pockets help create the overall firmness of a Talalay latex-their frequency and size do impact the density.
With all that said, the final Talalay latex product is properly tested, and with however its air pockets would have looked like, it must pass the Quality Control requirements for the firmness that it is rated.
What percentage of Talalay latex is used in your 100% natural Talalay mattress cores and toppers? It is my understanding that no Talalay is 100% natural, but only 95% maximum.
If we consider only the "latex milk" component of the finished latex mattress core product, our 100% Natural latex toppers and mattress cores contain only natural (rubber tree sap) latex “milk,” and no synthetic/man-made latex “milk.” If considering how much of that 100% natural latex milk is in the finished latex mattress core product, then it is not 100% because other components were needed to be mixed with it in production.
FYI, in order to create the latex milk into a form that can be used as mattress cores and toppers, some other ingredients, namely, Zinc Oxide, Fatty Acid Soaps, Sulfur, and Sodium, are required in the mixture. These other ingredients make up approximately 5% of the mixture, and they are essential to the vulcanization, foaming and curing process in ANY latex production, whether it is Talalay or Dunlop latex manufacturing process. The finished product is then washed many times, which removes any residuals that may be left over after the curing process. Its quality and purity depends also on the manufacturer, and some manufacturers wash the finished product more than others.
The finished product is then 95 to 98 + % pure latex, considering the other required components. But again, there is no synthetic latex milk used in the production of our 100% Natural Latex. 100% of the latex milk used is rubber tree sap, and this is what mainly differentiates our “100% Natural Talalay latex” from our “Blended Natural Talalay Latex.”
How do I know that I will receive a Talalay Global (aka Latex International) product?
We clearly and publicly disclose the manufacturer of our latex. They come bare...uncovered, purely the product you are purchasing.
What is Talalay latex foam?
A Talalay latex foam is latex foam that is manufactured using a manufacturing process called Talalay. In the the Talalay process, only a small amount of latex compound is poured into the mold. The mold cavity is vacuumed to remove gaps in the mold and perfectly distribute the liquid foam. Air is infused into the latex compound and the most consistent open cell structure is created. The foam mixture is then flash frozen to lock the cell structure in place and to prevent the particles from settling.
What's the difference between a mattress and a mattress topper?
The answer is simple: it depends on how you would use it. A mattress topper is usually placed over an existing mattress to either make the mattress softer or firmer. It is usually thinner than a mattress and commonly between 1 inch and 3 inch. Most people place up to 3 inches of either latex foam, memory foam, polyurethane foam, cotton, or wool on top of their mattress. Although rarely, there are some others that use that layer alone by itself and so therefore they call it "mattress." While most people place nothing more than 3 inch over their mattress, there are very few others that use even 6 inches. So, again, what is the difference between a mattress and a mattress topper? It is how you will use it.
Why are springless mattresses better than traditional coil-spring mattresses?
It's really quite simple. If your mattress does not have springs, then you won’t feel pressure points against just one small part of your body at a time. Your weight will be evenly distributed allowing you to get a more relaxed and natural sleep. Although there may be some very good spring mattresses out there, their prices do not justify their benefits that you can easily get from any air mattress, for example.
What is ILD Rating?
Indentation Load Deflection ( or ILD) is the standard numbering system for rating foam firmness. The ILD rating of your Talalay Latex foam material will tell you how FIRM your mattress is. A higher ILD rating suggests a firmer foam.
ILD is calculated by the study of how many pounds of pressure is required to indent a 4" thick foam by 25%.
For example, using the scale below, when a 14lb weight is placed on a 4" thick foam topper, it will compress to 3" of foam (or have a 25% indent in the 4" foam).
Does the Talalay process differ from one manufacturer to another?
Yes. Different manufacturers exercise different quality practices.
Latex International's Talalay manufacturing process is a six-step production method. Every step of the process - from compounding to quality testing - is carefully monitored to assure that only the most consistent and durable latex foam in the world is produced. The process is eco-friendly since it uses only natural, biodegradable ingredients that come from renewable resources and water-based raw materials like natural latex, air and water. No harmful byproducts are released and every product made is cleansed in an exclusive five stage fresh water washer to ensure the removal of residual latex proteins and curing agents. Every product undergoes extensive quality testing to meet standards that far exceed our competitors:
- EVERY mattress core is tested in 9 different areas
- EVERY pillow is weighed and hand inspected
- EVERY mattress core and pillow is washed 5 times to ensure purity
- Latex International's Talalay process is Certified Healthy. LI’s process does NOT use solvents. It does NOT damage the ozone layer. We do not have to use scrubbers or external filtration as we do not emit harmful elements into the air. In fact, Latex International’s Talalay latex is certified by Oeko-Tex (Europe’s highest environmental consumer product standard) to be free of harmful substances or chemicals.
What is a 100% natural latex foam?
By definition, latex is a rubber particle suspended in water. There are 2 types of rubber: the NR (Natural Rubber) or natural latex and SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) or synthetic latex made in the lab. A 100% natural latex foam is made of 100% natural rubber milk that is cured. On the other hand, blended latex consist of a mixture of natural latex and synthetic SBR latex.
What is a 100% Talalay latex foam?
A "100% Talalay latex foam" simply means that the latex product was 100% produced using the Talalay process, which is usually the case, unless the latex foam was a result of laminating more than one pieces of latex that are not the same.
What is a 100% latex foam?
A"100% latex foam" simply means that that the foam is a solid piece of latex and if not, then it better be two or more pieces of latex glued together.
Why choose a Talalay latex mattress?
Tension shows up in the form of a sore back, stiff neck, or tight shoulders. One of the most common causes of tension is mental stress. If you are stressed, your adrenalin is released, your heart beats faster, and your muscles tighten up. If your muscles are tight, your experience muscle pain. Muscle pain can also be caused by overusing your muscles and an injury.
Your spine is made of a series of vertebrae that are connected by muscles. When your back hurts, the discomfort is really coming from the muscles and not from your spine. If those muscles are relaxed, your back feels great. If any of those muscles are tensed, everything else is pulled out of balance and as your body tries to compensate, the tension spreads.
When you go to sleep, your body can recover and rejuvenate. It is important that your mattress will help relax your muscles and relieve the tension. If your body is aching, you want it to be lifted. Latex gently lifts: it elevates your body and allows your tense muscles to relax. While latex gently lifts and relieves tension, other foams do not have any rebound. Instead, they only bottom out and let you sink, which creates pressure on your body.
Between Talalay latex and Dunlop latex foam, the Talalay latex has a more consistent cell structure and has a greater gentle lift. Click here to read about the differences between Talalay latex and Dunlop Latex.
Why should I buy your products instead of less expensive foreign products?
Talatech® latex is the finest latex foam available in the world. Our exclusive Talalay process ensures removal of proteins that can cause other latex to break down over time. It’s made exclusively in the U.S.A., more durable and more cost effective than imports in the long run .
Why do your 100% Natural Latex International Talalay latex foam mattress toppers or cores have 10 year warranty while another retailer claims 30 years?
Here at SleepLikeABear.com we don't claim what is not. Latex International's stated warranty on their 100% Natural Talalay Latex foams is 10 years and we won't overstate it as 30 years to make a sale. If the retailer is stating what may be their own warranty, they should clearly state so. If in case the retailer is not in business at the time of the claim, the consumer may lose on this deal. To confirm, you might want to check directly with the manufacturer.
HOW OUR PRODUCTS ARE MADE
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How is a Talalay Latex topper made?
Click here to understand more about the Talalay and its manufacturing process.
Your blended latex contains a mixture of natural latex (known as rubber tree sap) and synthetic latex (known as Styrene Butadine Rubber or SBR). Knowing that SBR is a petroleum byproduct, do I need to be concerned?
No. Although SBR is a potentially toxic substance, it chemically bonds with natural latex and all other ingredients so that SBR cannot be released or detected in the final latex product. A similar case to latex foam is salt, which consists of two dangerous chemicals, Sodium and Chlorine. Salt is known to be safe for human consumption. Once formed into salt, Sodium and Chlorine can never be extracted individually from salt. In the same light, the SBR in blended latex has bonded into the polymer and cannot be absorbed by the lungs or the skin and therefore, does not make the finished latex product toxic. Our blended latex foam, just like our 100% natural latex foam has met and exceeded the requirements of Oeko-Tek 100, which certifies that the product is safe for infants 0-3 years of age and older.
Does your Talalay latex foam off-gas? Is it free of VOCs?
Yes, guaranteed! Our Talalay latex mattress foams are certified to contain no toxic off-gassing or dangerous VOCs (or Volatile Organic Compounds) that is harmful to your health. Our latex foams have been certified to be safe for your health.
Was vanilla used in the process of manufacturing your Talalay latex foams?
No. Vanilla is not anymore used in the manufacturing of our latex foam.
Will your Talalay latex foam have body impressions?
Under normal use, our Talalay latex foam will unlikely retain body impressions.
Latex International performs very stringent durability testing to compare its latex to competitive materials. The following two tests illustrate our superiority to imported Talalay, Dunlop process, and 100% natural latex.
Impact Test: This test is used to simulate the effect on the latex when a person continuously gets on and off the bed over extended periods of time. A block of latex is tested for ILD (firmness) and then placed in a testing machine where a weight is dropped on the latex repeatedly for 24 hours. The product is then removed from the machine and allowed to recover for 24 hours. ILD is again measured and recorded. LI latex consistently recovers better, with less loss.
Percent Loss of ILD (Higher loss values indicate a higher propensity for the material to soften over time due to mechanical breakdown of the product.):
- Latex International Talatech® : 6%
- European Talalay latex: 16% (167% more ILD loss than LI
- European Dunlop process latex: 16% (167% more ILD loss than LI)
- Asian 100% natural latex: 15% (150% more ILD loss than LI)
Will your Talalay latex foam compress over time?
Under normal use, our Talalay latex foam will unlikely compress over time.
Latex International performs very stringent durability testing to compare its latex to competitive materials. The following two tests illustrate our superiority to imported Talalay, Dunlop process, and 100% natural latex.
Compression Set Test: This test simulates the effect of body impressions on the latex after a person lies on the bed for extended periods of time. Latex mattress samples are clamped to 50% of their original thickness for 22 hours at high temperature of 158 °F. When removed, the percent loss in thickness is measured. LI’s Talatech® latex consistently outperforms imported latex.
Percent Loss of Core Thickness (Higher values indicate a higher propensity for the product to take a body impression over time.):
- Latex International Talatech®: 3.3%
- European Talalay latex: 5.7% (73% more loss than LI)
- European Dunlop process latex: 7.5% (127% more loss than LI)
- Asian 100% natural latex: 12.5% (279% more loss than LI)
What is the density of your TalaTech foam product?
Even though density is very commonly disclosed by some to describe the firmness of their foam product, with our Talalay foam product that is certainly not the case. In the manufacturing process, latex milk is poured until the desired ILD is achieved regardless of the resulting density. This should explain why the density may vary slightly between two Talalay latex foams whose ILD's may be exactly the same. This should also explain why our manufacturer doesn't rate their foam using the density as a form of measure since the ILD is already used.
LATEX FOAM COMPARISONS
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What's the difference between Memory Foam and Latex Foam?
Visco Elastic Memory foam is a temperature sensitive form of polyurethane foam that has special additives that create a self-adhesion property for a few seconds after being exposed to a heat source (your body). Over time, the adhesive slowly releases, allowing the foam to return to its original shape. This conforming property is very popular to thousands of sleepers worldwide, due in most part to Tempurpedic's marketing efforts. Latex foam is a natural product that is derived from the latex rubber extracted from rubber trees. It is not temperature sensitive, as memory foam is. It is available in numerous different densities (rated by ILD from 14 to 44), is extremely comfortable and supportive and more resilient.
What is the difference between Talalay foam and Dunlop foam?
Talalay latex foam is created using the Talalay manufacturing process. Talalay latex is more consistent and has a plusher feel than a Dunlop latex foam of similar ILD. Talalay latex foam conforms more perfectly and uniformly to any weight placed on it. It is available in a wider variety of firmnesses just because the Talalay manufacturing process allows for it.
On the other hand, a Dunlop latex foam is created using the Dunlop process. In the Dunlop process, which is a Continuous process, the latex is poured, cured, washed, and dried on a 150 ft. long belt. The process doe not allow for air extraction and freezing stages (unique to the Talalay process) and thus creates a firmer and also denser product than Talalay latex foam. Production of latex foam using the Dunlop process is less extensive and cheaper and therefore the Dunlop process is most commonly used in the latex industry. Dunlop latex foam is mostly used in mattress base cores but is also a great economical alternative for mattress topper.
Are Talalay latex toppers one pice?
No, at least not all Talalay latex are one piece or seamless. See below:
| Latex Type | Size | Where Made | How Made |
| Talalay latex | Twin and Twin XL | Anywhere |
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| Full | Anywhere |
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| Queen | Made in USA |
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| Imported |
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| E King (Standard King) | Anywhere |
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| Cal King | Anywhere |
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Talalay latex that are Full sizes and larger are fabricated from Twin sizes that are molded. The cost to make a seamless one-piece Full size and a seamless one-piece Queen available is higher and the cost is passed to the buyer if the buyer wants it. The Kings are impossible for any manufacturer to make at this time because the biggest mold is Queen size, and they need to fabricate the Kings using the molded Twin sizes to minimize their production cost.
SPECIFIC FAQ ABOUT LATEX FOAM TOPPERS & MATTRESSES
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I ordered a 2 inch Eastern King 21 ILD Celsion topper but the foam that I received has "40 ILD" embossed on the side. Did I receive a 40 ILD?
No, you did not necessarily receive a 40 ILD.
If "40 ILD" appears to have been embossed on the side of the foam, then that was not the ILD (or firmness) rating of the foam. ILD ratings are never stamped on the foam. The latex foam molds are individually marked but the same mold may be used to make the different ILD ratings. Examine the picture below showing a portion of a foam that was slit from a 5.6" thick solid latex foam.
If the embossment on your foam looks similar to a portion in the picture, then consider that the actual marking could be 6-801-27 40" TLB. The slab of foam that you received was cut exactly where the lower loop of the B starts and so the " symbol and the bar of the T were omitted. The inside width of the latex mold that was used to make the solid core was 40", which explains the embossed marking.
How do the firmnesses compare between Celsion™ and TalaTech™ latex foams? Why is 27 ILD referred to as "Firm" in Celsion™ but "Cushion Firm" in TalaTech™?
Unlike Talatech™, CELSION™ comes in only three firmnesss. CELSION™ has been designed purely as a mattress topper and the firmest is 27 ILD. To differentiate the three ILD's in this category, the lowest ILD is referred to as Soft while the firmer ones as Medium and Firm. Latex International used the same ILD standards in manufacturing these two products that are both Talalay latex foam products, 27 ILD in CELSION™ is 1 ILD, just a tad, softer than 28 ILD in Talatech™!
The designation of Soft, Medium, and Firm is relative but the ILD ratings between these two innovative products is highly consistent. Remember that this statement may not hold true with other brands because other manufacturers don't necessarily apply the same manufacturing formula and processes nor uphold the same quality standards when making latex foams.
I have just recently purchased a 20 ILD foam from another store and it is supposed to be plush but I find it too firm. Should I purchase your extra plush 14 ILD TalaTech mattress topper in the same thickness since that's the next level that is obviously softer?
Our 14 ILD is the softest available Talalay latex foam and no one can argue that it is very, very soft. If you really need the softest, kind of like cloud-nine feel, then our 14 ILD is for you. However, from our extensive experience helping customers, we have been educated that although the ILD rating is standard across all foams, one retailer's ILD rating may not be exactly another's.
One possibility of difference is that the foam that you purchased may not be a Talalay processed latex foam. If it is a Dunlop process foam, it will be denser and therefore will feel firmer than a talalay processed latex foam. If your foam is a Talalay processed foam but doesn't exactly have the same material component like our blended Talalay latex foam, then you would end up comparing an apple with orange. 100% pure natural rubber foam generally feels different from a blended latex foam. If your foam is a blended latex foam and also a Talalay processed latex foam, there can still be a big difference in feel just because the manufacturer and the manufacturing quality and standards are not the same across different manufacturers. We offer samples of foam that you can at least compare with your existing foam just to make sure you know where to start with our foam.