Firm uses natural materials in its mattresses

December 17, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- If you still have more presents to pick up this holiday season, you might consider giving a gift that gives back.

One man gave that question some serious thought after his daughter was born with severe allergies and skin irritations.

When you shop for a new mattress, you probably weigh options like soft versus firm, and king versus queen. But you may not consider: organic versus conventional. After a look inside a small suburban factory, you might start thinking about "sleeping green."

This warehouse in LaGrange is one of the last places in the country where you could actually watch your bed being made. These are not just any beds, though. They are what Quality Sleep Shop owner Tim Masters calls "green mattresses."

"Some of our beds that are real popular for kids and young adults are filled with organic cotton and all-natural wool, and wool is a beautiful fire barrier," said Masters. "We still have to comply with federal and state laws for flammability."

The Quality Sleep Shop also offers covers made from bamboo and a latex mattress for customers who prefer memory foam.

"When I say latex, a lot of people think, 'Well, it sounds like a lot of chemicals to me,' but it's actually tapped from a rubber tree and processed into a foam product. It's an all-natural, dust-mite resistant anti-microbial natural foam," said Masters.

Masters says his product can stand up to that of any major manufacturer and he offers similar warranties.

But because his business is local, Masters says he can keep his chemical-free mattresses at factory-direct prices.

"We're a local company, and every component that we purchase for our company, whether it's our spring systems or our fabrics, are 100 percent USA made. We won't buy anything outside the country," Masters said. "There are seven of us that work here total. We work our buns off, but we make a great product."

The owner says they have received custom requests from players on just about all of Chicago's sports teams. He says he recently made a 9-foot-long mattress for one of the Bulls and is working on one with European measurements for one of the Blackhawks.

www.mygreenmattress.com

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