Our Simba mattress review might just help ensure your health isn’t compromised….
By Bec Gregory
Did you know that conventional mattresses leech toxic chemicals that can be absorbed through our skin and pollute the air in our homes? The place you spend 8+ hours a day could be exposing you to a slew of chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment!
Why are organic mattresses important?
The standard fill for many mattresses, polyurethane foam, aka ‘polyfoam’ is made from non-renewable fossil fuels, and releases harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), possibly for years. After an initial potent off-gassing, polyfoam continues to break down, filling your home with toxic dust. Polyfoam mattresses can lose half their original weight in just a few years!
VOCs found in polyfoam mattresses include:
- Benzene
- Chlorofluorocarbons
- Formaldehyde
- Methylene chloride
- Naphthalene
- Toluene (methylbenzene)
Exposure to some VOCs has been linked to a whole host of negative health effects. Read on to learn more!
Your health at risk
VOCs in furniture – including mattresses – has been linked to:
- irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
- headaches
- coordination difficulties
- nausea
- potential harm to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
Plus, certain VOCs – such as formaldehyde and benzene – are either provable or probable carcinogens, and/or neurotoxins. For example, toluene which has been shown to have a severe impact on the central nervous system. Yikes!
And it’s not just polyfoams, either! Fire-retardant chemicals used to treat mattresses also off-gas hazardous VOCs.
In conventional mattress production, fire retardants are applied to a textile known as a ‘sock’ which is wrapped around the foam or mattress core to slow the spread of flames in the event of a fire.
Fire retardant chemicals include:
- Magnesium hydroxide
- Borates
- Paraffins
- Aluminium hydroxide
- Organohalogen compounds
- Antimony
- Decabromodiphenyl oxide
Exposure to some flame-retardant chemicals has also been linked to several adverse health effects.
For example:
- boric acid is a pesticide that has been linked to having a possible toxic effect on human reproduction
- antimony has been linked to negative heart and respiratory effects, as well as developmental and reproductive problems. It can also cause a lack of sleep, ironically!
- vinyl, PVC and synthetic latex used in mattress manufacturing off-gas VOCs, and can contain phthalates which wreak havoc on our hormone system.
If you’re thinking your mattress might be toxic, then an organic replacement is likely a top priority for your health, home and the environment!
What are organic mattresses made of?
Organic mattresses are made from natural materials such as organic cotton, wool and natural latex and do not contain all the nasty chemicals that conventional mattresses do.
When seeking an organic mattress, look out for certifications such as:
How to care for an organic mattress
Organic mattresses require special care that aligns with the natural materials they’re made from. Here are our top tips on how to care for an organic mattress that not only keeps your organic mattress super clean but also ensures its longevity!
- Use a high-quality mattress protector or encasement.
- Use gentle cleaning agents such as baking soda to remove odours and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains without harming the mattress’s integrity.
- Regularly vacuum with an upholstery attachment.
- Spot clean with mild solutions such as white vinegar and water or mild dish soap and allow the mattress to thoroughly air dry.
Our Simba Hybrid Mattress Review
The British brand Simba are industry leaders in non-toxic hybrid mattress technology. The Simba Hybrid is their most loved mattress with over ½ million sold! You’ll find a whopping 123,666 user reviews on their website with an overall customer rating of 4.8/5.
The brand claims that its Simba Hybrid mattress was produced using the insights of 10 million sleepers. And as a result, it’s perfect for all body types, shapes, and sizes. That’s a mighty claim!
But the Simba Hybrid has received many industry accolades to back up those claims, with 13 coveted awards to its name. This includes the Which? Best Buy for a double mattress in 2023. And it’s got some impressive eco credentials, too, which include:
- Uses 100% recyclable materials
- CertiPUR non-toxic guarantee
- Mattress made in zero-waste UK factory
Materials and Construction
Hybrid mattresses have lots of layers to get familiar with! The Simba Hybrid mattress is a mix of innovative micro-springs & cushioning foam and features 6 layers. Let’s look at them.
At its core, you’ll find the support base that gives the mattress its thickness and stability with 1000 pocketed barrel springs that prevent roll-off at the sides, giving 100% edge-to-edge support. You can lay right at the edge of the mattress and still feel fully supported!
Then it’s got 2,000 micro titanium alloy Aerocoil® springs across 13 body-aligned zones that mirror wider, heavier areas of the body such as hips and shoulders for superior contoured support.
Next up is the cooling Simbatex® foam layer with its open-cell structure that boosts air flow making it much cooler to sleep on than standard foam and provides superior cushioning. Additionally, Simbatex® is infused with graphite which draws heat away from your body. This mattress is a dream for hot sleepers!
Finally, the breathable sleep surface is super soft and hypoallergenic. You can zip it off and wash it, too. Super important feature!
Delivery and Setup
The Simba Hybrid comes with free next-day delivery. They’ll also remove your old mattress if required.
Setting up the mattress was super straightforward. It comes vacuum-packed in a box that’s heavy but easy to manoeuvre, with clear instructions and a safety cutter.
Upon opening it, it seemed to have a life of its own – it ‘grew’! It puffed up and continued to grow for a few hours before it was ready to use.
I must admit, I was surprised to find there was a bit of a smell. Kind of like the smell of a new car. But I was told not to worry, as no harmful chemicals are off-gassing. A faint chemical whiff stayed around for a few days.
Simba Hybrid Mattress Review: Comfort and Support
The Simba Hybrid mattress is rated as medium-firm (5.5-6 out of 10), but it was softer than I expected. It gives contouring comfort (without sucking you in), with consistent pressure relief, making it perfect for back and side sleeping. I’ve been moving less during the night and having a more restful sleep.
Simba Hybrid Mattress Review: Motion Isolation
If you share a bed, you’ll be thankful for how well the mattress isolates motion! Its high motion isolation is thanks to the Aerocoil® spring comfort layer, where thousands of conical springs work to isolate motion and distribute weight evenly across the mattress, keeping disturbances from your sleeping partner to a minimum!
Simba Hybrid Mattress Review: Temperature Regulation
The Simba Hybrid keeps you cool at night. It features cool-to-the-touch organic cotton cover and the magic of latex’s natural temperature-regulating properties.
Simba Hybrid Mattress Review: Trial Period
Simba recognises that buying a mattress is a big deal and offers a 200-night trial to give you time in your home to make sure the mattress you choose is right for you. And if it doesn’t work out, they’ll pick it up and give you a full refund!
Simba Hybrid Mattress Review: Warranty
The Simba Hybrid has a 10-year guarantee and if it fails during that time, you’ll get a brand new one.
You don’t have to turn/flip the Simba Hybrid (yay!), but rotating your mattress regularly is one of the very few conditions of the ten-year warranty. You’ve got to give it a 180-degree spin on the base once a month for the first 3 months, then every 3 months for the rest of its life.
Simba Hybrid Mattress Review: Price and Value for Money
The Simba Hybrid double mattress offers good value for its price of £1,079.
At the time of writing, there is currently a 25% discount making the Simba Hybrid just £809.25.
SIMBA HYBRID MATTRESS REVIEW AT A GLANCE
Best for: hot sleepers, back and side sleepers
Type: Bed-in-a-box
Price: £429-£1,159
Mattress Materials: Graphite-infused Simbatex foam, Titanium alloy springs
Firmness: Medium-firm (5.5-6 out of 10)
Depth: 25cm
Weight: 19.5kg-41kg
Sizes available: Kids, single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU queen
Trial period: 200 nights
Warranty: 10 years
Do you have any questions about our Simba Hybrid Mattress review? Let us know in the comments below, and we will get right back to you!
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