Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Oct 22, 2007 5:56 PM
Joined: Oct 6, 2007
Points: 13
I'm looking for a Cal King case for our yet-to-be-purchased latex layers.  The case should be of "knit" fabric - that is, stretchy, maybe velour or terry.  A lot of the cases that come with the sets are woven, not stretchy, like satin.  Also, I'd like it to be a little padded with wool and cotton.  Foamorder.com is selling a most-comfortable one which I saw in the store, but it's quite pricey at $600 - yes, this is JUST the case, granted it's organic and all-American.   So I'm looking for a similar alternative, doesn't need to be organic.  Any leads would be appreciated!
Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #1 Oct 22, 2007 6:31 PM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
I didn't catch in your other thread that you were looking for a Cal King. So am I. Not that it matters, as it's not the size that's the problem in buying one, but rather the painfully limited availability of just a cover. Like you have found, if you can source one at all, you will pay $600 for it. That's really the gotcha in building your own mattress. You find everything else and manage to save a little money and then get hammered when it comes time to buy a cover to put it all in.

One of the issues with covers is that a company, if they were to offer them, would have to stock so many SKU's because of all the permutations of size and depth. At a minumum you would have to stock 8", 10", and 12" depths in each size. And you would probably have to stock a couple of different styles because not everyone is going to want stretch knit. And is there really a big enough market to make that profitable?

My advice is that it isn't cost effective to build your own mattress, unless you don't care what it looks like. A person can put together a nice latex mattress from FoamByMail with a $50 terry cloth cover for under $1000. But if you want top quality stuff and a nice cover, it's REALLY hard to save any money.

If you are bound and determined to do it anyway, I think your best bet is to find a company selling a component mattress (because they are the ones who will have zippered cases) with a cover you like, and call them up and ask really REALLY nicely if they would sell you just a cover.

This message was modified Oct 22, 2007 by haysdb
Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #2 Oct 24, 2007 5:55 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
I'd be really interested to know if companies like SleepEz would sell just the mattress cover. I ordered a latex mattress from them that I subsequently returned, but it really was quite nice. Not stretchy. Quilted cotton with wool batting. Very well made. The finished product looked just like a "real" mattress. I imagine the Foamorder cover is similar based on the picture and description.  I don't know if SleepEz would be any cheaper, but they have really excellent prices on their latex mattresses, so it might be worth a call.

I'm just thinking ahead to when I have to refurbish my mattress. But to tell you the truth, as much as I like the idea of having a "nice" mattress cover, who ever sees it? The upholstry on my current mattress is extremely nice, but it's always hidden under sheets and a mattress protector.

When I was sleeping on a make-shift mattress of HR foam, fiber pad, eggcrate and visco I had the layers encased in a mattress protector. The elastic sides held everything together nice and snug and when I had a fitted sheet over it you couldn't tell by looking at it that it wasn't a real mattress.

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #3 Oct 24, 2007 10:33 AM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
In that case you will find one the covers being sold on eBay for $35 a satisfactory solution. They come in 8", 10", and 12" depths, and are stretchy enough to handle anything "up to" those dimensions. I have one of the 8" covers and it's loose around a 5.6" core, but would be an awfully tight squeeze with 8" of foam inside.

Some of the foam mattresses I have seen don't even come with a full cover, but just one that slips over the top like a fitted sheet.
This message was modified Oct 24, 2007 by haysdb
Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #4 Oct 24, 2007 12:29 PM
Joined: Oct 6, 2007
Points: 13
Foamorder has a knit organic one - this is the one I like.  I don't think they list it separately, but you can find it on the right panel as extras to buy if you put a latex mattress in your shopping cart.

Anyway, maybe I should go with a $35 cheapie, and add a pad on top.  I'd like some sort of light padding on top.  And I'm ok if it just lays there, not sewn into the case.  Does anyone know of this type of pad that I can lay on top?  Ideally, lightly padded with wool. 

FYI, the reason I don't like the quilted pads/cases is that I feel it really takes away from the whole latex feel.  Yes, the mattress feels and looks more like a conventional mattress.  But I can't feel the pressure point properties as much, which is one of the big reasons I want latex.  Also, the guy at the store insisted I should have some type of padding or protection for the mattress because if water hits it, there'd be some serious damage. 

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #5 Oct 24, 2007 2:06 PM
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 464
suz312 wrote:
the guy at the store insisted I should have some type of padding or protection for the mattress because if water hits it, there'd be some serious damage. 

Based on this manufacturing process description, water damage to talalay latex would not appear to be a serious threat.

"Upon completion of the molding process, the latex foam is placed on a conveyor belt and put through a large washer to rinse and remove soap residue and improve product durability. LFI puts each of its products through a five wash/squeeze cycle process, unique in the industry."

This wool fleece pad style may or may not be suitable for your criteria.

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #6 Oct 24, 2007 3:47 PM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
suz312 wrote:
Foamorder has a knit organic one - this is the one I like.  I don't think they list it separately, but you can find it on the right panel as extras to buy if you put a latex mattress in your shopping cart.

Anyway, maybe I should go with a $35 cheapie, and add a pad on top.  I'd like some sort of light padding on top.  And I'm ok if it just lays there, not sewn into the case.  Does anyone know of this type of pad that I can lay on top?  Ideally, lightly padded with wool. 

FYI, the reason I don't like the quilted pads/cases is that I feel it really takes away from the whole latex feel.  Yes, the mattress feels and looks more like a conventional mattress.  But I can't feel the pressure point properties as much, which is one of the big reasons I want latex.  Also, the guy at the store insisted I should have some type of padding or protection for the mattress because if water hits it, there'd be some serious damage. 


Diamond Quilted case from FoamOrder. $350 for a king. They occasionally have one on their clearance page for less. It's Urethane foam quilted in the cover.

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #7 Oct 24, 2007 6:10 PM
Location: Mequon, WI
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 363
Which eBay seller(s) have people tried for the cheap route?  Do any of them have tops that zip off so they can be washed without removing the layers?  Should we oversize the thickness to avoid drum head or trampoline effect, or is the material very stretchy?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #8 Oct 25, 2007 8:59 AM
Location: Mequon, WI
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 363
Thanks haysdb.  I ended up ordering from this eBay store:

Memory Foam Products

I think someone recommended them in the old forum.

I ordered a pillow from memoryfoam.com when I realized they were closing out their latex inventory.  This was back in the beginning of October.  I have yet to see the pillow, but my credit card was charged long ago.  They do not respond to my emails.  So if anyone orders from that store, beware.  I plan to call their 1-800 number and find out what is going on, and possibly have the credit card company dispute the payment with them.  Too bad the new owners of memoryfoam.com are running the business in to the ground.

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #9 Oct 25, 2007 9:22 AM
Location: Mequon, WI
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 363
I just got off the phone with memoryfoam.com  They said that that my order has not shipped and they have no estimate for when it will ship (ordered 10/3/2007).  I then told them that they would have to remove the charges from my credit card.  He said they would have to cancel my order to do so.  I decided that was the best option.

Be careful if you try to order from them......

Re: Looking for "case" for latex mattress - knit w/cotton+wool padding
Reply #10 Oct 26, 2007 5:38 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
Jim-- I've heard so many bad things about the "new" memoryfoam.com. They've really trashed the fine reputation the company built on this forum when it was affiliated with Mark's Half-Price Bedding.

I was under the impression it was illegal to charge a customer's card more than one week prior to actually shipping the item. I wouldn't trust them to credit your account. Give it a week and check your account activity to make sure they do it. If you don't see the credit, call your card carrier and dispute the charge. You have 90 days from the time the card was charged to do this.

Someone should report this outfit to the state Attorney General's office for shady business practices.

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