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Mattress Buyers’ Guide to Off-Gassing

By now we’ve all heard about ‘off-gassing,’ but what is it really, and how do you know if your mattress is off-gassing?

We’re here to alleviate your OGA or Off-Gassing Anxiety. The struggle is real. Off-gassing is a legitimate concern and you deserve to know what’s happening so you can choose what to do about it. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself, your family, and your household.

One trip to your local Big Name mattress dealer and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by options: so many different makers and models, all of them with different features and benefits promised. Take a spin around the store and you’re likely to see latex mattresses, Memory Foam mattresses, air mattresses (i.e. Select Comfort calling itself the Sleep Number bed), innerspring coil mattresses (what you probably slept on as a kid), and futon mattresses. Your mind might be whirling after just 30 minutes.

These days, there are numerous types of foam and batting materials being used in mattresses. And many of those materials have a mystery or chemical components.

So which types of mattress materials are safest and least likely to be chemical-laden and prone to off-gassing? Where should a shopper start researching?

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First of all, let’s get clear on the basics.

What is Off-Gassing?

Synthetic mattress foams are made with chemicals — mostly petroleum-based chemicals, but also some fire-retarding agents. YES, these chemicals emit fumes and can cause potentially adverse reactions in people with chemical sensitivities. Some chemicals used in mattresses have NOT been tested on young children or in the amount people are exposed to when sleeping on a mattress for 8 hours a day (which is, uh, kind of the point of having a mattress).

If you have concerns about off-gassing, do your research and know exactly what chemicals are used in your mattress and how they’re likely to affect a person’s system over time.

What Types of Mattresses Off-Gas?

How would you know if your mattress is off-gassing? Start by identifying which type of mattress you have.

1. Memory Foam Mattress

A memory foam mattress is likely made of 5-6″ of standard polyurethane foam topped with a visco-elastic layer (an open-celled poly foam that recovers slowly from compression, hence the effect that it ‘conforms to your body’). Both the polyurethane foam and the visco-elastic layer will off-gas.

Smelling an odor from your memory foam mattress? This odor is from chemicals used in the manufacturing process. These mattress chemicals are potentially harmful to small children and people sensitive to chemical emissions.

2. Coil/Innerspring Mattress

Manufacturers can use pocketed coils, a continuous coil system, or another type of coil. There is an insulator pad between the coils and the comfort layers above. High-density polyurethane foam or recycled fabric layers (similar to a carpet pad) make this insulating layer. To enhance feel and plushness. These comfort layers are mostly what differentiates one coil mattress’s feel from another.

Some manufacturers, in an effort to be more ‘green,’ are using some soy or non-soy vegetable-based mattress foams. While this is certainly a step in the right direction, because soy foams use only 20% soy oil and the rest is petroleum-based, the use of soy does not eliminate the off-gassing.

Finally, the mattress is wrapped with a quilting layer to give it a ‘finished’ look. The puff in the quilt is usually made from polyurethane foam — even in mattresses labeled as ‘natural.’ An innerspring mattress can be made ‘natural’ and non-off-gassing with the use of a natural insulator such as latex or wool, and/or with cotton comfort layers, and/or a quilt layer containing one of the same fillers.

Note that some mainstream manufacturers will label their mattresses ‘natural’ or ‘eco’ even with only ONE natural fiber component to it, never mind the chemical compounds in the other layers. Does this sound natural to you?

3. Latex Mattress

There are different processes for creating latex (Dunlop, Talalay, and Continuous Pour). By definition, latex is a compound that starts with sap from the rubber tree. However, most latex is created in a lab using petrochemicals, and they still call it latex (for shame). These petrochemicals will off-gas, but it’s likely to be a better choice than polyurethane.

Botanicore™, the purest latex available, comes 100% straight from rubber trees grown in some of the best-managed forest systems in the world, all within 10 degrees of the equator in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The extraction process is similar to tapping maple trees for syrup. (Anyone else visualizing pancakes right now?)

After harvesting, we thoroughly and scrupulously wash out potentially allergenic proteins. Then we mold our latex foam cores with no added chemicals. With NO added chemicals to off-gas, all-botanical latex foam mattresses are the best choice for healthy sleep. Botanicore™, unlike other latex foams used for mattresses, ensures a consistent feel to your sleep surface and maximum durability over time. It’s also available in different densities for a feel that matches your comfort preferences.

Beware: not every latex foam rubber mattress on the market is made like ours. Some manufacturers mix layers of latex with other, less expensive layers, such as polyfoam.  You should verify the composition of any mattress you’re interested in.

4. Air Bed or Air Mattress

Air beds use vinyl or polyurethane bladders in place of innerspring or foam cores. Polyurethane foam encases the air bladders for protection and comfort. It would be possible to make an airbed with comfort layers of wool, latex, or cotton — as that would eliminate much off-gassing potential, although the vinyl bladder would still off-gas — but were unaware of any company producing such a mattress.

5. Futon Mattress

Most futon mattresses these days contain synthetic foam plus a synthetic fire barrier. But it’s easy to make a non-off-gassing futon. Such a futon would be free of polyurethane foam layers and would use wool or cotton as the fill. It’s also possible to layer latex with those batting materials to add durability.

As a rule, futon mattresses tend to ‘mat’ and harden up over time. Cotton, a popular filling for futon mattresses, is a cheap non-toxic batting material but isn’t a long-term solution for a consistent surface feel.

Good choices for non-off-gassing mattresses

Yes, there are mattresses that are far less likely to off-gas than others, or won’t off-gas at all. It’s important for you, as a consumer, to know your stuff because you can’t always trust some retailers and salespeople to have or share correct information. A little time spent researching construction materials can pay dividends when searching for the lowest chemical emission mattresses.

The following non-off-gassing mattresses are comparable to other better quality mattresses. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you and your family aren’t being exposed daily to potentially unhealthy fumes.

Leave the marketing hype behind

Our natural & organic mattresses off-gas as little as possible, unlike memory foam & other chemical compounds. Getting a good night’s sleep that’s truly healthful starts here.

CLICK HERE FOR CHEMICAL-FREE MATTRESSES

15 thoughts on “Mattress Buyers’ Guide to Off-Gassing

  1. Ivy says:

    How long should I leave the mattress “air out” before sleeping on it? I just purchased a pillow top matterss, probably filled with polyurethean. I have it in the bedroom with the door closed, fan on and windows open. thank you, Ivy.

    • admin says:

      Hi Ivy,

      From our experience if you are really sensitive to the off gassing you may want to leave it out for about a week or so to let the new smell of foams dissipate.

    • admin says:

      Hi Ronnie,

      We recommend all the Englander Latex Mattress Models we carry. Our Englander models are made a little different than most of the other dealers out there carrying Englander. All of our latex mattresses have no cushioning of poly foams other than latex, except for 2 models. These 2 models however are 2 sided and flippable along with all the other models we carry. Most of our models have only natural wool or a thin layer of Dacron and Rayon for quilting. Which in turn means now flame retardants and little, to no break down that will cause body impressions. We feel in most cases if your going to buy a latex mattress you should only buy it if it only have 2 sides or is made up of only Latex.

  2. Vick says:

    Hi,

    I am very sensitive to off gassing. Do the latex mattresses need to be off gassed as well? If so how long?

    Is there a way to off gas one of your mattresses before it is shipped? What mattresses would you recommend from your list?

    Thanks
    Vick

    • Blake says:

      Vick,

      Botanical latex foam rubber will not have any chemical off gassing. However, it will have an odor when it is new; though the smell will dissipate quickly. The smell is totally non-toxic. That is not the case with blended latex. There are petrochemicals that can off gas from blended latex, including 1,3 butadiene.
      Botanical latex will not have any chemical off gassing that can harm you, and the smell of the new rubber is subtle; but if you need us to open the bag for a while to reduce the odor before shipping that is not a problem. Let me know if you have any further questions, I will be happy to help. Thanks,

      Blake Garfield

  3. paula gagnon says:

    I need input with a bob o pedic memory foam mattress I purchased 10 days ago..have been sleeping on and have smelt for the past week, what I know have learned, is off gassing. I really like the bed but need a way to remain the stench.
    Can you help me with some direction and guidance?
    Me and my kitties would greatly appreciate your input.
    Paula

  4. Dakota says:

    Hi B&MS,
    First, please let me say, “Thank You” for the great info and comment section as I find it very helpful in locating safe products for our home environment
    After all, we can only do our part for the outside environment and the air we breathe!
    Thanks to sites like B&MS we can use your products as a safe and effective adjuncts to our home’s environment!
    Thanks again and enjoy life’s moments as they are gifts,
    DR

  5. Bruce says:

    We have a wonderful Select Comfort 5000 mattress but found mold within the components. Select Comfort graciously replaced all the affected areas for free, for which we are grateful. The most recent replacement however, the black foam egg crate, seems to be off-gassing and causing us problems. My wife wakes each morning with a swollen face and botox-like lips. Her lips are so dry, chapped and peeling, always trying to recover from the damage done overnight. We have both had sore throats lately with some sneezing and coughing that never develop into a cold or flu. My wife now has burning in her throat and sinuses, and minor headaches. My question is this: once a person finds that a mattress component is off-gassing, what can be done? How can we clean it? How can we rid it of the damaging chemicals? Thank you.

  6. Marnie says:

    I really could not afford a $4000 organic mattress but I think made a good choice with a high quality model Simmons Beautyrest made with materials manufactured in the USA. My mattress just arrived and I plan on protecting it with a Permafresh encasing to help prevent off gassing and an organic mattress pad/cover (worth the $$$). Right now the mattress is “gassing off” overnight in my bedroom with door closed and all windows open.

  7. linda breed says:

    We love our latex mattress purchased from you three years ago – so comfortable and not hot. However, we are noticing an odor from the mattress that appears to come and go. Our pillows and pjs also absorb the order. I called your company and the person I talked to was more than willing to come out and try to resolve the problem, but I am not sure there is anything that can be done for an odor that “comes and goes.” Do you have any suggestions for something we could put on the latex that might help with the odor? It’s kind of a fishy type smell, similar to the odor when we first bought the mattress that disappeared after a week or two.

    • Blake Garfield says:

      It is probably a function of body moisture having made it into the mattress. I’d suggest putting on a mattress encasement and maintaining good temperature regulation. Add a washable wool mattress pad if you don’t have one already.

  8. Agata Waliczek says:

    Good job on the description on latex mattresses. You are correct there is a lot of chemical latex out there that is marketed as natural. I also totally agree and hear of many people having awful experiences with their new memory foam mattresses for at least a few weeks, to the point where some can’t even sleep on their new bed for weeks due to the off-gassing. Others frequently complain about headaches as well.
    Another issue that I see is that even though the smell might go after some time, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it actually stopped off-gassing. There are many dangerous chemicals that do not have smells…

  9. Chris Pederson says:

    I had no idea that some mattresses have off gasses that can be harmful to chemically sensitive people. I don’t know if my kids are sensitive to these chemicals. I’ll be sure to get a mattress that doesn’t have any off gasses just to be safe.

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