Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRisks of Sleeping on Fiberglass MattressesChecking For FiberglassQuality Mattresses
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Risks of Sleeping on Fiberglass Mattresses
Checking For Fiberglass
Quality Mattresses
Fiberglass is an artificial mineral fiber made from silica sand, limestone, recycled glass, and soda ash. It is valued as a low-cost and long-lasting way to provide heat resistance to various products. However, its use in mattresses has raised safety concerns about the risks of airborne exposure to the glass fibers.
Contact withfiberglasscan affect your eyes and skin. Inhaling tiny fiberglass particles can irritate your throat, nose, and lungs, and some people may also have breathing problems. The product label can tell you if your mattress contains fiberglass, though it is not always entirely accurate. Knowing what to look for can help you avoid having a mattress that contains fiberglass.
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Sleeping on a fiberglass mattress does not pose an issue if the fiberglass mattress cover remains undamaged. However, the fiberglass contents can be released if the cover gets ripped. The minuscule particles can become airborne and spread easily, contaminating your home. Cleaning up a home contaminated with fiberglass can potentially make your home uninhabitable. You may require the services of a professional company specializing in handling the problem.
Even if the cover remains intact, removing and washing it can release fiberglass shards into your washing machine. This will eventually contaminate anything that passes through the machine in subsequent washings.
Fiberglass is a known respiratory, skin, and eye irritant and asthmagen (asthma trigger) in exposed people.Exposure to fiberglass can vary based on the fiber size and method of exposure. Larger fibers are more likely to irritate your skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract in the following ways:
A Word From VerywellTo manage fiberglass skin exposure, remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin, and cleanse affected areas with warm water and mild soap. Then moisturize with cream or aloe vera to alleviate irritation. Avoid scratching, as it will make the discomfort worse.—ARNO KRONER, DAOM, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
To manage fiberglass skin exposure, remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin, and cleanse affected areas with warm water and mild soap. Then moisturize with cream or aloe vera to alleviate irritation. Avoid scratching, as it will make the discomfort worse.—ARNO KRONER, DAOM, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
To manage fiberglass skin exposure, remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin, and cleanse affected areas with warm water and mild soap. Then moisturize with cream or aloe vera to alleviate irritation. Avoid scratching, as it will make the discomfort worse.
—ARNO KRONER, DAOM, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
How to Ensure Your Mattress Doesn’t Have Fiberglass
The best way to ensure your mattress doesn’t have fiberglass is to take the following steps:
How to Choose the Right Mattress for You
How to Vet Quality Mattress Brands
There are plenty of reliable ways to vet quality mattress brands when you’re ready to purchase a new one. You’ll feel confident in your decision if you take on the task with the same amount of research and consideration you would give any major household purchase. Try these tips to learn where to start your search and find a reliable non-fiberglass mattress:
What is Environmental Health and What Critical Issues Impact Our Health?
Summary
Using fiberglass in mattresses provides a cheap and long-lasting source of heat resistance. While the product is harmless if it remains encased, releasing fiberglass shards can increase your risk of accidental exposure through airborne spread. Contact with fiberglass shards can irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Knowing what your mattress contains can help you make the best purchase choice. Read mattress labels and research brands to find the best options for your budget and concerns. While fiberglass may be more common in lower-priced mattresses, other materials, such as wool or rayon, offer peace of mind and more restful sleep.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.California Department of Public Health.Fiberglass maybe in your child’s mattress.TheRoundup.org.Is fiberglass in mattresses safe? The disturbing truth.Wagner J, Fowles J, Barreau T.Fiberglass and other flame-resistant fibers in mattress covers.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1695. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031695Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).Fiberglass.National Council on Aging Adviser.Best mattress without fiberglass in 2024.Center for Environmental Health.What all those certifications on mattresses actually mean.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.California Department of Public Health.Fiberglass maybe in your child’s mattress.TheRoundup.org.Is fiberglass in mattresses safe? The disturbing truth.Wagner J, Fowles J, Barreau T.Fiberglass and other flame-resistant fibers in mattress covers.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1695. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031695Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).Fiberglass.National Council on Aging Adviser.Best mattress without fiberglass in 2024.Center for Environmental Health.What all those certifications on mattresses actually mean.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
California Department of Public Health.Fiberglass maybe in your child’s mattress.TheRoundup.org.Is fiberglass in mattresses safe? The disturbing truth.Wagner J, Fowles J, Barreau T.Fiberglass and other flame-resistant fibers in mattress covers.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1695. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031695Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).Fiberglass.National Council on Aging Adviser.Best mattress without fiberglass in 2024.Center for Environmental Health.What all those certifications on mattresses actually mean.
California Department of Public Health.Fiberglass maybe in your child’s mattress.
TheRoundup.org.Is fiberglass in mattresses safe? The disturbing truth.
Wagner J, Fowles J, Barreau T.Fiberglass and other flame-resistant fibers in mattress covers.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1695. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031695
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).Fiberglass.
National Council on Aging Adviser.Best mattress without fiberglass in 2024.
Center for Environmental Health.What all those certifications on mattresses actually mean.
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