topic Re: Check your Matresses in Community Chat

Check your Matresses

Twins Mom — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:30:21 GMT

A news report recently alerted me to the concern with foam matresses and with having fiberglass as a content. Apparently it help with fire retardancy but if the matresses' outer cover is removed, it can be a huge health and household danger. I don't pretend to be an expert, but it is worth checking and looking further into. Some peoples' homes were rendered uninhabitable when they removed the zippered outer cover to wash. I guess it's worrysome that the manufacturer puts on a zippered case, but it should really not be removed.

Re: Check your Matresses

Imaoldhippie — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:06:42 GMT

Can you provide the link or what news report you got this info from?

Re: Check your Matresses

Alison Wonderland — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:24:47 GMT

@Twins Mom wrote:
A news report recently alerted me to the concern with foam matresses and with having fiberglass as a content. Apparently it help with fire retardancy but if the matresses' outer cover it can be a huge health and household danger. I don't pretend to be an expert, but it is worth checking and looking further into. Some peoples' homes were rendered uninhabitable when they removed the zippered outer cover to wash.

The news reports I've found on this happening all report that the person took the cover off the mattress to wash it in the washing machine. If you avoid that, it shouldn't be a problem.

Cover the mattress with a washable mattress pad, the way I've always done with any non-foam mattress, and that's what you remove and wash, not the mattress cover.

Re: Check your Matresses

Alison Wonderland — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:26:25 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
Can you provide the link or what news report you got this info from?

She may not have because mods might delete it. There was a recent news article from this month going around online and I found a story from 2017 with a Google search.

Re: Check your Matresses

chrystaltree — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:41:21 GMT

I remember reading a similar article over a year ago. People were removing the mattress cover because they could but they weren't supposed to remove. I don't remember if there was a "don't remove tag". They are just like any other mattress, you don't remove the mattress cover. You cover the mattress with washable mattress cover and that's what you wash.

Re: Check your Matresses

chlema — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 18:03:26 GMT

If you're not supposed to remove the cover why in the world do they make the covers with a zipper?

Re: Check your Matresses

Alison Wonderland — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 18:09:34 GMT

@chlema wrote:
If you're not supposed to remove the cover why in the world do they make the covers with a zipper?

It might make them easier to install in the factory.

Re: Check your Matresses

CelticCrafter — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 18:28:17 GMT

@Alison Wonderland wrote:
@chlema wrote:
If you're not supposed to remove the cover why in the world do they make the covers with a zipper?
It might make them easier to install in the factory.

If that's the reasoning for it then they should figure out some way to make them unzippable once they have been covered and are ready for the consumer.

Re: Check your Matresses

chrystaltree — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:33:23 GMT

@chlema wrote:
If you're not supposed to remove the cover why in the world do they make the covers with a zipper?

I don't know but my guess would be it made it easier for the factory workers to build the mattresses. Odd though that they didn't forsee that people would think the covers should come off and be washed.

Re: Check your Matresses

Shawnie — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:47:14 GMT

I have never had a mattress with a zipper.

Re: Check your Matresses

depglass — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 22:45:54 GMT

This was a legit story on TV, unfortunately I can't remember which network. It was a real nightmare, the abatement company had to make several trips.

Re: Check your Matresses

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 23:08:46 GMT

I have a Sleep Number bed. I just had one side of it replaced (air was leaking).

I know what's in my mattress...air and rubber.

Re: Check your Matresses

Mindy D — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 23:34:14 GMT

@depglass wrote:
This was a legit story on TV, unfortunately I can't remember which network. It was a real nightmare, the abatement company had to make several trips.

I just checked, using key words from this discussion. I was able to find plenty of news articles about this. I'd link here but they embedded videos and ads. Just a google maresses with fiberglass. The most recent story is from a Texas. The mother was cleaning daughter's room. There was no do not remove tag visible to her. She found out when there was fiberglass itching her daughter after the washing. Then she called abatement co.fire for clean up three times because the fiberglass was all over everything in the room. They still had to throw out half the daughter's clothes. Then the mother found the manual for the mattress online. That's where it said not to remove the cover.

Re: Check your Matresses

Twins Mom — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 00:23:56 GMT

@ Mindy D
Thank you for your research. The local example indicated fiberglass in air conditioning, all carpet, etc in addition to health concerns.