Mattresses need a fire barrier. Fiberglass is a cheap and effective material you’ll find in lots of memory foam mattresses. But do all memory foam mattresses have fiberglass? Luckily, the answer is no.
Before we go any further, here’s the quick list of the best 3 I’ve confirmed with the manufacturers that do NOT contain fiberglass:
- Puffy (my top choice, save an epic $750 for a limited time)
- Tuft & Needle Original Mattress
- TempurPedic Mattress (the original and best known memory foam brand)
Memory foam mattresses with no fiberglass usually use silica, sometimes mixed with wool to create the fire barrier.
I’ve spoken directly with mattress brands about exactly what they put in their mattresses and I want to assure you that you CAN buy a memory foam mattress without fiberglass!
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
- 3 Memory Foam Mattresses That DON’T Have Fiberglass
- 5 Memory Foam Mattresses That DO Have Fiberglass
- How To Tell If Your Mattress Has Fiberglass (and what to do if it does)
- Why Fiberglass Is Even Used In Mattresses Anyway
Which Memory Foam Mattresses Do Not Contain Fiberglass?
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  |
| Get Best Price | |
Popular  |
| Check Price | |
Luxury Choice  |
| Get Best Price |
Which Ones DO Have Fiberglass?
Here’s a list of 5 popular Amazon mattresses that DO have fiberglass:
- Zinus
- Classic Brands
- Vibe
- Ashley Furniture
- Amazon Basics
Here’s some other brands that also use fiberglass:
- Purple
- GhostBed
- DreamCloud
- Nectar
Note: I couldn’t actually get a straight answer out of DreamCloud/Nectar (they’re the same company) which makes me assume they DO use it. Also, if you can’t get a straight answer from a company do you want to buy from them?
How Do I Know If My Mattress Has Fiberglass?
There are three ways to tell if a mattress has fiberglass inside:
- Read the label to find what the mattress is made of. You’re looking for words like “fiberglass” (obviously), “glass wool”, or “glass fiber”
- Check your mattress instructions. If it states “do not remove the cover” (or words to that effect) that’s usually because there’s fiberglass in it. HOT TIP: some mattresses have zips on the cover, even though they have a “do not remove cover” warning. This zip is part of the manufacturing process, not an invitation to remove the cover. If you find yourself with a mattress that has a zip AND an instruction to never remove the cover, don’t touch that zip!
- Can’t find either of the first two? Here’s when I would assume a memory foam mattress contains fiberglass:
- It was cheap (I’ll define this as under $500 for a Queen or King size mattress) AND
- It’s made in China
What To Do If It Does:
So you’ve realized your memory foam mattress contains fiberglass. First of all, don’t panic! The fiberglass isn’t toxic, but it will be annoying and even hazardous if it gets out of the mattress (more on that further down the post). Here’s how you deal with your mattress to keep the fiberglass in:
- Don’t remove the cover. Fiberglass is used as a fire retardant layer above the memory foams under the cover. Remove the cover and you risk unleashing the fiberglass. Keep it contained!
- Use a mattress protector. If the mattress cover gets a hole in it, fiberglass could escape through it. Remember, these are often cheap mattresses, so the cover material may be thin or less durable than more expensive brands. Cover your mattress with a good quality protector as insurance against holes (and to extend the life of your mattress).
- Consider replacing it. If the idea of fiberglass in your mattress is just really freaking you out, it would be worth your peace of mind to just replace the mattress with a mattress that does not contain fiberglass. I’ve listed some great options for you earlier in this post.
Why Do Some Memory Foam Mattresses Even Have Fiberglass?
Why It’s Used
In the USA, all mattresses are required under federal law to have some sort of fire barrier or fire retardant in it.
Fiberglass is a popular choice of fire barrier because it’s low cost and non toxic. In the event of a fire it will melt in on itself (like liquid glass) without releasing toxic fumes.
While fiberglass is non toxic, (we use fiberglass all through our houses for insulation, etc), but it can be really annoying if it gets into the wrong spaces.
Why It Can Be A Problem
Ever touched an insulation panel that goes in a wall? Chances are it made you itchy. Fiberglass fibers are extremely fine but pointy, which can cause itching and irritation for some people.
If fiberglass escapes the mattress, it will be very hard to clean up. The fine particles can end up in your bedding, your clothes, your floor… and you could have to pay a lot of money to remove them.
This short video highlights both the hazards of fiberglass if it escapes from a mattress, and also how it is an EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE fire barrier (watch the mattresses burning at around 2 minutes in).
