Does Nectar Mattress Have Fiberglass? What You Need to Know

Nectar claim to make the comfiest mattress you can buy and you’re thinking of trying it out. There’s one thing stopping you from hitting that “buy” button though: you’re worried this mattress has fiberglass in it.

Unfortunately, despite my very direct questioning, Nectar would not tell me if their mattress has fiberglass inside it, so I think this means we have to assume it does.

I’ll take you through exactly what Nectar told me, and everything you need to know about fiberglass in mattresses.

What Nectar Said About Fiberglass

The chat below with DreamCloud (the same company as Nectar) shows you their stance on giving information to their customers: basically, they’re not allowed to say! That’s shady.

This is really not a good look for the self-proclaimed “America’s most popular mattress”. I wouldn’t sleep comfortably on it, knowing the company was not transparent with its customers…. would you?

If this has put you off Nectar, I suggest you check out my top 6 memory foam mattresses that I have been able to personally verify do not contain fiberglass, with companies that were straight-up honest with their answers.

The Role Of Fiberglass In Memory Foam Mattresses

In the USA, all mattresses are required under federal law to have some sort of fire barrier or fire retardant in it. Mattresses are made from highly flammable materials and it’s believed the introduction of this fire barrier requirement saves thousands of lives and injuries every year.

Fiberglass is a popular choice of fire barrier because it’s low cost and it’s very effective. In the event of a fire it will melt in on itself (like liquid glass) without releasing toxic fumes. I’ve seen videos of a mattress on fire that has a fiberglass fire barrier (I’ve included one further on so you can see too), and it pretty much just snuffed itself out.

While fiberglass is nontoxic, (we use fiberglass all through our houses for insulation, etc), it can cause problems if it gets into places it shouldn’t.

Fiberglass in Mattresses: A Cause For Concern

As long as the fiberglass inside the mattress cannot escape, there will be no problem. However, there have been instances where in cheaper brands, fiberglass has come out of a mattress, causing contamination to the area and also health problems.

Health problems can arise if the fibers become airborne and are inhaled or come into contact with the skin. Here are some potential health implications:

1. Respiratory Irritation: Inhaling airborne fiberglass particles can irritate the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing. Individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma may be more sensitive to these effects.
2. Skin Irritation: Contact with fiberglass can cause skin irritation, redness, itching, and discomfort. The tiny glass fibers can embed themselves in the skin, leading to irritation that may persist until the fibers are removed.
3. Eye Irritation: Fiberglass particles can cause irritation to the eyes, resulting in redness, tearing, and discomfort. It is essential to avoid rubbing the eyes if fiberglass particles come into contact with them.
4. Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may be allergic to fiberglass, and exposure can trigger allergic reactions such as hives, itching, or a rash.

Unfortunately, Amazon, Reddit, and other places around the internet where people talk about mattresses are FULL of people who’ve been hit with having to deal with fiberglass escaping from their mattress. One of the biggest memory foam manufacturers in the US, Zinus, is even facing a lawsuit about fiberglass in their mattresses.

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).

Identifying Fiberglass in Your Mattress

There are three ways to tell if a mattress has fiberglass inside:

1. Read the label to find out what the mattress is made of. You’re looking for words like “fiberglass” (obviously), “glass wool”, “glass fiber”, or “glass yarn”.
2. 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!
3. 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. You can ask a brand directly if you’re unsure, but I’ve done that hard work for you with these mattress fiberglass articles.

This is a photograph of Tempurpedic mattress label. You can clearly see the words “glass fiber” listed as a material in the netting of the mattress.

How To Deal With it

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:

1. 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.
2. 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 (LINK) as insurance against holes (and to extend the life of your mattress.
3. 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.

Making An Informed Choice: Selecting A Safe Mattress

Luckily, most brands are very up-front about the materials used inside their mattresses, and will tell you if their mattress contains fiberglass.

I’ve been through as many mattress brands as I can, getting this information for you.

If you want to do your own research before purchasing a mattress, ask them questions about what is in the fire barrier, what is in the netting, and also just straight up ask if there is fiberglass or glass fiber anywhere in the mattress. If you do not get an answer you are happy with, buy from another brand.

Mattresses With Fiberglass: Brand List

This list was correct at the time of writing this article, and may be subject to change.

• Zinus
• Allswell
• Olee Sleep
• Casper
• Sleep Innovations
• Linenspa
• DreamCloud
• Lucid
• Vibe
• Purple
• GhostBed

Mattresses Without Fiberglass: Brand List

This list was correct at the time of writing this article and may be subject to change.

Nectar Mattress Fiberglass: Final Verdict

I’ve spent a lot of time researching and thinking about this issue. I’ve seen too many images of glass fibers poking out of mattresses and heard too many scary stories to feel like I’d be comfortable buying a mattress with fiberglass in it.

Since Nectar won’t tell us one way or the other, we have to assume the mattress DOES have fiberglass. Why else would they dodge the question? This terrible customer service along with the suspicion about fiberglass really puts me off and it should put you off, too.

When there are other brands offering you fiberglass free mattresses that are awesome quality for a great price, it’s a total no brainer to recommend you buy one of them instead.