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We all know this popular Swedish brand. In fact, we may have one or two (or thirty) of their products lying around in our homes. And their mattresses are some of the most popular items that they offer. But do Ikea mattresses have fiberglass? Let’s find out.
Do Ikea mattresses have fiberglass?
No, Ikea mattresses do not contain fiberglass. Instead, Ikea uses fire retardants made out of nylon and polyester, which are safer and equally cheaper fiberglass alternatives.
Not only that, Ikea mattresses also do not contain any fire retardant chemicals in or beneath their mattress cover, making the Ikea mattress one of the safest mattresses on the market.
Because Ikea is pretty well-known and used worldwide, they have taken extra steps and precautions to ensure that their mattresses meet the fire safety standards around the world without any risk of fiberglass exposure.
Ikea offers all kinds of mattress types from the cheaper polyurethane foam-based mattresses, to memory foam mattresses, hybrid mattresses, innersprings and latex mattresses. Their most popular mattresses are their Abygda mattress, a memory foam mattress and their Hagesund mattress, an innerspring mattress.
Are IKEA mattresses toxic or dangerous?
Ikea mattresses are neither toxic nor dangerous. They strive to meet world industry standards by using safer fire retardant materials as alternatives to ensure fire protection.
Ikea mattresses also do not contain harmful materials or any harmful chemicals that may be detrimental to both a person’s health and the environment. In fact, if you have an Ikea mattress, you might have noticed the absence of too much off-gassing. A lot of off-gassing can be a sign that a mattress contains various chemicals and questionable materials of which some can pose some serious health problems.
As a company, Ikea adheres to a strict worldwide compliant environmental policy that completely omits the use of harmful materials and toxic chemicals in all of their products, not just mattresses.
What other mattress brands contain fiberglass?
It may come as a surprise to you (or not) but a lot of mattress manufacturers (such as Zinus) use a fiberglass sock as a flame retardant in their mattresses, some of which are more well-known than others.
Some of the brands that use fiberglass in their mattresses are:
- Zinus mattress
- Ashley Furniture
- Molblly
- Linenspa
- Lucid mattress
- Sleep Innovations
- Olee Sleep
Why do some manufacturers put fiberglass in mattresses?
Mattress foam is extremely flammable hence why by law, mattress manufacturers are required to include a fire barrier in each and every one of their mattresses. Mattress manufacturing processes can be very expensive, especially when premium, high quality materials are used. Some mattress brands like to cut costs by utilizing an inexpensive yet effective fire retardant in their mattresses. Effective yes, but a fiberglass mattress comes with risks.
Fiberglass or glass fiber (as well as glass fiber reinforced plastic) is commonly used as an inexpensive flame retardant/fire barrier by brands including Nectar. A flame retardant, as its name suggests, works by preventing or slowing down the spread of a fire which, in the case of mattresses (especially a foam mattress), is crucial. Modern mattress manufacturers are required by law to adhere to this rule. If not, their mattresses will not pass the health and safety standards as set by the government. Which means: no pass, no sales.
But as effective as fiberglass is in preventing a mattress from catching fire, it comes with health risks when a person is exposed to it. That’s why premium brands like Tuft and Needle don’t put fiberglass in their mattresses.
Almost invisible when viewed by the naked eye, fiberglass fibers are small enough to be inhaled and ingested. Fiberglass fiber are also very sharp and exposure to it can cause a wide range of issues from skin, eye and throat irritation, to respiratory problems that can sometimes be so severe that it can require surgery to rectify the problem.
Fiberglass exposure happens when there’s a tear on either the mattress cover or the mattress itself is too worn down. While many people have used fiberglass mattresses with no issues, the risk is always there.
How to tell if there is fiberglass in your mattress
There are a few surefire ways to determine whether your mattress has fiberglass or not.
- Check your mattress tag – Some mattress companies don’t state outright that their mattresses contain fiberglass. Instead, they like to use certain terms like glass wool, glass fiber or glass fiber reinforced plastic. Other brands do state that their mattresses have fiberglass.
- A non-removable cover – Mattress covers (as well as the inner cover) that cannot be removed (and washed) usually mean that the mattress contains fiberglass. Doing so would release the fiberglass into the air. Note that we say usually and not always since some brands that have non-removable mattress covers are also fiberglass-free. Always check the label.
- Made in China tag – Fiberglass-free mattresses can be pricey because they are made in-house with locally sourced materials. Some are even made to order. Mattresses that contain fiberglass are usually produced overseas where both labor and materials are inexpensive and unregulated. Again, we say usually and not always but most mattresses that contain fiberglass and other fire retardant materials that can be detrimental to a person’s health are more often than not produced abroad.
- Cheap price – A price that’s too good to be true means the labor and materials used to make the mattress are also cheap. And the cheapest fire retardant there is, is fiberglass.
If you’ve confirmed that your mattress does contain fiberglass, it does not necessarily mean that you should toss it if it still serves its purpose. As long as the mattress is intact with no tears, then you can still safely use it.
Just make to exercise proper care and maintenance of your mattress to avoid any potential exposure. This means using the bed only for its intended purpose. Avoid eating and drinking in bed because spills can cause your mattress to wear down faster. Using mattress toppers as well as a mattress protector can also add an extra layer of protection to both you and your mattress.
If you find a small tear in your mattress, there is a safe way to clean the fiberglass off of your mattress and curb exposure.
FAQs
Not all mattresses contain fiberglass. A good number of mattress manufacturers use sheep’s wool, plant fibers and other safer, fiberglass alternatives as fire barriers.
Fiberglass can be toxic to both humans and animals when and if exposure happens. Small enough to be nearly invisible to the naked eye, fiberglass particles can cause skin, eye and throat irritation as well as mild to severe respiratory problems. It is best to avoid fiberglass mattresses.
Conclusion
Ikea mattresses do not contain fiberglass and are some of the safest mattresses you can buy. They also do not contain any harmful chemicals that can be toxic to your health or to the environment.
Always choose good alternatives when it comes to beds and mattresses to avoid any potential health problems.
Next step: Read our guide to natural organic mattresses. If you’re worried about fiberglass or other toxic ingredients in your mattress, then it’s worth spending extra to get an all-natural brand. Each mattress on this list is designed to be as safe as possible.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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