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I’m sure you’ve already heard all about the cases of fiberglass leaking out of people’s mattresses. Do pillows have fiberglass too? Let’s find out whether you’re resting your head on a ticking time bomb or if it’s really nothing to worry about.
Do pillows have fiberglass inside?
No, pillows don’t have fiberglass.
The only reason fiberglass is used at all is that some (very often Chinese) companies found cheap ways to comply with a US law that requires all mattresses sold in the country to be flame-resistant. So, this goes for mattresses. Remember that for later.
While some mattresses use high-quality materials like wool, organic cotton, and rayon, others developed safe types of fabric that contain glass fibers in the fiber core (this type of fabric acts just like any other fabric and is harmless).
The cheapest mattress brands use the worst type of fiberglass. Although fiberglass is fire-resistant, its particles can leak out and hurt people. These mattresses very often tend to be memory foam mattresses.
So, why am I talking about mattresses all of a sudden?
Mainly because fiberglass in beds was unheard of until 2019 and later, when those cheap mattress brands switched from toxic chemical flame retardants (’cause they got banned) to, you guessed it, cheap fiberglass.
At the moment, many people are frightened because they saw social media posts of individuals who recorded the sparkly dust of fiberglass particles scattered all over their homes.
There are even fiberglass lawsuits out there. Many common people are confused because this whole thing makes no sense to them and now they think they might find fiberglass in pillows or blankets.
So, to make it short – there are no laws or standards for the flammability of pillows.
Even the brands notorious for fiberglass leaks do not sell pillows with fiberglass.
So, if you buy a Nectar pillow or a Zinus pillow, rest assured they are fiberglass-free. It doesn’t matter if they are cheap memory foam pillows, natural latex pillows, or pregnancy pillows, they are all safe when it comes to glass fibers.
What would be the risk of sleeping on a pillow with fiberglass?
If there was such a thing as a fiberglass memory foam pillow, you’d run the same risks as you would with a mattress that contains a fiberglass sock as a flame retardant.
Since you sleep with your face on the pillow, you’d be super close to the fiberglass fibers and since they are easily broken, you’d be inhaling fiberglass particles and they would end up in your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin – especially the skin on your face, neck, and chest.
This would very likely cause allergic reactions such as:
- eye irritation,
- nose irritation or nose bleeding,
- throat irritation,
- skin irritation,
- breathing problems, coughing, and sneezing.
What fiberglass does
Fiberglass particles tend to float around in the air because they are so thin and tiny. They can spread all over the bed, floors, clothes, and even other rooms.
Sometimes people don’t have sensitive skin and never develop a rash, but fiberglass that ends up in their body still does the damage.
They may not know what’s wrong and they might think that they’re only missing out on a good night’s sleep, but the underlying cause of their sleep loss, breathing problems, itchy eyes, and fatigue is actually fiberglass.
Other types of toxic materials in pillows
Of all pillow types, the memory foam pillows and polyurethane pillows probably contain the worst chemicals because they off-gas chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Foam releases a chemical smell which is the most noticeable in new products.
However, off-gassing doesn’t end after a few weeks; it keeps going on, especially as your body warms up the foam and as you move around in bed, alleviating the release of chemicals.
The VOCs in memory foam pillows often include harmful chemicals such as:
- Formaldehyde
- Diisocyanates (including toluene)
- Benzene
- Propylene oxide and TDI
- Methylene chloride
- Perchloroethylene
- Boric acid
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), known as Freon
And this is not the complete list.
There could be much more stuff getting released. Worse yet, if you sleep with your face in the pillow (and you probably do end up in such a position at some point, regardless of your sleep preferences), you’re inhaling all of those harmful chemicals directly from the source!
Some don’t mind the smell, but people with sensitive noses and eyes who use memory foam pillows might get an allergic reaction.
Exposure to these chemicals can be similar to exposure to fiberglass – heavy breathing, itchy eyes, sore nose, etc. Be wary of toxic symptoms so that you can take prompt action.
How to know if your pillow contains fiberglass
Pillows don’t contain fiberglass.
But if you’re concerned about fiberglass exposure from other furniture in your house, you should check the label or call the manufacturer.
The furniture that tends to give people issues with fiberglass is often made in China and is super cheap. The label usually says “fiberglass”, “silica”, “glass wool”, or “glass fiber”.
There might be fiberglass in sofas, armchairs, or other upholstered furniture because, per the law I mentioned at the beginning, all upholstered furniture needs to be fire-resistant, just like mattresses.
This means that some manufacturers might have used fiberglass as a flame retardant at some point.
Mattresses by Zinus, Vibe, and Nectar, among others, have recently been talked about in the media because their mattresses leaked fiberglass and injured thousands of people, contaminating their homes across America.
Some lawsuits have been filed, and around that time, the story about fiberglass blew up in the media.
Finally, fiberglass is commonly used as insulation. It is in walls and attics, keeping the home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. A fantastic insulation material.
But if anything gets damaged, you can be exposed to fiberglass fibers and end up with all the fiberglass exposure symptoms.
FAQs
Although generally safe for use, we can say that memory foam pillows are not absolutely 100% safe to sleep on because even though they don’t contain fiberglass, they have a plethora of synthetic chemicals that your body could do without. Even foams carrying fancy certifications contain chemicals that can potentially be harmful after long-term exposure. Memory foam pillows and memory foam mattresses alike off-gas chemicals that impair the indoor air quality.
No. Casper pillows are made of down, down-alternative, or foam. They have removable and washable cotton pillowcases.
No, the Nectar memory foam pillow does not contain fiberglass. This pillow has a Tencel memory foam-quilted cover and two types of foam filling – polyurethane foam and Nectar’s signature memory foam.
Conclusion
If your concern is fiberglass in pillows, worry no more. No pillows come with a spiky glass fiber filling because pillows don’t come with any flame retardants whatsoever.
There is a law that requires mattresses and upholstered furniture to be fire-resistant, so you should check the label on those items if you want to be sure your home is fiberglass-free.
Additionally, fiberglass can be secured in walls, acting as insulation, but it also carries some risks.
Now back to pillows.
Most memory foam pillows and polyurethane foam pillows release VOCs that are harmful and that do not exist in natural materials such as organic cotton, organic wool, down, etc.
When shopping, choose traditional pillows made of natural materials if you want to be sure you sleep healthy.
Next step: Read our guide to the best organic pillow. An organic pillow is the only real option if you’re worried about the risks of sleeping on toxic materials. We tested out all of the top brands to make sure that they’re safe to sleep on.
With over 5 years experience writing about sleep and mattresses, she's considered one of the go-to experts on the topic.
She likes cycling, nature, art, and languages. She pays special attention to providing you with accurate and useful information when it comes to your sleep quality.
After solving her personal sleep and tiredness problems, she is on to help others by sharing this invaluable information.
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