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Zinus has fast gained popularity because of their wide range of mattresses and budget-friendly prices. The Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress, their bestselling mattress, currently has a 4.8 rating on Amazon based on 16,000 verified reviews. But do Zinus mattresses have fiberglass? Let’s find out.
Do Zinus mattresses have fiberglass inside?
Yes, Zinus mattresses do contain fiberglass.
When asked, Zinus mattress customer service said that their mattresses contain silicon fibers as a fire barrier, which is just another term for fiberglass. Don’t believe me? Check your Zinus mattress tag. You’ll find the words ‘glass fibers’ which is, of course, fiberglass. The Zinus mattress lawsuit is specifically about this issue.
By law, all mattresses in the US are required to have a fire barrier. And while this helps protect you and your mattress in the unlikely event of a fire, some mattress brands use a fire retardant that poses a different but still potentially dangerous risk – fiberglass. Fiberglass is an inexpensive flame retardant used by a lot of mattress brands to help keep costs down while complying with the fire retardants requirement law.
If you’re wondering why Zinus mattresses are so inexpensive, here is your answer.
Are Zinus mattresses toxic?
Although not made from organic materials, you can be rest assured that Zinus mattresses are not toxic.
Their memory foam layers are CertiPUR-US certified. This means that they are free from toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, ozone depleters, heavy metals, phthalates, and other potentially hazardous chemicals.
Zinus mattresses also do not contain chemical fire retardants. Memory foam mattresses in particular like the ones from Zinus mattress, are very much susceptible to fire hazards, hence the fire barrier law. Mattress brands in the US use either fiberglass or organic materials as a fire barrier. As an example, organic wool is an excellent fire retardant and is used by high-end brands like Saatva and Avocado (both of which offer fiberglass-free mattresses).
How can you tell if your Zinus Green tea mattress contains fiberglass
There are a few key things to look for to be able to determine whether your Zinus memory foam mattress contains fiberglass or not. As you’ve seen above, some brands’ customer service teams may try to sugarcoat the fact that their mattresses contain fiberglass by throwing around words like silicon fiber. But below are the telltale signs that your mattress may just be hiding a fiberglass layer as a flame retardant underneath.
- Non-removable cover – Most mattresses have their fire barrier situated right underneath the mattress cover. This outer stretch knit cover is what you see surrounding the entire mattress. The fire barrier is an internal cover layer that acts as a protective layer for the mattress. A non-removable cover means the mattress brand is trying to ensure that the fiberglass particles from their fire barriers won’t escape. Usually (though not always), a non-removable outer cover is a dead giveaway that the mattress contains fiberglass. Should you suspect that your mattress has fiberglass, it’s always best to add an extra layer of protection in the form of a mattress protector and a mattress pad.
- Mattress labels – Mattress labels or mattress tags state what’s inside the mattress and what the fabric is made of. The terms glass fibers and silicon fibers mean that the mattress contains fiberglass. No mattress brand would outright state that their mattress contains fiberglass fibers.
- Made in China – This ties with the last point on this list. Often, mattresses that are made in China are churned out at an alarmingly fast pace, focusing on quantity rather than quality. That’s not to say that all mattresses manufactured in China contain fiberglass but brands that focus more on quantity often do.
- Low price point – Lower price points mean cheaper materials were used in making the mattress and a fiberglass flame retardant layer is an inexpensive fire resistant material that allows mattress companies to sell their products at a cheaper price.
Risks of fiberglass in a mattress
Symptoms of fiberglass exposure include:
- Skin irritation
- Sore throat
- Nose irritation
- Respiratory problems
- Lung scarring
Fiberglass contamination poses a whole host of health problems from ranging from skin irritation to respiratory problems.
You see, fiberglass particles are so tiny that some of them cannot even be seen with the naked eye. But how can something so tiny wreak so much havoc, you might ask?
Imagine hundreds of thousands tiny glass shards on your skin, in your eyes, and IN YOUR LUNGS. These shards can create tiny tears that can manifest as simple skin irritation to the more serious respiratory health issues that in some people only surgery could correct. All this from a mattress.
Those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis are even more prone to the more serious risks that can stem from fiberglass exposure. Oh, and contamination not only happens to humans but to animals as well.
Bear in mind that these risks can only happen if the fiberglass escapes from the mattress. Hence why you should never ever attempt to remove the mattress cover and we always suggest to use a mattress protector, even if your mattress does not contain any fiberglass. If you need to clean the surface of your mattress, spot clean gently. Should you find that you have been exposed to fiberglass from your Zinus mattress, there is a way to clean fiberglass if the contamination has not spread.
Other mattress brands that contain fiberglass
These are some of the most popular brands in the mattress industry whose mattresses contain fiberglass:
- Linenspa
- Lucid
- AmazonBasics
- PrimaSleep
- Olee Sleep
- Molblly
- Sleep Innovations
- Ashley Furniture
- Nectar
Like Zinus, a few different brands have been sued over the fiberglass issue. The Nectar lawsuit was about fiberglass in Nectar mattresses. Another example is the Ashley Furniture mattress lawsuit.
Why do some brands put fiberglass in their mattresses
So if fiberglass is as dangerous as it sounds, why do a lot of brands still use it as a fire retardant?
The answer to that is simple: money.
The cheaper it is to make a mattress, the cheaper to sell it. Most people these days are looking for budget brands and a fiberglass-free mattress often costs a lot of money. A fiberglass fire barrier is an inexpensive way to include a fire retardant that also complies with the laws mandated by the American Consumer Product Safety Commission. There are some exceptions, however. Ikea mattresses don’t contain fiberglass despite their low price.
FAQs
If you already own a Zinus mattress, there is no cause for alarm as long as you handle your mattress with care. Never remove the outer mattress cover and always use a mattress protector. A mattress pad or a mattress topper can also act as an additional protective layer. Replace your mattress immediately once you notice any visible signs of wear.
No, all mattresses made by Zinus contain fiberglass inside.
No, Zinus mattresses do not contain any toxic chemicals and they are certified by CertiPUR-US.
Yes, there is a class-action lawsuit against Zinus due to fiberglass exposure from their Green Tea mattress.
Conclusion
If you already own a Zinus mattress, there is no immediate need to throw it away or replace it, provided that you use the mattress for its intended purpose. Fiberglass contamination only happens when the mattress’ cover is torn or worn down by time and wear.
Next step: Read our Puffy mattress review. Puffy is a great option if you’re looking for a brand that doesn’t contain fiberglass. Their mattresses are comfortable, durable, and non-toxic. They’re one of our favorite brands and we highly recommend all three of their mattresses.
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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