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Worried that the Purple mattress you’re currently sleeping on might have some fiberglass? Or you might have Purple mattresses on your to-buy list and you’re doing your due diligence. In any case, you’ve come to the right place ‘coz we’ve done all the due diligence for you and then some.
Does Purple mattress have fiberglass inside?
No, Purple mattresses do not contain fiberglass. Purple uses a fiberglass-free and chemical-free flame retardant that’s made from specialized silica fabric.
While silica fabric is classified as a synthetic material, it’s still safer to sleep on a mattress that utilizes one rather than mattresses that contain a fiberglass or chemical-based fire barrier.
Unlike some mattress manufacturers that weave their flame retardants into the mattress cover, Purple’s silica fabric flame barrier can be found deep within the mattress, protecting its internal foam components.
As you probably know by now, foam mattresses are particularly susceptible to fires, especially polyurethane foam (and yes, even if it’s high quality polyurethane foam).
Although Purple mattresses differ slightly from your run of the mill memory foam mattress, they still contain foam layers underneath their proprietary Purple Grid which is made from hyper elastic polymer.
Read our Purple mattress review for more in-depth info about how they’re constructed.
Are Purple mattresses safe to sleep on?
Purple mattresses are definitely safe to sleep on. They are made from safe and tested foam and are also certified by Clean Air GOLD (and yes, includes the entire Purple mattress lineup).
Not a lot of mattress companies are backed by a Clean Air GOLD certification. For Purple mattresses, this means they are free from any harmful chemicals, heavy metals, phthalates, VOCs and other known toxins that can be hazardous to not only people but to the environment.
The safest mattresses to sleep on are organic mattresses such as 100% latex mattresses from reputable organic mattress companies and although the Purple mattress is not exactly organic since it is made up of polyurethane foam and polymers, it is still a safe mattress to sleep on as opposed to fiberglass mattresses.
And if you’re wondering about the Purple mattress lawsuit, then you can rest easy because that has been settled in favor of Purple.
Why mattress brands use fiberglass
The main reason mattresses contain fiberglass is that fiberglass has a high melting point and when used in mattresses, it can help naturally slow flames down in the event of a fire.
As we’ve mentioned previously, foam mattresses are particularly prone to catching fire due to its chemical make-up.
While most mattress brands use either a natural fire barrier such as organic wool or silica fibers, they can be expensive to manufacture.
Some mattress companies choose to cut costs by using fiberglass – which is cheap and easily sourced – as a fire retardant in their mattresses.
Risks of fiberglass exposure
Generally speaking, sleeping on mattresses that contain fiberglass is fairly safe – just as long as the fiberglass particles stay within the mattress and don’t escape.
Fiberglass in mattresses can pose more than a few health risks when people are exposed to it.
The tiny glass fibers are nearly invisible to the naked eye, making it impossible to spot them immediately in case they make their way out of a mattress. Some people report seeing shimmery shards on their mattress surface. Those shimmery shards are in fact tiny glass particles.
Because these fiberglass particles are teeny tiny, they can easily make their way into a person’s respiratory tract which poses the biggest health risk, as these glass particles can then get into your lungs.
Other risks include skin irritation as well as eye and throat irritation.
Bear in mind that fiberglass not only affects humans but animals too so if you have any pets and they’re also exposed to fiberglass, they shall experience the same symptoms as you do.
Once fiberglass escapes from a mattress, there isn’t really much you can do to contain them because they become airborne immediately. They can then make their way to your air vents, ac units and spread throughout your entire home causing even more harm.
If you are certain that you have been exposed to fiberglass from a fiberglass mattress, the best course of action is to enlist the services of professional cleaners who are well-trained in dealing with fiberglass contamination. These services can be, as you might have already guessed by now, very expensive.
You can also do your best to contain the fiberglass leak if you find the source such as a cut or tear in your mattress but these are only temporary measures.
How to tell if a mattress contains fiberglass
There are more than a few ways to find out whether a mattress contains fiberglass or not.
- Check the mattress tag – By law, mattress manufacturers are legally bound to state the materials used in a mattress. Some manufacturers try to use terms such as glass fibers, glass wool or glass reinforced plastic instead of outright stating fiberglass. These all mean fiberglass. Beware.
- Non-removable cover – Usually a non-removable mattress cover can indicate that a mattress contains fiberglass. By not removing the cover, it means that the fiberglass stays within the mattress without any chance of escaping.
- Made overseas – Rules and regulations when it comes to mattress manufacturing can be less stringent overseas (such as in China) compared to mattresses made in the United States. Using the readily available and inexpensive fiberglass as a flame barrier means output can be greater in less time and less costs.
- Cheap prices – Although not all inexpensive mattresses contain fiberglass, most do. Again, cheaper materials means brands can sell them at a lower cost and fiberglass is the cheapest type of fire retardant there is.
If you have confirmed that the current mattress you sleep on does have fiberglass, don’t just throw it away if it still serves its purpose and you are sure that it has no leaks.
As an extra layer of protection, always use a mattress protector and never attempt to remove the mattress cover.
FAQs
Purple mattresses do not contain any harmful chemicals that may be detrimental to one’s health or the environment. All of Purple’s mattresses are certified by Clean Air GOLD which means they are free from any toxins, chemicals and VOCs.
Although Purple mattresses are made from both synthetic and natural materials, they do not contain any formaldehyde.
Conclusion
If you’re currently eyeing a Purple mattress or you’re already sleeping on one, you can rest easy and know that it does not contain fiberglass.
Purple mattresses offer superior pressure relief due to their unique Purple Grid layer that’s contouring like a memory foam mattress yet responsive like an innerspring mattress.
If and when possible, always opt for fiberglass-free mattresses to avoid fiberglass exposure.
Next step: Read our guide to Purple mattress alternatives. It’s always a good idea to shop around before making a buying decision, which is why we created a list of Purple’s biggest competitors.
Also read our Purple vs. Casper vs. Nectar comparison for more details about how the brand stacks up to the big boys in the mattress industry.
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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