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If you’ve made the mistake of taking the cover off your cheap mattress, then you’re probably dealing with fiberglass contamination. I’m not going to lie to you: this is definitely an extremely unpleasant situation you’ve found yourself in. Fortunately there are a few simple steps you can follow to fix the problem. Here’s how to clean fiberglass from a mattress.
Steps for how to clean fiberglass from a mattress
The steps for cleaning fiberglass from a mattress are:
- Put on protective equipment and turn off air conditioner
- Locate the fiberglass leak
- Use a zipped encasement to cover the mattress
- Bag up any loose fiberglass
- Use a lint roller around the bed
- Vacuum the area
- Dispose of the mattress
A thorough mattress cleaning is needed when dealing with fiberglass particles. No ifs, ands or buts about it. When we say thorough, we mean you need to go all out on the cleaning, even if it means cleaning your entire house just to be on the safe side.
Fiberglass particles are glass fibers that are nearly invisible to the naked eye due to their tiny size. But these tiny fiberglass fibers can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin and can even cause long term damage. These tiny fibers can not only affect humans but pets as well.
Before anything else, make sure to keep children and animals far away from the room where the fiberglass mattress is in. This is not only for their safety but for your sanity as well.
Step 1: Put on protective equipment and turn off air conditioner
Short of wearing a hazmat suit, make sure you wear protective clothing before tackling any leaked fiberglass. You can make your own protective suit with items from around the house such as a raincoat or windbreaker, rain boots, gloves and face mask. Make sure to protect your eyes as well with scratch-resistant, wraparound glasses such as those that construction workers wear. Important tip: make sure to have showered before putting on a protective suit to wash away any fiberglass that may have already latched onto your skin and hair.
While you think your home’s central ventilation can help with filtering out any free-floating fiberglass particles, think again. Fans and air conditioning systems will only make things worse by further dispersing the fiberglass all throughout your home so turn all of these off and let the air settle before you begin cleaning.
Step 2: Locate fiberglass leak
Locating the fiberglass leak can be tricky, because as we’ve mentioned, you won’t be able to see the particles. But, mattresses that use fiberglass as a fire retardant (e.g. Nectar mattress uses fiberglass) usually have the fiberglass layer right underneath the inner mattress cover and leaks usually happen when there’s a tear on the cover itself. Find the tear and patch with either duct tape or reinforced plastic.
A worn out mattress cover can also be the culprit. If that’s the case, it might be best to change out the entire mattress since a worn out cover usually also means a worn out mattress and a worn out mattress with fiberglass poses even bigger health risks.
Step 3: Use a zipped encasement to cover the mattress
Now that you’ve patched up the leak, it’s time to add an extra layer of protection in the form of zippered encasement covers. You can find these mattress covers in most hardware and home improvement stores and they come in all standard mattress sizes. Do not attempt to make a DIY mattress cover if you are not a professional because this may only do you more harm than good.
Using a zipped encasement cover helps prevent glass fibers from escaping further. If you decide to swap out your old mattress for a new, fiberglass-free mattress, you can also use mattress bags to move it out of your home to help prevent further contamination.
Step 4: Bag up any loose fiberglass
Sometimes the glass fibers pool up in areas of the bed or around it. If you spot any on or around the bed, sweep it off carefully onto a dust pan with a broom that has fine bristles and bag it up into a trash bag. Use a broom and dust pan that you are willing to part with just to ensure that you won’t have any rogue glass fibers and glass wool lingering about.
Step 5: Use a lint roller around the bed
Once you have your mattress safely into the zipped encasement and bagged up any loose glass fibers, run a lint roller all around the bed, even your bed frame. Dispose of the used lint roller papers carefully and immediately.
Step 6: Vacuum the area
Vacuum the entire bed and the entire bedroom with a vacuum cleaner, preferably one with a HEPA filter. A HEPA air filter can remove particles as tiny as 0.3 microns and will be able to suck up any remaining glass fibers. Don’t be afraid to vacuum twice or thrice if need be to get all the fiberglass out of your bed and bedroom.
Tip: While you’re at it, you may want to clean out your air conditioner’s filter as well as this may have also sucked up some glass fibers.
Step 7: Dispose of the mattress
If you feel or decide that your mattress is beyond any hope and the fiberglass contamination is beyond your control or even that of a professional, then it’s probably time to dispose of your mattress. Again, always use a mattress bag, preferably one that’s made from reinforced plastic, for proper disposal. You don’t want to go contaminating the whole neighborhood. Some cities and states have mattress disposal services which you can look into and some are even free of charge (this depends on the area where you live so be sure to check).
We understand that mattresses are a big investment and maybe you do not have the budget to spring for one of those top of the line fiberglass-free memory foam mattresses you’ve been eyeing. Fret not, we’ve got a comprehensive list of fiberglass-free mattresses that can suit any budget and can fit any need.
How dangerous is fiberglass?
The risk of fiberglass exposure is too high even with the tiniest leak. This is because the glass fibers from fiberglass particles are super tiny and a lot can escape even from just a small tear on the mattress cover. But how and why is it so dangerous?
Picture yourself cutting your finger on broken glass as you’re washing the dishes. Ow, right? Now imagine these broken glass to be tinier than a speck of refined sugar and multiply that by a thousand. And because they’re so tiny and light, these glass fibers can go airborne. You not only will lie on them but you’ll be able inhale them as well. They can get into your eyes, ears and mouth.
Skin and eye irritations are the most common symptoms of fiberglass contamination but there have been more than a few reports of glass fibers getting up as far as a person’s lungs, wreaking havoc on the respiratory system. Sometimes these glass fibers can be larger and to prevent any fatal health risks, surgery had to be conducted to take out these fibers.
Again, we are not saying this to scare you because not all fiberglass mattresses tear so easily and a fiberglass fire barrier is safe to sleep on as long as it stays within the mattress but the risks are always going to be there.
How to tell if a mattress contains fiberglass
How to tell if your mattress contains fiberglass:
- Presence of a “do not remove mattress cover” tag
- Made-in-China label
- Cheap price
- Polyfoam construction
There are a few telltale signs on how you can find out whether a mattress contains fiberglass. It doesn’t matter what mattress type either, be it a memory foam mattress, an innerspring or a hybrid mattress, it always depends on the brand. That said, fiberglass is most used as a flame retardant in all-foam or memory foam mattresses.
Presence of a “do not remove mattress cover” tag
The presence of a “DO NOT REMOVE MATTRESS COVER” tag can be one sign of a mattress that has fiberglass beneath. To be fair, not all mattress manufacturers use fiberglass even with the presence of said tag but a lot of cheaper brands do.
If your mattress comes with a non-removable mattress cover, it’s best to check the tag thoroughly since they are legally required to state what’s in the mattress. The key words to look for are “glass fibers” or “glass wool”. These both are fancy terms for fiberglass.
Made-in-China label
Mattresses that are mass-produced overseas tend to almost always contain fiberglass. Why? Because fiberglass fire retardants are cheaper to produce than fire retardants made from natural materials. The cheaper to make, the more you can sell at a huge profit. And so the cog goes on.
Cheap price
In line with the previous telltale sign, mattresses that are suspiciously cheap mean they most probably contain cheaper fire retardants such as fiberglass or chemical fire retardants.
If you suspect the cheap mattress you want to buy has a fiberglass fire barrier, you can always contact the mattress manufacturer through phone or via their official website to confirm. Beware again of the key words they might throw around instead of saying fiberglass outright.
Polyfoam construction
Mattresses made from cheaper polyfoam often have cheaper fire barriers although some memory foam mattresses also may contain them. Again, always check the label and confirm with the mattress manufacturer directly. Most online reviews (such as those found on our website) always state whether a mattress contains fiberglass or not.
Mattresses without memory foam are less likely to contain fiberglass, but you should still double-check if you’re concerned.
Is it necessary to get rid of a fiberglass mattress?
In short, no. But only if you take proper care of your mattress. Do not place anything sharp on or near your mattress if you know it contains a fiberglass layer. Use it only for sleeping and other bedroom activities. No jumping, eating or drinking on the bed as this may cause your mattress to wear down quicker. Always use a mattress protector.
But if you have children or spend most of your time in bed, it would be best to get rid of your fiberglass mattress and invest in a fiberglass-free mattress. As stated above, dispose of your mattress carefully and responsibly if you decide to upgrade.
FAQs
It is safe to sleep on a mattress that contains fiberglass as long as the fiberglass layer (and fiberglass particles) remain within the mattress. Should the mattress cover tear or wear down, then the safety level decreases massively.
You may be able to wash fiberglass our of sheets and other bedding but you may need to run them through a couple of cycles to ensure that the contamination has thoroughly been eliminated. You would also need to clean your washing machine between each load.
In theory, an air purifier, especially one that utilizes an HVAC system might be able to remove fiberglass dust from one’s home but in reality, an air purifier (read our Alen air purifier review for an example) may not be able to filter out larger dust particles and this would then only be recycled throughout the room, causing further harm.
Fiberglass particles can be dissolved using strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid but these are best left to professionals as these acids can cause further skin irritation and be potentially hazardous when inhaled or accidentally ingested. Also, using acid on your mattress will only destroy your mattress even more.
White vinegar is made up of acetic acid and it is not strong enough to clean or dissolve fiberglass.
Conclusion
All mattresses are required to contain a fire retardant layer for the safety of the sleeper in the unlikely event of a fire. A lot of cheaper brands use fiberglass as a fire barrier for their mattresses and while they are fairly safe to sleep on, they also pose numerous health risks should they tear and wear down.
There are ways to thoroughly clean and prevent fiberglass contamination but should the risks outweigh the cons, it is best to invest in a fiberglass-free mattress.
Next step: Read our Casper mattress review. If you’re worried about contamination then you can rest easy because Casper mattresses don’t contain fiberglass. Their memory foam and hybrid mattresses are both extremely safe and we highly recommend them.
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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