The Zinus mattress fiberglass issue has been talked about a lot recently. That’s partly due to a class action lawsuit being filed against the company, but how does it affect the ordinary consumer?
Let’s take a better look at the issue and get a better understanding of the issues. This could be useful if you already own a Zinus mattress or are planning to buy one (including other brands).
Does Zinus Mattress Have Fiberglass?
Short answer, yes. But there is more to this story than just fiberglass.
Federal law requires all mattresses sold in the USA to have a fire retardant. For many companies, the solution here is the use of fiberglass. Yes, many companies besides Zinus may use fiberglass in their mattresses. This is largely because budget-friendly mattresses rely on budget-friendly (cheap) solutions.
The use of fire retardants in mattresses has a chequered past. Not so long ago, many mattresses used benzene or similar chemicals as fire retardants. It was discovered that these chemicals are harmful to humans and their use has since been in steady decline.
Certifications like Certi-PUR US assure buyers that their mattress doesn’t have dangerous chemicals like ozone depleters, VOCs, formaldehyde, phthalates, and many others.
With these chemicals removed, many businesses moved to using other cheap and viable solutions, like fiberglass. As a fire retardant, fiberglass melts on itself and creates a protective layer around the mattress. Sometimes called sock, this layer protects the mattress from fire.
Why Is The Flame Retardant Such A Big Deal?
Commonly used mattress foam, including memory foam, is highly combustible. It isn’t hyperbole to say you’d be sleeping on a fire hazard.
To mitigate this risk, manufacturers add flame retardants to mattress foam. This is also the exact reason why flame retardants in mattresses are necessary under federal law.
Zinus Fiberglass Issues – What It Is And What To Look For
If you have a cheap mattress like Zinus (or similar), remember never to remove the mattress cover.
The fiberglass in such mattresses is usually in the form of tiny particles like powder. And once it finds its way out, it’s rather difficult to manage the fiberglass. Even dusting with all the care in the world might not get all of it! These particles can irritate the skin and cause rashes. They are dangerous if inhaled.
Your mattress will likely have a tag declaring its contents, including fiberglass. If you see such a warning, remember not to remove the mattress cover. In case you don’t see any such tag on the mattress, assume the worst.
Shining a light on and around the mattress might give you some idea. Fiberglass particles will reflect the light and appear shiny. If the proverbial cat is out of the bag, it is time to do a thorough cleaning. If the mattress cover is damaged, consider options like replacement or repair.
Where Is Fiberglass In Zinus Mattresses?
So where is the fiberglass in the mattress? Surely, it’s not just randomly lying around somewhere!
Typically a Zinus mattress has two covers. Its stretch-knit cover is the outermost layer. This is the part the user interacts with. It doesn’t have any fiberglass.
This is followed by an internal fabric layer that encases the mattress and covers its foam. The fiberglass is present in this layer. As noted earlier, should there be a fire, the fiberglass will melt onto itself and together with the fabric layer, form a sock that protects the mattress.
It’s worth noting that while we name Zinus here, and though it has gained notoriety with the lawsuit, the company isn’t unique in this practice. Many budget mattress companies follow this or similar methods.
Generally speaking, this setup should be fairly reliable. Expectations say that a mattress like this should last several years without causing any problems. However, that doesn’t quite seem to follow reality. For whatever reasons, several users complain of discomfort caused by mattresses using fiberglass.
Now, sometimes, this might be due to user errors, like removing the cover or a tear. But it’s also true that sometimes the covering of the mattress fails and users have to deal with the fiberglass fallout. A lot of times, such problems aren’t obvious, though there is a risk of irritation to the skin or other injuries.
The Zinus Lawsuit And The Class Action Lawsuit
Plaintiffs Amanda Chandler and Robert Durham filed a class action lawsuit against Zinus in 2020. According to the plaintiffs, they own(ed) a Zinus mattress and suffered problems owing to the mattress releasing a large number of fiberglass particles.
They say the mattress had a zippered outer cover, which made them assume that it was safe to remove and wash this cover. Additionally, they allege that there was no warning on the mattress related to removing the outer cover.
According to the plaintiffs, they removed the cover to wash it and later noticed that there were several shards of fiberglass around their home. They say this caused dermatitis, injury, and other problems, including financial, for the family.
Since then, many other customers have come forward stating similar problems and the troubles they’re having with Zinus mattresses.
The class action lawsuit is currently underway. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
Is Fiberglass In A Mattress Safe For Users?
With all this talk about fiberglass, it’s obvious to ask if such mattresses are safe for users.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer.
It is safe in the way that it’s an excellent fire retardant. Fiberglass is efficient, cheap, and makes mattresses safer without toxic substances, as with older mattresses, some of which used ozone depleters, VOCs, and several other chemicals.
Nevertheless, there’s always a risk of fiberglass getting out of the mattress. It could be a simple cut on the fabric or removal of the cover or any other damage. Once that happens, fiberglass particles may start to fall out of the mattress.
Since these are tiny particles, they are extremely difficult to completely remove or clean away. This can result in the user getting itching (dermatitis) or other injuries. Any damage to the cover, even if it’s through normal wear and tear, can cause problems related to fiberglass.
There is another issue as well. Fiberglass disturbs the airflow in the mattress. So foam mattresses, and especially memory foam mattresses, tend to sleep hot. Or rather, hotter than what they would usually be.
There are better materials that handle the fire retardant aspect of the mattress better and without the associated risks of fiberglass. However, these solutions cost more than fiberglass and have an impact on the overall cost of the mattress.
The bottom line is, fiberglass is usually found in cheap mattresses. It’s one of the reasons Zinus mattress fiberglass is so talked about – the company has one of the bestselling range of low-cost mattresses. Because the price point is the key here, they apparently rely on fiberglass to keep costs low.
Are Their Mattresses Without Fiberglass?
Can you find mattresses without fiberglass? Well, yes!
Though these are usually in the higher-priced range when compared to offerings from Zinus. You can reasonably expect to spend $1000 or more on mattresses like these.
It’s worth noting, in the world of mattresses, $1000 isn’t all that expensive. You would expect a quality mattress to cost around this price point.
If you really want to focus on quality and peace of mind, you might want to consider more established brands like Tempur-Pedic. This is the company that made the original memory foam mattress and is still a respected player in the niche.
Of course, there are other high-quality manufacturers as well, including Saatva, Puffy, and several more.
But it’s worth noting that several companies use “silica fiber” as a fire retardant, even in the higher-priced categories. This is an important component of fiberglass, though not exactly fiberglass!
They might also take additional steps to ensure that the silica fiber doesn’t find a way out of the mattress. And then there’s always the marketing magic where some companies use similar products, or name them something else, or give it a proprietary marketing name.
The fact of the matter is, many mattresses rely on fiberglass or similar materials to satisfy the conditions for being flame retardant.
Should I Be Worried About My Zinus Mattress Fiberglass?
So, we’ve come full circle back to the sticky question. Zinus mattresses do have fiberglass, but should they be on your shopping list?
It does seem obvious that Zinus mattress fiberglass isn’t the most attractive option. However, it is very likely that most competing mattresses use similar products. Some expensive ones might be in the same category as well.
The mattress has been a bestseller for years, and it is very unlikely that you’ll find another, fiberglass-free option unless you choose to go for a substantially higher price point.
If you choose to buy a Zinus mattress, remember not to remove its cover. For added comfort, wrap it up nicely with a mattress protector. Well, you should be doing this with all mattresses, but adding the protector will reduce the possibility of fiberglass problems, apart from other issues.