The New Mattress smell: Should I be concerned?

Just like a new car smell, new mattresses have their own unique scent. Many customers report that their new mattress carry a chemical-like aroma once it has been opened from the original packaging. We are here to assure you that this is completely normal and your mattress has not undergone anything out of the ordinary.

In the following post, we will look at the causes, possible effects of this smell as well as discuss some solutions on how to get rid of this smell quickly and efficiently.

What Causes A New Mattress To Smell?

All good mattresses are manufactured with raw materials, which not only include natural fibres and fabrics but also specific chemicals and adhesives. While these are non-toxic, they do let off a strong odour initially. Most mattresses are bagged and sealed almost immediately after being manufactured and as a result, that production smell will be somewhat trapped inside the packaging.

While some manufacturers try their best to let the mattress air a bit before packaging, this is not always possible. Most mattresses will have some degree of manufacturing smell depending on their components and structure. When you open your mattress for the first time you might notice an odd odour coming from the foams particularly, this is a result of a process called “off-gassing”.

Matress Off-Gassing Explained

Off-gassing is that “new” smell that we associate with new cars, a fresh coat of paint and, yes, new mattresses. When your mattress comes in an airtight package, the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) used in the manufacturing process remain trapped in the mattress with nowhere to go. After you open your mattress, the mattress can then “breathe” allowing the smell to dissipate.

VOCs are emitted by a wide range of household products, including furniture, paint and cleaning supplies. Depending on your sensitivity to chemical smells, extreme cases can lead to nausea, headaches or nose or throat irritation. This is highly unlikely however as there are very low levels of VOCs in your mattress and those will generally disappear after a few hours of letting the mattress air.

How Long Will My Mattress Take To Off-Gas?

The good news is, the odour is temporary and will be gone in a few days. As mentioned, some mattress manufacturers let the mattress air before packaging so that it has a chance to off-gas at the factory before being packaged and transported. Your mattress will however mostly off-gas in your home. The period of off-gassing will depend on the type of mattress.

Generally a couple of hours would suffice and you should be able to use your mattress without any hesitation. Some mattresses however take a while longer and would need to be aired in a well-ventilated room for up to a day or 2, this is especially true for some foam mattresses as the density of the foam might cause the mattress to take a bit longer to air-out. Even the strongest chemical smells generally fade after a day of ventilating. If you are however sensitive to these smells, you might even notice it up to 3-5 days after purchase.

Top Tips For Ventilating A New Mattress

Ventilation is key to combatting the odours of off-gassing. The more you aid ventilation, the faster you can get rid of the smell. Here are a few tried and tested methods that could get you results faster.

1. Unbox Outdoors: Open your new mattress outside your home so that smell does not linger in the bedroom.
2. Ventilate your Bedroom: If you have to open mattress inside your bedroom, make sure windows and door is open so as to help increase air circulation.
3. Use A Decoy Room: If you have a spare room, leave opened mattress in there to ventilate before bringing into your own bedroom.
4. Home Remedy To The Rescue: Some people swear by pouring baking soda on your mattress to help draw out the smell and speed up the off-gassing process.
5. Get Protection: Mattress protectors are also handy in containing the smell. This would however slow down the airing process if used immediately once opened

Take Precaution

While there is no concrete evidence that off-gassing will adversely affect your health, it is best to protect yourself and follow these few simple steps to ensure you enjoy the best sleeping experience your new mattress has to offer.

Rest assured, just like your new car smell disappears, so will your new mattress smell, just don’t miss it too much! If you have any concerns or questions, contact us here or leave a comment below.

Wishing You A Good Nights Rest,

Ebrahim