How To Reduce Bad Smell in Memory Foam Mattress
Many memory foam mattress users complain of its chemical odors. Nearly 15% of memory foam mattress buyers are complaining of a noticeable smell. While Sleep Like The Dead said only less than 2% of returns are due to chemical odor, this is still a cause of potential health problems for users. Just like other household furniture, memory foam is a polyurethane foam processed using sophisticated technology. It is produced using a mixture of natural and artificial materials, such as petroleum-based substances that release volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOCs can easily degrade or break down even at room temperature. This nature of VOC is responsible for releasing the bad odor.
Dangers of VOC The smell from VOC can be dangerous for people who are sensitive to chemicals. Once exposed to VOC, they may suffer irritations in their eyes, nose, and throat and can have headaches and allergic reactions like asthma attacks when exposed for longer periods. More hazardous VOC variants can result in damage to the central nervous system, some organs, and can even lead to cancer. In the past, foam manufacturers add other chemicals such as PBDEs, formaldehyde, and CFCs in some memory foams. These substances also emit dangerous VOC. Though they are mainly banned in the United States, importation of memory foam from abroad where these materials are poorly regulated increases our risk of owning one of them.
Buy safe memory foam mattress So how can you know that the memory foam you are buying is safe? While eliminating VOC is impossible, ensuring that the mattress you want to buy has passed safety certification is an excellent way to make sure that it is not harmful to your health. Mattress having a CertiPUR-US seal means that the mattress you have has very low VOC emission (less than 0.5 parts per million).