Tempur-Pedic and other memory foam mattresses contain chemicals that create an unpleasant smell, especially right after you remove the shipping materials when you set them up. The variety of petroleum-based products used to make the memory foam can off-gas, especially when sealed up in plastic bags from the factory. Air out the mattress in a well-ventilated room before sleeping on it if you find the smell too offensive. A Bit of History Memory foam beds don’t have any springs in them; they consist of several layers of different types of foam and materials, the top layer being the memory foam. Tempur-Pedic has a proprietary formula for its mattresses, but most memory foam mattresses consist of the visco-elastic cellular foam formula originally developed for NASA pilot seats, but never used. Charles Yost, the engineer and owner of the patent, sold the formula in the 1970s, which is how it ended up in mattresses and other products, such as motorcycle helmets. Tempur-Pedic recommends a two-week break-in period for its new mattresses.
The break-in period accomplishes two things: getting used to the way the mattress feels and getting rid of its new-foam odor. Ensure the mattress is in a room with a temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and that you spend time on it to get its cells to open so they can breathe properly. One way to speed the airing out process is to set the mattress outdoors in warm weather to air it out. Set it on a porch atop an old sheet, or bring four kitchen chairs outside spaced apart in the dimensions of the mattress. Arrange boards between the chairs and cover them with a sheet before adding the mattress. This allows air to circulate all around the mattress, while the sheet protects it from splinters. A good 8- to 12-hour airing can remove most of the harsh odors. When you don’t want to go to the trouble of airing the mattress outdoors, set the bed up in the room where you plan to use it, but don’t sleep on it until it the smell has dissipated. Don’t cover it with bedding -- open up the windows and exhaust the air in the room with reverse fans until you can’t smell the mattress odor.
Verify the temperature in the room is at least 65 degrees F to ensure the cells open up to release any gases or odors they contain. The mattress itself doesn’t require a lot of care. Do not flip the mattress, because it only has the memory foam on one side. Locate the care tag to verify you can remove the cover for washing, or look for a zipper. Removable covers usually have a zipper closure that runs along the side or bottom of the mattress. Do not use harsh detergents, chemicals or bleach when cleaning the cover; wash it in cold water, and dry outdoors or on the low setting in the dryer. For liquid spills, remove the cover and wash; soak up the liquid with a clean cloth by pressing down firmly on the mattress. Set up a fan to hasten drying, if needed. Do not apply detergents directly to the mattress. You May Also Like All memory foam mattresses have a "new mattress" smell when they are removed from their plastic wrappings. Most people react to the... Tempur-Pedic sells many of their mattress toppers with machine-washable covers, but sometimes liquids such as urine soak through the cover and into...
In addition to the smell of smoke being unpleasant in the house, it's quite unhealthy as well. The lingering odor is more... Tempur-Pedic brand pillows are made of a memory foam that contours specifically to the body of the person sleeping on it. A musty odor in your sunporch usually means dampness and possible mold growth. Often, providing ventilation or heat will dry the room... Memory foam mattresses will grab and hold urine, causing staining and unpleasant odors, if not properly cleaned as soon as possible. Tempur-Pedic pillows and mattresses are made from polyurethane materials. The polyurethane materials produce a light chemical smell, which can be bothersome to... Tempurpedic mattresses are a popular choice for consumers looking for a bed with comfort and added back support. The memory foam in...BOSTON (CBS) – Sleep is essential for good health and a mattress is key to getting that good night’s rest. But the I-Team discovered that some people believe their bed may actually be making them sick.
“What was immediately noticeable was it had an extremely pungent odor,” explained a Metro-West area man who did not want to be identified. He claims that smell came from his newly delivered mattress, a $3,200 Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress. He claims the mattress made him feel ill, with a significantly elevated pulse rate and respiration. His girlfriend had similar complaints. “I just get heaviness in my lungs,” she said. “It definitely impacts my breathing.” There are dozens of similar complaints online including one from a woman named Cherrie from Attleboro. “After spending ten minutes in the room, I became extremely nauseous and dizzy,” she posted. Another consumer said, “I had a severe allergic reaction to my new Tempur-Pedic mattress and ended up in the hospital.” Those are just a sample of the complaints cited in a class action lawsuit filed in California. The suit suggests the company is well aware of the issue. It states: “Tempur-Pedic omits telling its potential and actual customers that numerous past customers have complained about the odor.”
The suit also states: “Numerous past customers have reported allergic symptoms.” The I-Team took hidden cameras inside a number of mattress stores to find out exactly what consumers are told about the issue. In one store we asked if the Tempur-Pedic mattresses were hypo-allergenic. The salesperson didn’t know right away, but left the showroom to ask. When he returned he insisted they were hypo-allergenic. When we asked about the smell the salesperson said, “For the first four or five days you can smell them, but after that, it’s gone.” That’s exactly what the company told us. In a written statement a spokesperson said, “For those who notice an odor, they usually find that it dissipates in a week or so.” But many customers complain the smell and the health effects last for months. So what’s in these mattresses that cause that odor? “We don’t know, that’s the problem,” explained Elizabeth Saunders, an environmentalist with Clean Water Action. Manufacturers are not legally required to disclose the chemicals in many products, including mattresses.