Reader Q&A about how to deal with actual or suspected fiberglass contamination from a fiberglass-containing mattress or mattress cover.

This article series describes consumer complaints traced to fiberglass fragments shed from an inner mattress cover liner found in some mattresses.

Fiberglass Shedding Mattresses or Mattress Cover FAQs

These questions & answers about fiberglass particles shedding from mattresses were posted originally
at FIBERGLASS SHEDDING from MATTRESSES - be sure to review the advice given there.

Reader question: I think fiberglass is "leaking" from my mattress - What do I Do?

I have a question to ask, I apologize in advance if it sounds stupid. Having the same problem as several others. Fiberglass "leaking" from my mattress.

I've had this mattress just about 5 years and I think the worrying is what made it worse, I don't experience other symptoms like itching or rashes.

I can't afford to buy a new one just yet, I have the mattress now covered in 2 protectors. The kind that zip all the way around.

I read on another site, that polyurethane would be the best material to prevent more fiberglass from leaking, so that is what I looked for when I bought the second mattress protector (it is polyester/polyurethane). The first one is made of poly-nylon.

I still keep seeing these fibers on my clothing and sometimes on the bed sheet, although not as bad as before I did my clean up, but still find some. Some are big and some are very small. I can't afford to to throw all my belongings away like some people say they had to do.

In your opinion, until I'm able to at least get rid of this mattress, are the materials these 2 protectors made of enough to prevent fiberglass from working its way through the mattress? Thank you On 2024-10-10 by Nelli

Mod reply:

@Nelli,

1. Are you suffering skin irritation or other health complaints that your doctor agrees are likely to come from an unusual exposure to fiberglass in your environment - such as dust particles or a Zinus brand mattress cover shedding problem? If not, then from a health and expense view, we may be worrying about the wrong problem.

2. Next a basic question: have you been able to actually identify your mattress that is one reported to have shed unusual levels of fiberglass?

If so, then:

Two protective mattress covers should be sufficient.

You certainly don't need to dispose of your belongings. A couple of launderings or dry-cleanings of clothing is normally adequate to remove unwanted particles including fiberglass.

Keep in mind that the objective is not to get the number of fiberglass fibers in a building or its dust down to zero - that's just about impossible as well as unnecessary. Having surveyed airborne as well as deposited dust particles in many buildings over decades, in my experience I've found at least some fiberglass in almost all of them. Only when we have unusually-high levels of such fibers are they likely to become a skin irritant.

More in-depth information about both consumer worries and actual fiberglass hazards and measurement methods are in the Recommended Articles section of this page.

Daniel

Reader followup:

@InspectApedia Publisher,
Hello!
Thank you for putting things into a clearer perspective. Yes, I do think the source of this fiberglass is the mattress. It was mainly found in my room, underneath, and on the sides of the mattress.

I'll see some of these fibers around my house now but not the amount I saw when I first discovered it. And luckily no health issues have come from this. It took this many years for me to finally notice it. I've read some of the other articles on your site, very informative. Puts me a bit more at ease that this isn't an end of the world catastrophe like other internet sources make it out to be.

Reply:

@Nelli,

Thank you for the helpful follow-up comments. Indeed it's tricky to try to give advice about a building that we haven't seen.

We are balancing keeping you safe with avoiding pouring money over something that's not really a substantive problem.

Daniel

Reader question: Memory foam mattress shedding fiberglass?

I've been dealing with a memory foam mattress that was shedding fiberglass from mainly the bottom of it, but also the sides of the mattress. Due to recent big expenses, I cannot afford to replace it just yet.

I had the mattress almost 5 years before I realized what was happening. This was about 8 months ago. Ive cleaned up as much as I could, discarded items that I felt were coated too much to be cleaned.

I suppose my question is, when is the clean up "enough" where I don't have to worry as much? I still find these fibers here and there. The mattress is in my room, with two waterproof protectors over it.

I have found these fibers on my son's clothes, on our coats that we hang downstairs, even on the living room couch and some surfaces downstairs as well. I do not find as many but I still see some here and there. I worry that anxiety is taking over my logical side.

Would you consider still finding fibers after initial clean up worrisome? I don't believe that the mattress encased in two protectors is shedding anything right now. I don't see anything on my bedframe or on the floor like before when I first saw it.

I've read through most of the articles on your site, but after reading other articles and other peoples' commentary saying that this is so toxic and life threatening to the point I need to move out, and throw all my belongings out to be "safe". It's one extreme to the other. Appreciate any input at all. I'm sorry if my comment/question is all over the place. On 2024-06-10 by Anonymous

Mod reply:

@Anonymous,

I've been looking at and making field measurements and lab analyses of dust samples around this fiberglass question for almost 40 years so my opinion is based on that experience as well as on scholarly articles and research that I have read.

I don't claim that what follows is the only possible answer to your question since I don't really have any quantitative data about your home and what's going on there.

In general, current research argues that fiberglass is much less of a health hazard and an environment concern such as your home than what people previously feared.

The principal complaint that people are most likely to notice is skin irritation or itching or puritus from high level of exposure to fiberglass dust particularly in people who have sensitive skin.

When I first looked at research on this topic and when I first was trained in microscopy for the identification of fiberglass particles I found that unless the technician was expert and followed very careful procedures using the right mounting fluid with the right refractive index it was possible to completely miss the presence of very small fiberglass particles and indoor environmental or dust samples.

For that reason, we thought there might be a cancer or carcinogenic hazard but according to the bulk of research on this question, that seems to not be the case.

Therefore, if you have encapsulated the mattress that you think is the principal or even the only source of unwanted fiberglass dust in the home and if you follow that by damp wiping of hard surfaces at HEPA vacuuming of carpets and other surfaces it's not likely that there would be a meaningful hazard remaining.

When you say you've read other claims that other websites I don't know of course who that is or what their authority of expertise might have been.

So if you or other occupants of the home have complaints that you think might be related to dust in your home it would be good to take that question first to your doctor to ask if dust or specifically fiberglass in the home are likely to be a cause or contributor to the complaint.

Finally, I want to point out that in taking indoor dust and environmental samples or even air samples I have found low levels of fiberglass and just about every building. It's a normal particle to find in environmental samples and would not usually be a concern.

If I found that it were the dominant particle or was occurring at very high levels that I might look for a source that needed to be cleaned up such as damaged fiberglass insulation exposed in a living or occupied space. Otherwise it's not an issue.

Reader followup:

@InspectApedia Publisher,

Thank you so much for your quick response! I forgot to mention that my home also does have exposed fiberglass on the basement ceiling. It was installed by my property management about 3 years ago.

I have seen some fiberglass in my basement on some containers that I have stored down there, and other items. However, I very rarely go down to my basement, my husband does about once a week or so.

When I noticed the fiberglass issue from the mattress, to me, that seemed to be the main source of what I was finding in our clothes, and other surfaces. I don't know if the basement would be another source of what I am seeing. It is definitely not to the extent of what I was dealing with before.

I am seeing 2-4 fibers here and there, but it is because I am actively looking for it. Otherwise, I would probably not think twice because luckily we have not had physical symptoms from this. My son and I have seasonal allergies, so those symptoms are not out of the ordinary for us. Surprisingly, we also have never experienced skin issues such as intense itching or rashes.

Other articles I have read were from mattress "experts" that I came across while searching for information on this. These articles and commentary from people who have dealt with this prior, make this issue seem so terrifying.

I've done the hepa vacuuming regularly and damp wipes, and sticky lint rollers for soft items like clothing. It just feels almost defeating that I still am finding it, but I also know I have to be logical about this too. I very much appreciate you sharing your insight and experience. Thank you again

Reply:

@Anonymous,

We're glad to be of assistance.

About the exposed fiberglass insulation in your basement, a, and inexpensive step is to staple up a moisture permeable house wrap or similar product to the underside of the floor joists.

Reader question: Is the fiberglass coming through the mattress protector?

Hello,
I came across your page while looking up information on fiberglass in mattresses. I'm currently going through this now. I bought a waterproof mattress protector about a year ago to put over it, until I could save up to buy a new bed.

But I did not discover fiberglass coming through the bottom of the mattress for years. I did end up throwing out some clothing, some other soft fabric items, stuffed animals, etc. I stopped checking so consistently for fibers on my clothing, until recently.

I discovered a few fibers on some clothing I haven't worn in awhile but also on some clothing I regularly wear, and a few fibers on my bed also. I found a few on some of my shoes. It is not the amount that I found the first time I realized the mattress was shedding fiberglass.

I can't really tell if the fiberglass is coming through the mattress protector it has over it. The whole mattress is encased. I don't know if what I'm seeing is "new" or because I stopped checking so frequently, it is fibers that I missed while cleaning.

I guess my question is, how concerned should I be? Especially with a child in the house. The fibers I have found these last 2 weeks range from 1 to 2 inches long (the biggest), and about 1/2 to about 1/4 inch long (smallest). We are not having symptoms, nor have had any prior.

I do own a hepa vacuum and realized after vacuuming that I had a long fiber on my clothes. Is finding a few fibers something to worry about? I'm putting another waterproof protector over it just in case and plan to buy a new mattress by next month. I appreciate all the information you have here. On 2023-06-15 by CT

Moderator reply: Not reasonable nor necessary nor even possible to set a target of "no indoor fibers" in house dust

@CT,

Keep in mind that fibers, principally from carpets and fabrics in the home (drapes, furniture, clothing, bedding, etc) are often the dominant particle in house dust. Those are distinct from fiberglass and are easily identified.

Certainly it is not reasonable nor necessary nor even possible to set a target of "no indoor fibers" in house dust.

With all due respect, "they have to sparkle" to "see" fiberglass is complete nonsense. I'm speaking from the point of view of a forensic microscopist and building investigator with more than 5 decades of field and lab experience.

We find some fiberglass in indoor dust samples in just about every building.

Large fibers might indeed be visible by the naked eye.

Small fiberglass fragments can be down in the few micron size range where you'd never see them without not only a high powered microscope, but with very careful slide preparation using the proper mountant with a suitable refractive index.

Else those small fibers might be "invisible" even under high magnification.

So a more-practical approach makes more sense for buildings. **IF** a lab examination of a tape sample of settled indoor dust samples shows high levels fiberglass fibers or shows them as the dominant particle, then indeed it would be appropriate to have an inspection of the building to find the source.

Sources of high indoor fiberglass in dust, if found uniformly throughout the building, are more-likely to be damaged fiberglass HVAC ducts or someone tracking fiberglass insulation dust throughout a building.

In some cases mattress covers have been blamed as a fiberglass shedding source. IN that case the problem would be concentrated in the room where that fiberglass cover is located.

It is extremely unlikely that such a source would be tracked to high levels of fiberglass inside shoes and in clothing.

Now fro your text I can't identify what fibers you're seeing.

In the live links found at Recommended Articles on this page be sure to read

FIBERGLASS ENVIRO-SCARE

and if you want to identify your fibers and dust contents see

DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE

and
DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS
and
FIBERGLASS DETECTION in BUILDING AIR & DUST

Thank you for the question. Do keep me posted and don't hesitate to post follow-up questions or comments as you need.

Question: Does fiberglass have to sparkle to be recognized?

Hi I’m really struggling to find a definitive way to “see” these fibers because everyone kept saying they have to sparkle. Well the fibers floating around my apt don’t typically sparkle but I am having symptoms, they are in every room just floating in air landing on surfaces.

And I haven’t find the source yet because I kept cleaning and mopping everyday and no help at all. I’m suspecting mattresses. Can these fibers don’t sparkle but still are fiber glass？what are some ways to identify them? Thank you so much! On 2023-06-15 by Sycamore

Another reader's comment:

@Sycamore,
Just adding in my own response as I've been dealing with this with my mattress. I wouldn't call it a "sparkle" like in the way that glitter sparkles. It's more that when you shine a flashlight on a fiber, it reflects the light at a certain angle.

The fiberglass coming from my mattress looks like thin straight "sticks" when I find them. Sometimes they're long, and some have been much smaller. Check under your mattress, and your bed frame. If there is any coming from your mattress you'll see it under your bed or around the bedframe.

Reader followup:

@Anonymous, thank you so much for that insight! Sorry you are going through this as well. I've been doing rigorous cleaning daily after I found these particles in my apt, so there’s really nothing under the bed or bed frames.

The fibers in my apt looks twisted and soft——I tried to break it but it just bends very well. Maybe the mattresses aren’t the source? Do you maybe have any insight on what are some other sources for fiber glass contamination?

Mod reply:

@Sycamore,

"twisted and soft" fibers are more-likely to be fabric fibers from carpets, curtains, bedding, clothing, etc. Fiberglass fibers, examined individually, are, at magnification, more-straight.

See also the images at

FIBERGLASS IDENTIFICATION in the LAB

Question: My memory foam mattress has been leaking glass fibers from multiple sides of the bed

Hello,
I recently discovered my memory foam mattress has been leaking glass fibers from multiple sides of the bed. The cover was never removed.

Upon first look with a light it did not seem to be as widespread as others have experienced, however, we have had this mattress 5 years and I’m concerned the pieces have broken down through laundering sheets and vacuuming without a HEPA for that time.

(Unknowingly) we wrapped and disposed of the mattress and cleaned the room and walls with a HEPA vac, damp micro clothes and heavy duty lint rollers.

We are still finding small sparkly particles (look like glitter, not shards) in various areas and it’s driving me insane to not know if it’s fiberglass dust or something else. The original shards we found were rather small. ¼-½ inch at most.

Is it possible they could have broken down into dangerously small levels that we are breathing in by way of washing and vacuuming? On 2023-01-24 by Jilly

Mod reply:

@Jilly,

I'm sure you will understand that without actual physical lab samples to examine we can't know what particles are in your building dust.

If you removed an offending particle source and then HEPA vacuumed and damp wiped surfaces, it's not likely that there are significant remnants of the material that you removed that are continuing to be a significant particle source in the building.

Reader followup:

@InspectApedia Publisher, I appreciate the rapid feedback. Of course you can’t determine without a proper sample. I considered getting my air tested but know a lot of local folks aren’t exactly up to par to test for fine fiberglass particles.

It is unfortunate there’s not a ton of info on it, and what a lot of us hear is contradictory. People say it’s very durable, others say it breaks down easily. It sticks to things, yet travels easily. So frustrating!

Reply:

@Jilly,

Right.

FYI I have found at least some fiberglass in almost every indoor dust sample - it's ubiquitous, and it is **rarely** and indoor IAQ or health hazard in normal environs such as occupied living space. You don't want nor need to try to get particle levels down to zero.

A more reasonable "test" would be to identify the dominant or most-frequent particles in an indoor dust sample and then to decide if those are harmful.

Because "air tests" are so highly variable in result (4 orders of magnitude differences in air test results for airborne particles depending on small changes in test conditions) I like to look at settled dust samples for a qualitative assessment.

Question: My Nectar memory foam mattress got wet

Hello,

I had a ceiling leak a few weeks ago that wetted my Nectar memory foam mattress, and I removed the sheets and protective cover that came with it. I’ve had a mild cough off and on until I disposed of the mattress a few days ago for fear of mold.

However, there was no mold, but random glass fibers (fiberglass) on the mattress. The company confirmed “the fire-retardant sock on some of our mattresses may contain silica or glass fiber infused in the yarn or woven into the knit fabric.”

I’ve been researching how to clean it up, and I’m finding every company doesn’t want to clean it. I haven’t notified my property management yet, as I’m hoping I can clean it myself.

Any advice would be helpful, I’m moving out of my apartment in two weeks. If anyone had recommendations for HEPA vacuums that would be great; I’m still confused about the difference between HEPA vacuum and a vacuum with a HEPA filter. On 2022-07-15 by Michele

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Michele,

Damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming are effective cleanup methods.

Some companies may not want to be involved not because it's not possible to clean adequately, but because some people become so frightened of this topic that it becomes an exaggerated and litigious subject.

Reader question: Fiberglass Problems with my Walmart mattress

I purchased my mattress through Walmart in March of 2021 and it was ok at first ( other than smell). Then I started feeling this hot sick feeling after laying in bed. I was itchy all over, started seeing what I called sparkle thingy’s everywhere.

I got another mattress protector and life went on but the problem worsened. The itching was awful, I looked up everything, even thought it might be mites. I’ve tried lotions, sprays, etc I’ve been to skin doctors.

My clothes and blankets felt like they had shards in them, I’ve changed laundry detergents, gone through numerous sheet and comforter sets, Vacuuming, laundry.. It was all very time consuming and costly.

I finally went online to see if there was any information on the mattress (as that is when the problems started). So here I am and it would seem I’m not alone in this nightmare. I haven’t had a good nights sleep in ages.

I’d put all new clean sheets and blankets on after airing the bed out, hoping for better results but I couldn’t do it. As you sink down, more come out. Its enough to make you crazy!

Every bit of clothing has had to be washed numerous times and bagged. The carpets and comforters thrown out. Everyone in the house has been effected. These shouldn’t be sold anymore. On 2022-06-28 by Itchy & sparkly

Mod reply:

@Itchy & sparkly,

Thank you for this posting, India you joined a group of people who have complained about fiberglass shedding from certain mattresses. While some people blame the mattress for contaminants that are throughout their home, a case that seems unlikely to us, there's no question that some of these products have been defective and irritating to their owners.

Question: Zinus mattress started breaking down

I’m glad I found this page. I’m dealing with this as well. Zinus mattress started leaking fiberglass and who knows how long. I’ve had this mattress for five years. We disposed of it but I’m still finding broken down fibers all over.

Had to throw away most of our clothes and any furniture with fabric. I bought a HEPA vacuum and am going to start at wiping everything, but I’m not sure it’ll help. I attached a photo where you can see the strands against the dark frame. The cover was never removed.

I have more pictures of some strands on bedding, but not sure how to attach them. On 2021-12-25 by OP

Mod reply:

@OP,

Thank you for the photo; you can attach just one image per comment but by posting additional comments, you can add as many photos as you wish.

 

ZINUS™ Memory Foam Mattress fiberglass particles have been exfoliating through the mattress cover

We purchased a ZINUS™ Memory Foam Mattress, and we discovered that the fiberglass particles have been exfoliating through the mattress cover. We never opened the mattress cover.

The shards are simply making their way through the sealed cover. Now our house is contaminated with fiberglass.

Please create an addendum to this article, specifically about memory foam mattress. - On 2021/09/18 : itchy with rash -

Reply by (mod) -

Thanks Itchy; we've referred you to this page.

It would be very helpful to have here photos of your mattress and a photo of each side of its data tag.

Also tell us the country and city of location and the age of the mattress.

 

Large fiberglass particles all over our house - from a mattress liner

Hello. We had a mattress liner that was made with fiberglass tear and now we have fiberglass fibers all over our house.

They are big enough that I can see them on tables and clothes, blankets etc. You mention that the larger particles are not as harmful, so would these be considered larger particles?

I’m asking because my kids and I have been living in the house and I’m not sure how long ago the tear occurred, probably no more than a few weeks though.

I am concerned that we have been breathing these particles and would like to know of our health risks. I have been cleaning with a hepa filter vacuum and damp cloths.

I would love to hear your thoughts and if you have any other suggestions for how I can get rid of all of the particles. Thank you very much. - On 2020-05-11 by Annie

Reply by (mod) - large fiberglass fragments not a respiratory issue

Annie:

Larger fiberglass particles may be a skin irritant but are not likely to go deep into the lungs. Yes, unless ground up by some physical or mechanical means, most fiberglass particles from a mattress liner would be "large" - that is, bigger in length than diameter, and well above the 1-5 micron range.

Details are at FIBERGLASS HAZARDS - home - https://inspectapedia.com/Fiberglass/Fiberglass_Hazards.php

You can HEPA vac and damp wipe. That, plus bagging and disposing of the source material, should be sufficient.

If you have central air or even window air conditioners, you might also change the air filters and check the blower and ductwork for cleanliness.

I'd be a bit surprised to hear, from an expert, that a tear in a mattress line was itself likely to pose a health hazard unless something unusual occurred that ground up the material and blew it through the home.

Thanks for asking; we welcome any follow-up questions if the article I suggested is unclear or leaves you short.

 

Looking for an environmental expert to test our home for fiberglass contamination & advise on removal

RE-posting as anonymous, by request

A mattress has released fiberglass shards in my home. A remediation company has tried to clean it unsuccessfully and we've been displaced from our home.

We'd like to hire another one familiar with fiberglass, but are wondering what are the best methods for removal?

Also, we feel the need to test samples what would be the most affordable/ effective way to do this? Are there certain labs that have more experience with fiberglass particles? -

Reply by (mod) - Fiberglass not normally used in mattresses, but was in some fire-resistant covers for foam mattresses

Anon:

Fiberglass is not normally used in conventional sleeping mattresses but may be included in an inner, fire-resistant cover in some mattresses, particularly foam products. .

Where we find fiberglass used in mattresses or mattress covers it was in special products (produced in the U.S. as early as 1917) such as fire-resistant mattresses and odd products like a mattress with a patented hidden security container embedded therein.

Are you sure that the fibers of concern are really fiberglass?

Is there evidence that such fibers are present at a high or abnormal level in building air or dust?

And if so are you really sure that they came from a mattress?

I would not spend another cent on investigation before some basic investigation has been done to help assure yourself (and me) that we're barking up the right tree.

That said, IF there is an indoor fiberglass dust and debris problem it can normally be easily cleaned up by

1. fixing or removing the source

2. damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming the surfaces involved

3. if necessary, cleaning HVAC ducts, changing filters, cleaning air handlers/ blowers

Keep in mind that even if you find a lab who will identify fiberglass they may not be using a methodology that identifies other than large filamentous particles.

I have confirmed, however that fiberglass was used in some mattress covers and products as I'll show below. None of those would be likely to form a significant source of indoor fiberglass dust contamination unless the product was removed from the mattress and mechanically macerated or ground up and thus blown into the air or tracked through a building: those would be unusual steps.

Examples of uses of fiberglass in mattresses

• Balboni, Allen J. "Electric heating mattress." U.S. Patent 4,162,393, issued July 24, 1979.
• Carson, R. "Fluid filled mattress." U.S. Patent 3,736,604, issued June 5, 1973.
• Courts, Benjamin D. "Sanitary mattress." U.S. Patent 1,211,548, issued January 9, 1917.
• Ferziger, Daniel, and Jerry Lippman. "Coated fabric and mattress ticking." U.S. Patent 4,801,493, issued January 31, 1989.
• Ferziger, Daniel, and Jerry Lippman. "Coated fabric and mattress ticking." U.S. Patent 4,526,830, issued July 2, 1985.
• Fraige, Richard. "Waterbed mattress." U.S. Patent 4,301,560, issued November 24, 1981.
• Klancnik, Alvin R. "Fire-resistant mattress and high strength fire-retardant composite." U.S. Patent 4,504,991, issued March 19, 1985.
• Owens Jr, Don E. "Bed mattress having a security container." U.S. Patent 6,684,432, issued February 3, 2004.

At the top of any page you'll find an EXPERTS DIRECTORY that includes links to mold and other forensic labs, most of whom can identify fiberglass - at least at a level sufficient to determine if it's at high levels in building dust.

By private email I recommended using an adhesive tape test to collect representative settled dust to have characterized for dominant particles and/or high levels of fiberglass in indoor dust. It would be uncommon for a mattress product, having been washed, to contaminate an entire home.

Research on Dermatitis from Fiberglass Mattress Covers

The research articles I can find on fiberglass fabric hazards associated with mattresses focuses on dermatitis

• Hogan, Daniel J., and Megan Morrison. "Fiberglass, Dusts." In Kanerva's Occupational Dermatology, pp. 415-426. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2012. Harvard
  
• Sertoli, A., S. Francalanci, and S. Giorgini. "Fiberglass dermatitis." In Handbook of Occupational Dermatology, pp. 122-134. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2000
  

If you need someone on site you can find a suitable expert by discussing your needs with some of the professionals listed in directories found at
CONSULTANTS & EXPERTS DIRECTORIES

Reader Offers Information [OPINION] on why Fiberglass is Used in mattresses: flame or fire resistance

Reader Anonymous comments further

Here’s a little more information which may help. I now have learned that many foam mattresses today are using fiber barriers to act as flame barriers pass fed regulations without using as many pbdes and such. I ordered one of these mattresses and long story short my toddler had an accident so I followed the tag’s instructions to remove the knit cover wash on gentle and spot clean.

I didn’t notice it at the time but now know the sock under the knit cover but surrounding the foam is fiberglass or silica fibers.

Between having an moving around the mattress with an fiber sock, washing a knit cover with fibers embedded and then washing clothes, pets and kids touching the fiber sock as well as spot cleaning it with water/vinegar, visible shards of fiber glass were spread all around my home.

We just moved into this home and there is little furniture, carpets, linens etc so it’s easily visible with a flashlight.

We left immediately for a hotel so that I could research and process as it was all over the place. I hired a restoration company to remove the fiberglass and clean our hvac ducts, as per their suggestion. I’m not sure if the hepa vac/air scrubber combo they tried didn’t work because they were not meticulous enough or what but it didn’t remove the visible shards or at least not well.

They tried wiping with microfiber towels/mop heads and pantyhose but again I wouldn’t say it was meticulous or following a wipe&flip method or anything. The mattresses and all bed linens (and all clothing for that matter) has been bagged and removed.

My washer and dryer is filled with it and it’s in clothing that I haven’t even worn yet but was just hanging in the closet.

I’ve contacted other restoration companies, duct professionals and air quality professionals all of which seem to have varying opinions on what to do to move forward. I’m planning on going back in and either cleaning myself or hiring a company capable of abating lead/asbestos.

One air quality testing specialists mentioned the possibility of charged particles and thought to try an ionic air filter as the particles seem to be wipeable from the wall but I found a ton attached to the inner seal of my Brand New oven.

I’ll attach a picture below. I know it’s from the mattress as it looks like long shards just like the fiber sock covering.

I’m not sure what else to do but clean and then test our air. I feel really unsafe moving my children back in without knowing the levels are at least normal.

Any help is much appreciated as we are starting to feel like we are loosing our home and the insurance companies claim it’s a pollutant and not covered.

This is my oven seal. I’ve tried picking these shards off and it’s impossible to get them off completely. - On 2018-09-15 by Anonymous -

Spa Therapies Mattress from Zinus - Memory Foam - made me sick - I think it's the fiberglass

I purchased mattress from walmart. It is a bed in a box type ... called Spa therapies by Zinus memory foam mattress. I slept on it.. first night was throwing up by morning time. , didnt know it was mattress..

I was sick for about two days, every 4-5 days the same thing was happening... I went to dr. didnt know what was wrong. felt like i was gonna die.

and began with sinus issues. and headaches, severe nasal, pressure( mistaken for allergies), my 8 yr old slept on bed , threw up. and other illness in addition to that. then came sinus issues for almost two wks. took him to dr.s, to emergency room.

Then my oldest son laid on mattress and threw up too within a couple hours after.. then he noticed fiberglass particles on his black tshirt when he went to change his clothes.. he showed me. and it all made sense. I kept wondering what the shiny hair like fibers I had been seeing all over all our clothes was coming from...

We immediately removed mattress from our home. The company knew a year and a half ago that a similar circumstance revealed the fiberglass particles ( the mattress covers are made of them) and yet neither company recalled the product.

I thought it would be good to get this out for public awareness. I hope people check their mattresses from now on. please learn from my own experience...

know what your sleeping on. examine memory foam mattresses and covers.. thank you. - On 2018-05-10 by Agnes

Reply by (mod) -

Agnes

This sounds awful, I agree, but why a memory foam would have ANY fiberglass in the construction of the mattress itself is baffling.

"Memory foam" is "a polyurethane material that is sensitive to pressure and temperature, used especially in mattresses, where it molds to the shape of an individual's body."

It's not fiberglass.

If there is fiberglass coming from your Zinus mattress it will be from a layer of material, often an inner fabric included for fire resistance and in some cfases, that can break down with age and that might shed fibers.

Fibreglass dust exposure would be highly unlikely to explain the symptoms you describe such as nausea and vomiting.

So it's important that you take these concerns also to your doctor and follow her advice.

 

Worried about sparkly bits of dust in my apartment

Hello again .I looked at the links you sent but my landlord won't take any further action .i be been trying to live in my flat for three days another attempt to see if I can cope .

but I'm having to constantly spray walls and ceilings and floors with a large pump sprayer mister every hour to damp it down .as I said I painted walls with pva to try to seal any in ,I keep my clothes in a cupboard and the bed covered in plastic .

.I just have my bed a chair my laptop and that's it as anything else in here is just another thing I'd have to wash down.

I can't really see any sparkly bits anymore but I'm still feeling the horrible irritation on my face .as soon as I walk in after being out .or after I've damped it down and it dries out and starts to circulate again..and I've noticed it too ,as soon as iI walk in to the main entrance to the flats in the foyer ..

not a lot but enough to know it's in the whole building..of I don't damp it down I get covered in it and and it's unbearable .maybe I'm just allergic to very tiny microscope dust and no one can do anything .It doesn't happen anywhere else I go. ie,, other people's houses etc just my building and my flat ,

can the particulates be so small that you would need a microscope to see them and these are what is causing me so much distress ?

Thank you for replying and the links I think I need to speak to a scientist who could maybe understand what is happening .sorry if this all sounds mad but I'm living in it and don't know what to do ,

even friends that understood initially and actually saw the dust and felt it too on their skin and said it was really bad and they couldn't live in it ..are now saying that maybe it's in my head .because it's not very visible much .sincerely Robyn . - On 2017-04-10 by Robyn

Reply by (mod) - sparkly little things on your skin?

Anon: please read MORGELLONS SYNDROME

Sore eyes, itching feet - is this mattress contamination in my London flat?

Thanks for your reply.
Well I've just spent my first night in my flat
Sleeping on a blow up plastic mattress and low and behold I'm itching again..

.I've not brought much into the flat just some clothes which I'm keeping in a plastic box and a kettle and few bits to survive a day as didn't want to contaminate anything else I checked last night to see if I could see any tell tale sparkling ,,and there was on the air bed ..

I do this with my phone light which shows it up well, I've been doing this for months and praying that I don't find any ..so any way I now feel I'm back to square one and it's got to start all over again with me living in it ..just so tired and depressed .what can I do ?

Do you think if I bought a load of disposable floor wipes and wiped down everywhere .that this would help at this stage.
Obviously it's not as bad as it was but I'm still itching and can feel it on my face as I walk about the flat..or disturb the air...

I thought painting all walls and ceilings with the pva would have gotten rid of it all ..
I have a pump action large garden mister that I use to damp it down in the air so I can wash it off the floor ....

my eyes are sore now and my feet are itching as I've been walking around like you do but hey never mind ..I will continue to try and get this under control and hopefully all out and totally free of the dust just want my life back but totally all focused on this as what else can I do .

and just to add insult to injury the folks round here in my block think I have a psychiatric problem and I've imagined it all ha ha ha as they saw the men come to replace the wall insulation in their protective suits etc and where told that it's all fixed and ok and that I threw all my stuff out as I'm not really very well

I live in the UK ..people here don't seem to be very up on this subject of glass fibre dust ..I don't know why ...this is why I'm on your site as there is nothing like this here .cheers for reading.

I forgot to mention that I cannot open any Windows to get air in as this is where it's coming in from so not feeling that well .- On 2017-03-23 by Anonymous -

Reply by (mod) -

A

Large glass fibers such as constitute most fiberglass insulation may be an itch issue but according to industry-studies are not considered a high health hazard. On the other hand small fragments such as may be produced by walking on fiberglass over years or chopping it up by some accidental means (falls into a fan) can be a more serious health hazard.\

IN any event if you're sure that there is an unusual amount of anything in house dust in your home it makes sense to find the source. If the source is ongoing then cleaning alone won't be adequate.

You might find by contacting RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) an inspector who is familiar with these issues and who could help you out.

see https://inspectapedia.com/home_inspection/International_Home_Inspectors.php BUILDING & HOME INSPECTORS, E.U., U.K., ASIA

 

Memory foam mattress cover made of fiberglass is now on our clothes

Recently acquired a memory foam mattress from a relative who smoked

. The mattress smelled so we took the zippered cover off to wash and deodorize the mattress.

Little did we know underneath the cover was a quilt that covers the memory foam and this quilt is made completely of fiberglass. It's all over our clothes, and on the surface of almost everything in our home.

It's a very depressing nightmare. We are on the verge of throwing everything we own away and moving out. We don't know what to do. - On 2017-01-12 by Fernando Cruz -

Reply by (mod) - what to do: Launder clothes, HEPA-Vaccum dust, don't panic

Fernando

Is there a brand or label on the mattress that would let you identify it, then find the manufacturer, and then find the specifications for this product?

There is no reason to move out of a home because of spilled fibers, fiberglass or not.

It is normal and harmless to find low levels of fiberglass fragments in most buildings. If fiberglass becomes a significant or dominant particle in indoor dust samples, then further action would be appropriate.

You can certainly

- HEPA Vacuum up dust and debris

- launder your clothing

- if there is a product that's shedding a significant volume of fiberglass or other irritating particles, you may decide to simply dispose of it.

- don't panic or you'll be vulnerable to ripoff artists

Question: Walmart mattress fiberglass complaint

I to have come to realize that this Walmart mattress has been the cause to all the fiberglass in my room as a contractor I I could tell it was fiberglass the day I saw drifting in the sunlight I've been plagued for 3 months of terrible itching trying to figure out what it was and how I kept bring it home.

I've been to the dr. Tried cream for mites

I washed my bedding and clean and vacuum my room everyday then realized that I wasn't getting anywhere it was only getting worse.

Lo and behold 100% without a doubt it is coming from the Walmart memory foam mattress! I think Walmart needs to recall these for health and safety issues. - 2016/02/12 TMC

Reply:

TMC it would be unusual to find a mattress filled with fiberglass. We've not found any such products whatsoever in researching this question.

There are, however, some mattress inner-covers that can shed fiberglass when they age and wear. You wouldn't expect an inner cover whose fabric contains some fiberglass to produce enough fiberglass fragments to be visible in air or on surfaces - not by the naked eye.

I'm not sure you can recognize those fibers simply by looking at dust in sunlight as fabric fibers will appear there too.

Search InspectApedia for MORGELLONS SYNDROME for more information about your complaint. Find a doctor you trust and listen to your doctor.

 

Question: itch complaint attributed to Spa Sensations Memory Foam mattress cove

Just like Leo, I found shiny fibers in my clothing that made me itch after washing my pants with the outer velour mattress cover on my Spa Sensations Memory Foam mattress that I purchased from WalMart.com.

I thought the source was simply the cover until I moved the mattress to do some painting and saw all of the feathery strands under, on, and around the mattress and realized it was the mattress pad cover closest to the mattress was the culprit as it was coming apart in feathery strands.

I had seen feather strands here and there when cleaning but assumed they were from a feather pillow that had a small hole so I threw it away and was puzzled to keep seeing feathers.

Bur when I moved the mattress it became clear what where the feathery strands were coming from. I found a site online when googling information about the bed that listed the composition of the mattress and one of the components was "glass fiber" mattress cover.

I wish I had known because I would not have bought this mattress or would have removed this glass fiber cover so that my child and home would not have been exposed to fiberglass dust and particles.

I am now looking for a safer alternative and have found wool mattresses, silk mattresses, latex, and buckwheat husk filled mattresses. I wonder if there is something else Leo and I can do as the mattress should have been safer.

Has anyone else had the problem with Spa Sensations Memory Foam Mattress? I would like a refund from the company for putting my family's health at risk. - (July 19, 2015) CP said:

Reply:

CP

It sounds as if it would be valuable to identify as fully as possible the mattress you are discussing (use our page bottom CONTACT link to send us photos of the item, the cover, and any labels on the product).

We'd want to know where the product is made, what materials its label says it contains and then perhaps to examine it for its actual contents.

If we were able to rule out an external contaminant and to be confident that the product as sold is contaminated with undesirable and unlisted materials you might be in a reasonable position to ask for a refund.

Normally, laundering or dry-cleaning clothing should put an end to any worry about irritating dust or fibers on those items.

 

Question: strange particles on clothing: what's the source? Mattress cover?

I have a rather strange case and am unsure what I should do. There was an earthquake almost a year ago. After the incident I helped clean up at my work and when I went home I had shiny strands and particles on my clothes.

I've cleaned these clothes and all other clothes many many times.

The other night however I noticed all my clothes had shiny fibers on them. They could only be seen when light made them shine. I then inspected my room and found it covered every surface in varying degree.

I don't work with fiber glass but could I still be bringing things home from my work? O

n another note its mainly just in my room and we recently ran the vent. I'm uncertain what I should do. I don't seem to be getting irritated skin despite wearing the clothes

The only other thing I can think of is perhaps I'm bring home Styrofoam fibers since I open many packaged boxes. Since I'm living in these conditions I'm uncertain what I should do.

I cant seem to get it out of my clothes I obviously will clean surfaces even though I don't have a hepa vacuum but this all worries me for health reasons. - (Mar 20, 2015) Leo said:

Reply:

Leo from just an e-text I can't say what you're seeing on your clothing. Look for fiber sources where you are spending time

Followup from Leo

I believe I've found the culprit and its my mattress. I have a memory foam mattress with some kind of fabric all around it. I look cover and saw the fibers all over it. Then I look in though the hold and the fibers were everywhere.

The top of the mattress were I look was covered and had been for a long time. However the entire mattress was not covered so I suspect that every time I laid on it or put my clothes on it some of these fibers went into the air and over time have been covering the surfaces of my room.

This would explain why it was almost exclusively in my room. under my bed has these fibers as well. So I think my solution is to cover it and clean up. or get a new bed.

Thank-you for listening and for your help. Obviously I can't be 100% sure but I'm pretty sure. (Mar 21, 2015) leo

Itching fibers from Spa Sensations Mattress

Leo and CP,

I recently acquired a spa sensations mattress and immediately started noticing the shiny fibers all over my room.

However the from what I can tell The company is aware of the fiberglass socking around the memory foam is present to pass the fire retardant tests necessary for all mattresses in the US.

However I wonder how bad breathing these fibers into your lungs and throat is? I intend to get a refund for the mattress however I'm afraid to move it now.

Shining a flashlight under my bed reveals thousands of the shiny fibers all of the floor this can't be good for your health I don't see how this is legal. - (Sept 28, 2015) BradM said:

...

...

Continue reading at FIBERGLASS FRAGMENT HAZARDS in AIR or DUST, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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