You may love the smell of a new car, but do you want that same smell when you lie down on your mattress? Why would your new car and your mattress be giving off the same scent?

Believe it or not, many mattresses actually produce off-gassing. So that “new bed smell” is the same smell that’s coming from your new vehicle’s upholstery. These things that you are in or on almost daily are leaking Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air around you. Meaning that distinct smell isn’t a good sign.

Mattresses and Off-gassing

You not only spend ⅓ of your life on your mattress, but sleep is one of the most important human functions. That’s why you should really take the time to consider if your mattress will help or hinder your sleep.

Many “conventional” mattresses contain toxic chemicals that off-gas, so check the label when considering what mattress you want to sleep on. Specifically, if the mattress contains petroleum-based chemicals, toxic foams, synthetic fabrics, or flame retardant chemicals it will omit these chemicals into your air. You can also check to see if the mattress is GREENGUARD GOLD-certified, like Happsy, as that is the standard for avoiding VOCs.

How To Avoid Mattress Off-Gassing

Even if its not giving off that new car smell, your mattress could still be off-gassing toxic chemicals. As mentioned, your best bet is to check the label as you can’t go on smell alone.

In general, to avoid mattress off-gassing, look for an organic brand as true organic options will not contain off-gassing materials. This is because certified organic mattresses, like Happsy, are crafted with natural materials so they do not contain harmful chemicals. Happsy is a mattress that is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified, and GOTS bans the use of off-gassing materials such as formaldehyde, plasticizers, polyfluorinated compounds, and many others.

So clearly off-gassing is a problem in the mattress industry, but it’s not the only reason to go organic. If you purchase an organic mattress, your mattress will also last longer!