Preventing the New Mattress Smell – 7 Tips That Work

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Sitting at home wondering how on earth to get rid of that awful chemical smell coming from your shiny new mattress? We’ve all been there.

If your mattress won’t stop giving off that chemical smell – even if it has been more than 72 hours since you opened the packaging – then read on, as I have some tips on how to remove this ghastly smell from your home once and for all.

Why does my new mattress smell?

This smell – which depending on the person describing it can smell like new carpet or a kind of eggy gas – comes from some of the materials that make up the mattress, and it will go away by itself over time… eventually.

The smell is one of the most common compaints I hear from others. Fortunately, some manufacturers have taken these complaints to heart and have constructed their mattresses so they are less likely to smell, by choosing different internal materials (more on that below). But of course, their promises aren’t always golden.

I test a lot of mattresses out, in the hope of finding the best mattresses around. I can confirm it took me over a week to get rid of my new mattress smell for my current mattress, that I’m actually sleeping on most nights (for anyone wondering, it’s an Emma mattress, as noted in my review). Indeed, sleeping on it at first was a nightmare in itself. The stench eminating from it made the room stink, and as soon as I woke up I could smell it filling the air and my lungs.

What causes the smell?

Anyway, back to the point: new mattresses sometimes smell because of a process that the industry calls off-gassing.

This is because certain chemicals inside the mattress – called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs – are now reacting with the air. Remember, they have been vacuum-packed and have had all the air effectively ‘sucked out’ at the factory. These are now being released, and the problem is generally worse with memory foam mattresses.

Some mattresses have been stored in vacuum packaging for weeks, months or sometimes even years before they’re opened.

VOCs are not “stable” (there’s an explanation here of what that actually means) and so these VOCs tend to break down rapidly under certain conditions (i.e. in your home). When they do this, they form gases that must then escape. These gases are what you smell when something smells new, and are particularly prominent if the product contains memory foam, acrylics or some plastics.

How long will the mattress smell last?

This is unfortunately a bit of a “how long is a piece of string” question, but having tested loads of mattresses personally, I can probably give you a reasonably accurate answer here.

Speaking from experience, most memory foam type mattress smells start to subside after 2 days, and the smell should reduce by about 25% every day from there on. After 5-6 days you probably won’t be able to smell it at all, even when you lay down on your mattress.

How do I get rid of the mattress smell?

Here are my tips to getting rid of the smell of that new mattress you’ve bought. Some of these will start to work straight away.

  1. Firstly, ventilate your home. That means opening the windows and keeping the doors open to create airflow! Note that allowing the smell to dissipate around your home won’t mean that every room will smell. Why? Because the gases will be less pungent if they are less concentrated.
  2. Optionally, use a fan or a dehumidifier to hurry this process along from step 1.
  3. If it’s not too late, open your mattress in a garage or even in the garden. If you’ve not opened it fully yet out the packaging then stick the mattress in your garage for a few days to get rid of the smell there.
  4. Spray the mattress with an enzyme spray. While these sprays were originally designed to remove body odours, like that of urine from a mattress, they can also help with “off-gassing” odours, too. They also have a load of hidden uses, as this article mentions. Simply spray the mattress surface directly according to the manufacturer instructions, but I would strongly recommend a “test” run first to make sure that the enzyme spray doesn’t stain.
  5. Use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). Placing a few bowls of water + baking soda around your room where the mattress is will quickly neutralise the stink. Try to aim for a mix of 5 parts water to 1 part baking soda, and mix well. Then leave the bowl(s) out and these will catch the smells and neutralise them quicker.
  6. Use activated charcoal to absorb the smell. You can buy this in bulk and place it in bowls, like the baking soda, or you can even use charcoal briquettes in a pinch. You can even place your bowls of charcoal under the bed, so you don’t risk spilling your charcoal everywhere. Be aware that it may stain your carpet if you spill it, though — eek!
  7. Lastly, consider a mattress wrap (like this on Amazon). They’re not too expensive and will also be ideal if you ever move home and take your mattress with you. At the very least, they’ll contain the smell somewhat inside the wrap.

?️Are these new mattress smells dangerous? Should I be worried?

The short answer is, nobody knows. It hasn’t been tested enough.

The vast majority of people will not have any side-effects from this smell, but it’s a good idea to follow the tips above to remove the smell as quickly as possible. After all, even if there are no side-effects, it’s still a rather stuffy overpowering smell at times.

Do ALL new mattresses smell nowadays?

Pocket-sprung mattresses won’t smell much – because the main source of that famous stink is the memory foam inside. Obviously, a pure pocket spring will not have any memory foam. But the latex and/or fabric covering may still create a bit of a smell. If you’re interested in a pocket spring then make sure to read my guide here to the best ones available right now.

If you want to limit your chemical exposure or you just don’t want to have to bother with getting rid of the smell, start by looking for a mattress with a CertiPUR certification. This organisation is US-based but many British mattress sellers and manufacturers are using it now.

In a nutshell, CertiPUR test mattresses for various health & safety preparations, and their seal means that an approved CertPUR mattress uses very little or no VOCs. Their testing also includes CFCs, phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and PBDEs, so your CertuPUR-approved mattress should be free from those, as well.

CertiPUR is a voluntary testing, analysis and certification programme for the environment, health and safety properties of polyurethane foam used in bedding and upholstered furniture applications. It identifies substances that may not be used in the production of polyurethane foams and sets stringent maximum limits for some components.

Will a natural mattress, for example a wool or latex one, still smell?

The mattress industry likes to downplay the famous smell but – take it from me – I know how unpleasant it can be at times.

Waking up in the middle of the night with that smell lingering in the air is not pleasant. I can still smell most of the mattresses I have tested out to create this website, in fact I can almost taste them some days 🙁

The problem is particularly bad for memory foam; indeed even the best hybrid mattresses (which are a mix of pocket sprung and memory foam) may still smell, but hopefully after a few days, if you follow the above tips, then the smell will subside and you will be happy with your new mattress for at least another 10 years.

If you have a higher budget (of at least £1000) and haven’t just bought a new mattress (which I am assuming most visitors to this post have!), then a natural mattress such as one containing wool might be worth considering. Personally, I’ve noticed that latex mattresses smell just as bad.

Will my trial period be affected if I do this?

No.

Unless of course you damage your mattress somehow, then the trial period (anywhere from a month to a year, depending on the brand) will not be affected by the methods set out in this article to reduce the pong.

Was this article helpful?
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Why does my new mattress smell?

This smell - which depending on the person describing it can smell somewhere between new carpet and a kind of eggy gas - comes from some of the materials that make up the mattress, and it will go away by itself over time. Fortunately, some manufacturers have taken these complaints to heart and have constructed their mattresses to they are less likely to smell at all. But of course, their promises aren't as accurate as they make out.

🅰️Are these new mattress smells dangerous? Should I be worried?

The short answer is, nobody knows. It hasn't been tested enough.

The vast majority of people will not have any side-effects from this smell, but it's a good idea to follow the tips above to remove the smell as quickly as possible. After all, even if there are no side-effects, it's still a rather stuffy overpowering smell at times.

Do ALL new mattresses smell nowadays?

Pocket-sprung mattresses won't smell much - because the main source of that famous stink is the memory foam inside. Obviously, a pure pocket spring will not have any memory foam. But the latex and/or fabric covering may still create a bit of a smell. If you're interested in a pocket spring then make sure to read my guide here to the best ones available right now.

Will my trial period be affected if I do this?

No.

Unless of course you damage your mattress somehow, then the trial period (anywhere from a month to a year, depending on the brand) will not be affected by the methods set out in this article to reduce the pong.

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How we reviewed this article:

Edit History:

Our experts continually monitor the mattress & sleep tech space, and we update our reviews & articles when new information becomes available.

  • 27th February 2024
    Current Article - By Carrie Taylor
  • 27th February 2024
    Checked & Reviewed - By Jean Marshall
  • 2nd March 2023
    Copy Edited - By Carrie Taylor
  • 27th February 2024
    Reviewed - By Carrie Taylor

19 comments on “Preventing the New Mattress Smell – 7 Tips That Work

  1. I am thrilled to find this article. I bought a Stearns and Foster, and two Serta and still have that gassy smell. It is
    awful and I can’t sleep on it. The first two were from Macys and the second one was from Ashley. Different types and all three had the same smell. I will try the baking soda and see what happens.

  2. My mattress still absolutely stinks 3 weeks after getting it
    The company are refusing to take it back or refund me
    I’m a going to do the things you suggested like pop it in the garage
    Because I can’t honestly stand much more of this my headache is really bad

    1. A 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water applied with a spray bottle will help to neutralise the smell if you are still having issues. Be sure to only lightly mist the mattress though, and test in an inconspicuous area first.

  3. Thank you Carrie for this article and taking the trouble to research the topic. My new mattress has a strong musty almost mouldy smell and I was beginning to wonder whether it was secondhand or had been stored in a damp place.
    I’m going to try the soda method and see if that helps.
    Thank you once again, Maria

  4. The only option is to buy organic. No memory foam or coils. Maybe try a wool mattress? This is just something I read online .

    1. I have a Which Best Buy hybrid mattress, and, unfortunately, after four months, my bedroom is still heavy with an unpleasant odour, despite keeping the window open all day every day.

      To be fair, the manufacturer has offered to replace it, but I’m worried that the replacement will have the same issue.

      Can anyone recommend a mattress that doesn’t emit an unpleasant smell please?

  5. I bought a cheap mattress online recently without giving a thought to if it may have been manufactured using harmful toxic chemicals. It was delivered plastic wrapped and rolled up. But I have been airing it in a room with two windows open for ONE MONTH now and it still smells as bad as when I first unwrapped it. I’ve never experienced this before when buying a new mattress. Has anyone else had this experience for so long? Will this smell ever go away?

    1. I bought online as well and 3 months later it still stinks… I actually assumed it was the new rug I bought at the same time, so gave it to my husband to use for working under his car. Only to find it was the mattress!! So annoying… I’m trawling google to see what can be done, which is how I found this. So unfortunately we’re in the same boat and no answer yet 🙁

  6. In answer to “should I be worried?” , you don’t mention what qualications you have to back up your assessment. As a mum, which you say you aren’t, I feel I am more qualified than you, to see the terrible effects on my kids that this smell has. I have alerted all my friends in the Facebook group for our school and hope everyone else can do the same. As a mum, I feel I have the duty to do that.

  7. I just bought a storage bedframe from Silk and Snow. There is a very strong smell – fishy or sore smell. Had anyone experience this?

    Or know the reason ?

    Thanks

  8. I purchased a new bedframe with upholstered head and foot boards. They have been in my garage for 4 months and the fumes are still over powering. Instant headache when you get within two feet of the thing. I got a refund and was told to donate it or take it to the dump. I can’t bring myself to do either. Then I just purchased a $2K mattress and it also smells of fumes it has been in my garage along with the bed frame for two weeks.
    I put an odor absorbent in the mattress with the plastic as loose as i can get it and am going to try activate charcoal on the bed frame. Hope it works.

  9. With my Emma mattress (purchased early December 2020), it took until late January for the smell of the chemicals to go away.

    Despite the cold weather – I took the washable top cover off the mattress (and washed it) – and left the windows open in the room (and the door closed). Even after a week the smell was still so strong that it gave me a runny nose and itchy eyes if I spent too long in the bedroom.

    I expected it to smell/emit a bit as it comes vacuum packed and all polymers/adhesives off-gas – however I wasn’t expecting to have to wait over a month before I was comfortable (for anyone) to sleep in the room.

    I’m an analytical chemist – and took air samples before and then a week after the mattress was unwrapped – and VOC levels in the room were close to industrial hygiene levels – in addition there were some high level toxic compounds there despite their protestations/information on their website.

    I’ve been trying to escalate this with the company for weeks – but I get standard bounce back replies – either “you didn’t buy direct take it up with our vendor” or “send it back we’ll provide you with a replacement” or “we’ve escalated this to our management and they’ll get back in touch with you”.

    I don’t want to take it up with the vendor as it’s a manufacturer’s responsibility. I don’t want to send it back and get a replacement as I’ll have to wait for the next one to off-gas too. I do want to discuss this with the quality assurance manager – but they obviously don’t want to discuss with me.

    I don’t think it’s right that they are exposing customers to high levels of VOC and are unwilling/unable to engage when someone measures those levels after the standard off-gassing period, finds them high and that there are toxic compounds among them. My wife’s boyfriend is equally as concerned about it as I am.

    1. I bought a floor model mattress to avoid this issue. My mattress still smells a month later. I have it in two mattress encasement sand have a mattress pad and my sheets and blankets still smell. Now my husband does not smell it. Maybe there is something in there I have an allergy to? I am at a loss of what yo do. I am not a chemist but I work in the field of environmental health here in Canada. So frustrating.

    2. Thank you Matt. You saved me from having to reply. I agree – not only should the manufacturers be held responsible for their idiotically toxic products, if the govts are going to do anything for the population (are they?), it should be to demand new processing methods that don’t result in carcinogenic, absurdly annihilating products.

      To the author of this article, thank you for it, it’s helpful.

    1. I recently bought a Simmonds beauty rest mattress. They bragged about the material in Their new mattresses being environmentally friendly, by using recycled plastic bottles in their materials on the mattress top & sides & the foam inside the coils. Yes save the ocean & turtles but kill the humans!
      It’s been a week now but this mattress still has that off gassing smell!
      I’m really upset because I can’t enjoy my new mattress!

    2. Which recommended method did you use? I just got a new Beauty Rest delivered yesterday and the smell is atrocious! Thankfully I have another bedroom and slept there last night. Thanks in advance.

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