Do Big Lots Mattresses Have Fiberglass?

Buying a low-priced mattress is a priority for many, and some may turn to a popular discount retailer if they need to outfit their bed with a new mattress. However, there are drawbacks to looking at a mattress’s price over its other features. One is the increased risk of choosing a mattress with fiberglass when shopping for low-cost or cheap mattresses.

One recent viral video suggests that Big Lots is one such mattress retailer, selling mattresses with fiberglass inside. Among the mattresses they carry, Big Lots does offer Lucid mattresses, which have come under fire by consumers for their use of fiberglass. Other mattresses they sell may also contain fiberglass for flame protection.

Who Is Big Lots?

Big Lots, traditionally stylized as Big Lots!, is an American retailer with more than 1,400 stores. The chain has a reputation for affordable deals and discounts, filling their shelves with merchandise from other retailers’ closeouts and overstocks.

We mentioned that Big Lots carries Lucid mattresses. They also sell mattresses by Serta and Sealy.

What is Fiberglass?

As the name suggests, fiberglass resembles glass fibers. Technically speaking, the material is a composite containing plastic reinforced with glass shards. Its design is weather-resistant and durable, and it’s commonly used as an insulating material in homes.

What is the Purpose of Fiberglass in Mattresses?

All mattresses made in the U.S. must meet flammability standards for consumer safety. Essentially, the mattress must resist an open flame for a set length of time to minimize the danger to sleepers. These standards have saved lives, so it’s important to find a mattress with a flame barrier.

Originally, chemicals were used as flame retardants, but they were found to be toxic, so the mattress industry moved away from using them. Fiberglass became the common alternative, as the material is non-toxic and does not omit any dangerous fumes.

When used inside mattresses, fiberglass serves as a flame deterrent. When exposed to heat, the fiberglass melts and encases the mattress’s insides, keeping them from catching fire. This gives sleepers time to get out of bed and away from the fire.

Why is Fiberglass Bad?

The trouble with fiberglass is that it can cause a rash, respiratory difficulties, and digestive issues if ingested by the human body. The particles are small enough that you can inhale them or brush against them without realizing it.

However, the fiberglass is traditionally tucked away underneath the mattress’s cover. This keeps it from coming into direct contact with a sleeper. Still, as the cover fabric wears out on an aging mattress, the fiberglass can seep through and escape into the bedroom. Worse, it can spread beyond the bedroom if the fiberglass particles are swept up by an air conditioner.

If these shards spread throughout the home, it can cost hundreds to even thousands of dollars to clean it up using a professional service.

Identifying a Mattress with Fiberglass

So while fiberglass has its purpose, many feel it’s best avoided entirely in a new mattress. However, manufacturers and retailers are aware of customers’ hesitance to buy a mattress with fiberglass, and unscrupulous ones may try to conceal that their mattress contains the material.

You can’t just rip open a potential mattress purchase and see for yourself if it has fiberglass, so how to avoid buying one? There are a few tip-offs that can suggest that a mattress you’re considering has fiberglass inside it.

One of the biggest is a warning not to remove the mattress’s cover. Now, a non-removable mattress cover doesn’t mean you should immediately dismiss the mattress as one containing fiberglass. This warning also keeps allergens and other nasty things out of your mattress, after all. However, it is a sign that you should dig deeper into the mattress’s makings.

You can also look out for terms like “glass fiber” and “glass wool,” which are other ways to refer to fiberglass.

As we mentioned, there’s also the idea of prices that seem too low, the mattress ‘too good to be true.’ Excellent mattress deals do exist, but manufacturers that are trying to keep their beds at a low price point are more likely to use fiberglass to meet flammability standards.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses without Fiberglass

Mattresses to Avoid

We mentioned that Lucid mattresses use fiberglass in their construction, but they’re not the only brand to do so. Other brands that have come under question for their use of fiberglass in mattresses include:

• Zinus mattresses
• Nectar mattresses
• Ashley Home Furniture mattresses
• Vibe mattresses
• Olee Sleep mattresses
• Linenspa mattresses
• Casper mattresses
• Allswell mattresses

Many of these mattresses are also sold on other online marketplaces, much the way Big Lots sells mattresses. For example, they might show up as Amazon mattresses.

While you could purchase one of these mattresses and encase it in a mattress protector to keep the fiberglass from leaking through and spreading throughout your bedroom, it’s still a risk to do so. Should the fiberglass escape, it will be a hassle to clean it all up, and you may even have to hire a professional cleaner to get it all out of your house.

SEE ALSO: How to Clean Fiberglass from a Mattress

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a fiberglass mattress make you sick?

Fiberglass can make you sick if it’s inhaled, causing breathing issues and stomach trouble. It can also cause skin irritation, appearing like a rash or like blisters on dry, flaky skin. Sleepers may also experience eye irritation after being exposed to fiberglass.

Does every mattress have fiberglass?

No, fiberglass isn’t found inside every mattress. Many manufacturers have begun to use other flame-resistant materials like wool, plant fibers, and silica. Organic latex mattresses are the type of mattress least likely to contain fiberglass, though they are quite an expensive purchase.

Why do they put fiberglass in mattresses?

Fiberglass is used by manufacturers to establish flame protection, a requirement for any mattresses made in the U.S. In the event of a fire, the fiberglass melts and ensures the bed doesn’t go up in flames. Previously, chemical flame retardants were used until their harmful side effects were discovered, and fiberglass replaced them as a safer alternative.

How do I know if fiberglass is in my mattress?

Naturally, you don’t want to wait for fiberglass to leak through to determine if your mattress has it. It’s best to determine if that’s the case before purchasing the mattress, and there are a few telltale signs. One is a warning to never remove the mattress’s cover, as this can release the fiberglass particles.

If all else fails, contact a brand’s customer service and ask what they use for flame protection. Should customer service will not provide a straightforward answer, take it as a warning sign and look elsewhere.

What should you avoid in a mattress?

Fiberglass is one material worth avoiding, but it’s not the only one. We also recommend against purchasing mattresses that lack certified foams and other safe materials. Third-party organizations like CertiPUR-US® ensure that polyurethane foams are produced without potentially toxic materials.

Aside from certain materials, you also want to avoid sleeping on a too-thin mattress. Mattresses that are only a few inches thick simply can’t deliver the comfort and support that a thicker mattress provides. Thicker mattresses are also far more durable simply because they possess more materials. For adults, a good mattress thickness is at least 10 inches.

Conclusion

Big Lots does carry at least one brand that’s known to use fiberglass in its construction, Lucid mattresses. So we advise you to shop cautiously when considering their mattresses.

If you’re in possession of a mattress you suspect has fiberglass, it’s important not to panic. Check to see if there are signs of leakage, and clean up any spilled fiberglass if you can. Cover the mattress to prevent future leakage, and then look into replacing it with one of the best mattresses on the market.