Do Tuft and Needle Mattresses Have Fiberglass

Whether you are interested in the Original, Mint, or Hybrid, Tuft & Needle mattresses are known to offer adequate pressure relief, support, and overall comfort. Infused with an adaptive foam and a cooling gel, Tuft & Needle mattresses are breathable and adjust to your body.

There is no argument that Tuft & Needle mattresses are built using an innovative design. However, when shopping for a bed, one crucial thing you must analyze is the ingredients used. Of late, there have been a lot of discussions online about fiberglass, a material commonly used in mattresses. This material is very harmful to your health, and it can contaminate your home.

In today’s article, we will answer whether Tuft & Needle mattresses contain fiberglass.

Is There Fiberglass in a Tuft & Needle Mattress?

On their official website, Tuft & Needle claims that they do not use fiberglass in their mattresses. This information is provided in the FAQ section.

However, if you do more research about this matter, you will come across several complaints of sleepers saying that they found fiberglass in Tuft & Needle mattresses. There is one comment on Reddit where a user explains that fiberglass from a Tuft & Needle mattress escaped through the HVAC system in their neighbor’s house and contaminated the entire home. She was forced to pay around $10,000 for cleanup. This comment was posted three years ago.

When you look at the information posted on Tuft & Needle’s website and third-party reviews, there is conflicting information about whether these mattresses contain fiberglass. So, the team at Sleep Aim continued with investigations, and here is what we found.

Tuft & Needle initially used to add fiberglass to their mattresses. It was their main flame retardant. However, around 2018 and 2019, Tuft & Needle stopped using fiberglass. That is why all complaints about their mattresses having fiberglass are dated three or four years ago. If you buy a new mattress from Tuft & Needle, you will not find a strand of fiberglass within the covers.

To prove that Tuft & Needle used fiberglass before 2019. Visit their mattress listing on Amazon and head over to the FAQ section. There are two questions about fiberglass, which were posted at different time intervals.

In the first one posted in 2019, the Tuft & Needle team answers that their mattresses contain a sock filled with continuous glass filament fiber. This is just a long phrase that describes fiberglass.

When you look at the other question posted on January 2023, the response is that no fiberglass leaks from these covers.

From our investigations, we can confidently assure you that new Tuft & Needle mattresses do not contain fiberglass. However, if you bought a Tuft & Needle mattress before 2019, there is a high chance that it may be covered with a fiberglass fire sock.

What Flame Retardant Does Tuft & Needle Mattress Use?

Here in the US, all mattresses must pass the flammability test. This is why flame retardants are compulsory. Since Tuft & Needle doesn’t use fiberglass, you are probably wondering what material they use as a flame retardant.

According to Tuft & Needle, they use a fire barrier comprising of cotton and polyester treated with food-grade salt. Unlike fiberglass, a blend of polyester, cotton, and food-grade salt is safer when exposed to sleepers. At the same time, this combination of materials is highly effective at preventing the spread of flames in case your mattress catches fire.

Why Did Tuft & Needle Stop Using Fiberglass in their Mattresses?

As a concerned shopper, are you interested in finding out why Tuft & Needle stopped using fiberglass? Let us take you through a quick history of fiberglass and mattresses.

When the Federal Flammability Standards took effect in 2007, mattress manufacturers started scouring for materials that would help them pass these regulations. Chemicals such as PBDEs were prevalent back then. However, research found out that these chemicals would off-gas from the mattress and be inhaled by sleepers.

In the quest to find a better flame retardant for mattresses, fiberglass was discovered. Fiberglass is an excellent flame retardant. It is cheap and readily available. However, when used in a bed, fiberglass can escape into the air when the cover is removed or torn.

The reason Tuft & Needle stopped using fiberglass was the risks that are associated when fiberglass escapes from the mattress. These shards of glass are super lightweight. Therefore, they can spread all over your home quickly. The situation worsens if the fiberglass strands are sucked into the HVAC system.

When touched, fiberglass can cut your skin. For those who have sensitive skin, fiberglass contact can lead to the development of rashes and blisters. When inhaled, fiberglass can also irritate your respiratory system, including the nose, throat, and lungs. Inhaling fiberglass is risky, especially if you have been diagnosed with asthma. This material is known to enhance the symptoms of asthma

Besides being unsafe, fiberglass is also impossible to remove once it settles on your bedding, clothes, and furniture. In reference to the complaint shared above, to clean fiberglass contamination in your home, you must seek professional help who will charge you several thousand dollars.

Tuft & Needle must have learned about these side effects, so they opted to switch to fiberglass-free mattresses. But we can’t also ignore the fact that Tuft & Needle initially used this material in their older beds.

Does Tuft & Needle Admit to Using Fiberglass in the Past?

Tuft & Needle made a crucial change in their manufacturing process by switching from fiberglass to polyester and cotton flame retardants. However, they have never come clean about this subject. Tuft & Needle chose to make these changes and not announce them to their customers.

They stopped using fiberglass and silently transitioned to polyester and cotton. One of the reasons they made this silent transition was to avoid attracting the attention of their customers. Considering how unsafe fiberglass is, if Tuft & Needle customers knew that this was the flame retardant used in their old mattresses, they would receive a lot of negative reactions, like Zinus.

Tuft & Needle wanted to retain their brand image.

How Do I Know If a Tuft & Needle Mattress Has Fiberglass?

Since the last Tuft & Needle mattresses that contained fiberglass were manufactured around 2019, most mattresses you may come across from this brand should be fiberglass-free. The only exception is if your Tuft & Needle bed is more than three or four years old.

As a mattress shopper, you may have doubts and want to be 100% sure that the Tuft & Needle bed you are buying is fiberglass-free. So, here are some tips on how you can tell whether a bed contains fiberglass or not.

• Check the tag – Most mattresses come with a tag that contains a list of materials used. When shopping for a Tuft & Needle bed, check the tag and look for fiberglass on the list. Alternatively, you can go through the product description if you are buying the bed from an online vendor such as Amazon. What we love about Tuft & Needle is that they follow an honest approach. Therefore, the list of ingredients listed on the tag is always accurate.
• Inspect if the cover is removable – Most fiberglass mattresses are fitted with a non-removable cover. This ensures the customer doesn’t accidentally remove the cover and let the fiberglass lose. The good news about the new Tuft & Needle mattress is that the cover is removable.
• Inquire about the price and origin – One of the popular reasons why many mattress brands use fiberglass is because it is a cost-effective material. If the mattress you are buying is lowly priced, there is a high chance that the manufacturers use fiberglass. Also, if it’s made in China, this is another red flag. It’s worth mentioning that all Tuft & Needle mattresses are made in the USA and Canada.

What Should I Do If I Have an Old Tuft & Needle Mattress?

If you bought a Tuft & Needle mattress three or four years ago, there could be fiberglass beneath the covers. The best thing for you to do is invest in a fiberglass-free bed. There are plenty of quality mattresses out there that only use natural flame retardants.

In case you don’t have money to buy a new mattress right away, you can always buy a mattress protector. A protector will keep you an extra layer away from the fiberglass fire sock. Also, you should avoid removing the cover at all costs.

Should You Buy a Tuft & Needle Mattress?

Now that you know Tuft & Needle mattresses don’t have fiberglass, you may consider buying one of their mattresses. What we love about these beds is that they have a super soft cover, adequate edge support, and are breathable. There have been a few complaints about durability and sagging. However, from its price point, Tuft & Needle is a good mattress.

The Bottom Line

We have to applaud Tuft & Needle for their bold decision to change from fiberglass to polyester and cotton flame retardants. This is an indication of a brand that cares about the health of its clients. If you were planning on buying a Tuft & Needle mattress and were worried about fiberglass, we hope this article has addressed all your doubts and fears.