How to Speed Up Mattress Off-Gassing

Buying a new mattress can be exciting, but for most mattresses, there is a period of off-gassing (IE, strong new mattress smell) before you can fully enjoy the mattress. This process can be as short as a few hours, but it can also take multiple months to finish.

Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to speed up the off-gassing process. But first, what is off-gassing?

In This Guide
What is off-gassing? | Is off-gassing dangerous? | Which mattress types smell the strongest? | How to speed up mattress off-gassing? | Which mattresses have less smell? | FAQs

What is Off-Gassing?

Off-gassing is the odor that comes from a newly unpacked mattress. During the shipping process, chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are trapped inside the mattress materials.

Once unboxed and/or unbagged the VOCs are released into the air and easily evaporate, creating that “new mattress” smell.

Some of the most common VOCs that are released from synthetic foams are formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, acetaldehyde, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanoic acid.

How long does it take for a new mattress to stop smelling?

The average mattress across all types has an off-gassing period of 7.12 days across the 450+ mattresses we’ve tested to date. That said, the smell may be bearable before that full 7-day period.

Mattress Type	Average # of Days	Average Off-Gassing Score
Adjustable	8.00 days	7.70
Coil	7.30 days	7.80
Foam	6.09 days	8.20
Hybrid	7.08 days	7.90
Kids	3.33 days	8.90
Latex Foam	6.75 days	7.60
Latex Hybrid	8.11 days	7.80
Memory Foam	7.54 days	7.70
Memory Foam Hybrid	7.43 days	7.70
Plus Sized	5.35 days	8.60
Specialty	11.33 days	7.60
All Mattress Types	7.12 days	7.95

Is Off-Gassing Dangerous?

No, for the vast majority of people, it will just be an annoying smell, though some may find it more annoying than others. But for some, it can cause noticeable discomfort. There can be short-term symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, or eye, nose, or throat irritation.

I want to be clear that there is no strong evidence that supports the claim that off-gassing is dangerous for adults. That said, there is the caveat for infants and young children.

VOCs can irritate the respiratory system and can cause potential developmental risks in the long term. In just a moment, we’re going to go over the ways you can speed up the off-gassing process and also highlight mattress types that have less smell.

Which Mattress Types Have the Strongest Smell?

There are many different types of mattresses, and not all of them will off-gas as long or in the same way.

Foam / Memory Foam

These mattresses are the most likely to have some VOC off-gassing upon initial unboxing / unbagging. The use of synthetic materials creates an environment that is more likely to contain VOCs. That said, higher-quality foams typically smell less.

Hybrid

How severe the off-gassing will be depends on how the hybrid mattress is made and what materials are used. Many hybrids are paired with foam comfort layers, which means they will run into many of the same issues as a foam / memory foam mattress. However, the inclusion of the coil unit will create more airflow and typically reduce the amount of off-gassing needed.

Latex

Latex foam or latex hybrid mattresses are created using natural rubber. The lack of any synthetic materials generally means there will be a lack of VOCs. That said, latex comes with its own smell (typically a rubbery smell), but it is distinctly different from the odor of foam mattresses.

How to Speed Up Mattress Off-Gassing?

Regardless of mattress type, if the mattress needs to off-gas, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. These steps will help speed up the process so you can more fully enjoy that new mattress sooner.

1. Unbox and unwrap immediately

The mattress being wrapped in plastic prevents the materials from releasing the VOCs and beginning the off-gassing process. The quicker you unwrap the mattress and let it decompress (if it’s a boxed mattress), the sooner the off-gassing process can begin… and in turn, end.

2. Leave in a well-ventilated room

The off-gassing process can be assisted by leaving the mattress in a room with more airflow. Leaving a window open in the room can help increase the airflow and let some of the odor escape outside rather than inside. In addition, adding a fan or air purifier can also speed up the process.

3. Use baking soda

Baking soda is an effective compound at neutralizing odors. You’ll want to sprinkle a generous amount on the mattress and leave it on there for as long as possible, ideally at least 24 hours.

When done, you can vacuum the baking soda, which will have absorbed some of smell.

4. Place activated charcoal nearby

Activated charcoal does an excellent job of removing odors and is commonly used in air purifiers for this purpose. You can place bags of charcoal nearby or even on the mattress for a day or two. The charcoal will absorb the VOCs, reducing the odor.

Which Mattresses Have Less Off-Gassing Smell?

While many mattresses have to deal with off-gassing, that isn’t true for all of them. These tips are for those who may just want to skip the off-gassing process entirely.

1. Buy a mattress that ships uncompressed

While many online mattress brands ship their mattresses compressed in a box, not all do. If you want to reduce the off-gassing process, choose a brand that ships its mattresses already decompressed. These types of mattresses typically have less smell. While some smell may linger, it shouldn’t be nearly as strong as a freshly unpacked mattress.

2. Buy a natural / organic mattress

If you like the feel of latex, then it could be a good option as it doesn’t contain any synthetic chemicals. The lack of VOCs means no chemical off-gassing.

That said, there is still the odor of the latex rubber. For many sleepers, this smell isn’t as offensive as that of foam but it’s certainly still noticeable.

3. Buy a mattress with higher-quality materials

Materials used to make mattresses are not all created equal. Mattresses that use higher-quality materials are more likely to off-gas more quickly and include materials that have lower levels of VOCs.

Additionally, you can look for materials that are Greenguard Gold, OEKO-TEX, CertiPUR-US, and/or eco-INSTITUT certified. These certifications ensure that emission levels are safe and the chemicals used aren’t toxic.

4. Increase airflow

Once you put your new mattress on the bed, resist the temptation to add your bedding immediately. Leaving the bedding off can be a great way to increase airflow to and through the mattress. Turning on a fan or air purifier is another great way to speed up the process.

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