Does Memory Foam Smell?
Memory foam is denser than the regular foam used to make mattresses. This high-density memory foam gets its increased density and viscosity by going through a chemical treatment process. As a result of this process a residual smell is left behind. So if you are thinking about getting a memory foam mattress, and you are wondering does memory foam smell, the short answer is yes and no.
Because this foam is chemically treated it reacts to body heat and molds to fit your body, which gives you total support with no uncomfortable pressure points as you slumber. Unfortunately a by-product of the process that gives the foam its “memory” is a chemical smell when the mattress is new. The smell has been described as a paint-like smell.
While a new memory foam mattress does have a pretty strong chemical scent, it does fade away rather quickly. The smell is not toxic, and it does not trigger any allergies or respiratory problems; however it can be very poignant if you happen to be sensitive to the smell. While some people are sensitive to the smell, other people are not.
Either way, it is a good idea to air out a new memory foam mattress before sleeping on it. Some mattress manufacturers air the mattresses out after production, however, if the smell of the new mattress still bothers you, then simply continue to give it some air. Leave the uncovered mattress in a well-ventilated room for a couple of days. Within a week at most the smell should be quite diminished.
If you are only slightly sensitive to the smell, then you may simply want to pull the sheets off of the bed each morning for the first week and wash them to keep the smell from getting too strong. If you are one of the lucky ones who is not at all sensitive to the smell, then feel free to enjoy a good night’s sleep on the mattress right away.
There are some new formulations of memory foam just coming on the market that do not have the strong chemical smell when they are new. This new biogreen foam is still memory foam, but it is a green product and does not produce the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), or smell, that the original memory foam emits when new. This new formulation is also hypoallergenic.
So, does memory foam smell? Well, as it turns out, the answer is, “Not necessarily”.