by Your new mattress has arrived, and you are excited to try it out. We understand you have been through a lot. After all, spending night after night tossing and turning on your old mattress and not enjoying a good night’s sleep can be daunting.
But you can’t just sleep on your new mattress that has arrived in your home immediately. You can’t use it for the first 24 hours. After that, you will have to spend another night on your old mattress.
But what’s the reason for that? We have developed this guide to explain that, so read on comprehensively.
Why You Should not Sleep on A New Mattress?
These days, most people prefer to order their mattresses online (also check top rated mail order mattresses). And why not? Having your mattress delivered directly to your doorstep is far more convenient.
Going out to the market and soft to a wide range of stores and their mattress options is a complete hassle. Select the mattress you want from the website and wait for it to arrive (also check the top rated mattresses).
Your new mattress comes rolled and sealed in a box for easy shipment and delivery. You might have noticed that these mattresses are too big to fit in a box.
They must go through a roller that removes all the air and compresses them. Once that happens, these mattresses are sealed using heat. In the end, they stuff it into a small box to ensure they don’t expand until they are opened after delivery.
Once you have removed your new mattress from the box, air will begin to enter the foam again. As a result, the mattress will expand and come into its original shape.
It’s a slow process and can take approximately 6 hours. That’s the primary reason you shouldn’t use your mattress immediately, as it is off-gassing.
Off-Gassing Your Mattress
Manufacturers make memory foam mattresses using synthetic foams. These synthetic materials contain chemicals that can be unstable. These chemicals are known as volatile organic compounds, and they break down as soon as you open your mattress.
During this breakdown process, these chemicals tend to form gasses. These gasses are released into the air. This process is known as off-gassing.
Some people are of the view that off-gassing is harmful. But that is not the case. These gasses are just unpleasant and are not toxic. With that being said, if you start using your mattress straight away, those odors can cause nausea, headache, and even breathing difficulties.
Not everyone experiences these side effects. However, you don’t need to risk it, as you can avoid it entirely. Off-gassing can last more than 24 hours at least and 72 hours at most.
Within 72 hours, your mattress will air out completely. The smell might linger for about 3 to 4 weeks. After that, however, you don’t have to wait long to get onto your mattress.
The worst of it is all gone in 24 hours. You must wait for at least a day before using your mattress.
Is There a Way to Speed Up Off-Gassing?
No matter how comfortable you are in your new mattress, you don’t want to sleep in those mattress fumes for about a week or so. Now, the question is how to speed up this off-gassing process. Now, there are four different ways of doing this;
Buying memory foam that is CertiPUR-US certified
The CertiPUR-US certification is a set of guidelines for developing these memory foam mattresses under strict rules. The brands that come with this certification don’t have many VOCs. It means their off-gassing period is shorter too.
Therefore, it’s always a good idea to go for certified mattresses under these guidelines, and you won’t have to deal with those long off-gassing periods. So, always check for this certification when buying a mattress.
Using heat
Applying heat to your mattress can help in reducing the off-gassing time. It can be beneficial in two ways. Heat can speed up any release of those volatile compounds and speed up off-gassing. Moreover, heat can help your mattress to expand quickly.
Therefore, you will be able to use your mattress sooner. Hence, you must ensure you leave your mattress in a room that is not air-conditioned. If it is cold, you must crank your heater up, and your mattress will be ready to use for you in no time.
Buying filters for volatile compounds
Numerous filters are available, serving a variety of purposes. Therefore, you can choose a filter targeting these volatile compounds. These filters trap the compounds that your mattress releases and remove them from your indoor air.
Hence, you won’t have to breathe in them. This is particularly important if you have asthma or other frequently occurring respiratory infections.
Sprinkling baking soda
Baking soda is available in every household, and you can use it to tackle those volatile compounds. Sprinkle some baking soda on your mattress as you let it air out, and you will notice any odor gone after a few hours.
You don’t need to worry about any baking soda on your mattress. You will have to dust it off. It’s safe and has no side effects, even if you sleep with it on your mattress.
Breaking In Your New Mattress?
When you purchase a new mattress, generally, you expect it to be comfortable and soft when you lie on it. You will notice that your new mattress will be rigid, and it will feel unpleasant.
You haven’t made any mistakes, and your mattress might be perfectly normal too. But it needs to break in just like a new pair of shoes. Not this process can take up to 90 days. So, don’t panic if you have been sleeping on your new mattress and have noticed it’s not working out.
This is an adjustment period and can prove to be quite frustrating. So, in the following text, we are sharing with you a few tips to speed up this adjustment or break-in period of your mattress;
Allowing the mattress to breath
We have already established that air circulation is critical for your new mattress. The mattress will expand better as more and more oxygen flows through the foam of the mattress. It will take out any unpleasant smells and those volatile compounds with it.
Now, you have to ensure that you don’t cover your mattress with any sheets immediately. Leave it open in your room with all your doors and windows open.
You can do that for an entire day or a few hours throughout the day. Doing this is mandatory in the first week. This way, your mattress will stay comfortable, fresh, and ready to use.
Putting some pressure on the mattress
The solution is simple if you think your mattress is too firm to sleep on. Just apply some pressure on it. You can even walk or roll on it and try to knead it with your knees and hands. Doing so will help you to soften up your foam.
It will slowly begin to adjust according to your body and weight. Remember not to go overboard while doing this. If you do that and begin jumping on your mattress, you might damage it and can use it to lump.
Considering using a bed frame
Memory foam mattresses tend to adjust according to your body shape. Moreover, they adjust according to the bed frame you place them on. If the mattress is worn out, it will show imperfections and directly impact your sleep.
So, the longer it stays in an old bed frame, the harder it will be to change its shape later. Therefore, you must purchase a new frame when your old frame has lost its shape.
Being patient
Sleeping daily is the most confirmed way to break a new mattress. It won’t be that comfortable initially, but it will loosen up and stretch over time.
Be sure to lie on it, even if you have tried all other techniques to break it in. You will get better results by using the mattress, and, of course, be patient. Your wait will be worth it when all is said and done.
Key Takeaways: New Mattress Concerns
Immediate Use Is Not Recommended
Your brand-new mattress, especially those delivered in a box, requires some time to regain its original shape and fully expand. This process, paired with off-gassing, means you should ideally wait 24 to 48 hours before using it.
Understanding Off-Gassing
Off-gassing occurs when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from synthetic materials in the mattress are released into the air. While these odors are typically non-toxic, they can lead to discomfort like headaches and nausea for some individuals.
Speeding Up The Off-Gassing Process
While waiting is the best practice, there are methods to hasten the off-gassing process. Using certified memory foams, applying heat, investing in VOC filters, and sprinkling baking soda are effective ways to reduce the waiting time.
Breaking In Your New Mattress
A new mattress often feels different than expected. This break-in or adjustment period can take up to 90 days. To expedite this process, ensure good air circulation, apply pressure uniformly, consider a supportive bed frame, and exercise patience.
Conclusion:
You can’t sleep on your mattress immediately, but you won’t face any severe consequences if you do so. But should you do it? No! Your new mattress needs some time to expand and air out.
It will not help the cause if you start using your mattress straight out of the box. By doing so, you’ll only slow down the entire process.
Sleeping on a mattress fresh out of the box feels uncomfortable as it is off-gassing. It needs to breathe and get some fresh air across its pours, which can only happen if you let it be for at least 24 to 48 hours.
If you lie on it immediately, you might damage it. Therefore, the best practice is to leave your mattress for a few hours and then try it out.
Resources:
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea–vomiting
Can you sleep on a new mattress straight away FAQs
What will happen if I sleep on my new mattress fresh out of the box?
The new mattress has been air-removed and rolled out before putting into the box. When you take it out of the box, it will take some time to breathe and expand. Using it in this condition will be not only bad for your mattress but for yourself too.
You are slowing down its off-gassing and breaking-in process. With that, you will breathe in unpleasant odors from the mattress. Why would you want to do that when you can avoid it all?
How long should I wait before starting to use my new mattress?
Sometimes, it might only take a few hours for the mattress to be ready for you to use. In most cases, you should wait for at least 24 to 48 hours and let your mattress fully expand.
The safe and easy way to do it is to examine it. Then, when your mattress seems comfortable, and all fluffed up, you can use it, mostly on the first or second night.
Are those new mattress fumes hazardous and toxic?
New mattresses tend to emit odors, and this process is called off-gassing. As a result, volatile compounds are released from the mattress.
These volatile compounds are manufacturing process byproducts. They do smell bad, but they are not harmful. If you can’t tolerate these odors, you might feel nausea or headaches; avoiding them is better.