Written by Celeste Parler, Mattress Clarity Writer
Whenever you buy a new mattress, you expect to sleep safe and sound. Unfortunately, not all mattresses are built with quality materials or make for long-term investments. One particular memory foam mattress, sold on Amazon, was shown to pose a fire hazard to consumers, according to The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) . The CPSC issued a statement saying it should be disposed of immediately.
Classic Brands Holdings Recall
On August 24, the CPSC issued a recall on the Classic Brands Holdings 10-inch Cool Gel Memory Foam mattress, which it says poses a fire hazard to consumers and fails to meet federal mattress flammability standards.
The recall involves around 21,665 mattresses manufactured in Spain between January 2021 and August 2022. This Classic Brands model was sold primarily on Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Wayfair.com as well as other online retailers from March 2021 through October 2022. The mattress was sold in twin, twin XL, full, king and California king sizes.
On November 25, 2022, Classic Brands Holding LLC, based in Columbia, Maryland, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and is no longer operating as a business according to its website. The CPSC says owners of this mattress should check their mattress tag for the date of manufacture and whether their mattress was made in Spain. If the tag has been removed, the mattress should be assumed to be within the scope of the recall.
What Happens Next
The CPSC urges those who have purchased a 10-inch Cool Gel Memory Foam mattress within the scope of the recall to immediately dispose of it. The state or municipality the consumer lives in will determine how to discard or recycle the recalled mattress. Earth911 offers a search engine to find the nearest location where your mattress can be recycled.
Consumers should not purchase, donate or sell this mattress to anyone, including second-hand stores. If you experience any injuries from unsafe products, report them to the CPSC here.
Why Should Mattresses be Fire-Retardant?
All mattresses, mattress toppers and similar products are subject to third-party testing to ensure they are safe for consumers. This includes meeting mandatory flammability standards to withstand exposure to an open flame for 30 minutes. The measure was passed in 2007 to prevent injuries and deaths from mattress fires, which create life-threatening situations. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), injuries decreased by 34% and deaths plummeted by 82% from mattress fires a decade following the passage of these flammability standards.
Mattresses and similar products contain fire-retardant materials to pass third-party testing. However, it’s not required for manufacturers to disclose what they use to accomplish this. Some companies coat mattresses in toxic chemicals or fiberglass that are dangerous to come in contact with. However, natural materials like wool and latex have innate fire-retardant properties and don’t pose danger to consumers.
RELATED: Best Mattresses Without Fiberglass
According to user reviews on Amazon for the Classic Brands Holdings 10-inch Cool Gel Memory Foam mattress, the mattress came with a fire-retardant cover containing fiberglass. Reviews describe how fiberglass would leak and contaminate their bedroom resulting in property damage or injury. In the CPSC press release, there is no mention of fiberglass being responsible for the mattress recall.
The Takeaway
The Classic Brands Holdings 10-inch Cool Gel Memory Foam mattress should be immediately disposed of, according to the CPSC. Mattresses and similar products must meet federal flammability standards to prevent them from catching fire quickly. Be sure to check if your mattress is made with safe fire-retardant materials and complies with CPSC standards.