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IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a medical site. You should always discuss medical matters
with your doctor.
Memory Foam Smell
What Is It?
For all its advantages, memory foam isn't perfect. One of its disadvantages is that when
new it does give off a distinctly unpleasant chemical smell. This chemical release is known as
off-gassing.
Whether or not this is a serious problem depends on the brand of foam you buy and your sensitivity
to the smell. Few people are able to sleep with their new memory foam immediately they
open it. Personally I had to leave mine airing for about two days and even then I could
still smell it slightly for a couple of days more. This seems to be about average. However
some people find they need to leave the foam to air for a couple of weeks. Some are so
sensitive to the smell that they simply give up waiting.
If you know that you're sensitive to smells in general then it might make sense to
consider buying something small such as a memory foam pillow
before investing in a mattress.
Incidentally, it is this smell that reportedly kept memory foam "earthbound".
Visco-elastic foam was initally designed for the NASA space programme to cushion
astronauts from the effects of acceleration. Apparently the smell was enough to scupper
this plan. In a well-aired bedroom, the smell of memory foam might dissipate quickly and
become negligible. But in a small cabin with recycled air it would be a distinct
problem. And the astronauts could hardly open a window!
Here Be Dreams Home - Bedroom -
Memory Foam - Smell
All original material Copyright © Trevor Mendham 2003-2006. See home page for contact
details.
This is not a medical site. Nothing on this site constitutes personal advice.
Please read the site terms of use.
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