Colorado Springs family experiencing health concerns after mattress leaks fiberglass

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Experts are warning consumers to check the label on their mattress before buying for "glass fiber," a common flame retardant woven into mattress covers. One Colorado Springs family bought a Zinus mattress in 2018, only to find that it had been leaking fiberglass materials into their home, contaminating sheets, carpets, blankets and towels.

"I did nothing but cry the first day because I was so overwhelmed," Hailey Grant said.

Grant lives in Colorado Springs with her two boys and husband. She says she was checking the label on her mattress Sunday when she stuck her hand into what she thought was a pile of glitter behind her headboard. She says her skin immediately began to itch, and she immediately began researching.

It's then she realized it could be behind a slew of problems for her.

Over the past six months, Grant's family has been experiencing health problems, like skin rashes, treatment-resistant sinusitis and what seems like eczema, but seems to be untreatable.

Though it hasn't been specifically diagnosed by a doctor for Grant's family, these are all common symptoms of being exposed to fiberglass, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"Basically when you know what to look for, it's there," Grant said.

In 2022, a class action lawsuit was filed against Zinus, the manufacturer of Grant's mattress for similar problems Grant is now forced to clean up. That lawsuit was settled out of court.

Grant says the mess is costing her thousands of dollars to clean up, between cleaning supplies and replacing contaminated bedding and mattresses.

'We have to do full hazmat suits. We have to tape the booties onto the hazmat suits and we have safety goggles," Grant said.

Zinus mattresses are cost-effective and often shipped to consumers' houses after being bought online or via Amazon. They come with a 10-year warranty, according to the website, that is voided immediately if the cover is taken off. That s because it could expose the fiberglass underneath, according to their website.

According to Jim Mince, a local mattress store owner at Snooze, fiberglass is used as a fire retardant material. Mince has been selling mattresses for over 25 years.

"Fire retardant is probably the main reason [it's used]," Mince said. "It's kind of a cheaper use." 

Mince checked every label at his shop off Academy Blvd, in Colorado Springs. The only mattress with "glass fiber" on the label was a Tempurpedic, a bed that goes for anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000

"If you look at the label, they've got to put what's on there," Mince said while showing off the label of the mattress.

That model has multiple layers of "netting" around the fiberglass layer, which Mince said should protect consumers unless the mattress is punctured. In that case, Mince says to forgo the mattress entirely.

He also mentioned that if you already own a mattress with fiberglass, there are protective covers that should shield consumers from leakage.

Click here for the link to Hailey Grant's Gofundme for cleaning and medical costs.