Mattresses tested for harmful substances: seals, materials and buying checklist
No manufacturer can seriously promise you a mattress completely free of harmful substances, because every material releases something in trace amounts. What you can achieve is something different and far more useful: a mattress tested for harmful substances, whose materials have been examined for specified substances and which demonstrably releases few emissions in the test chamber. Three things count: a test mark that actually measures emissions, a construction without added flame retardants or antimicrobial finishes, and materials whose origin you can trace. If you then air it properly when unpacking and choose the cover, mattress topper and bed linen by the same standards, you have covered the most important points on the subject of harmful substances.
In brief
- "Free of harmful substances" is an advertising term; "tested for harmful substances" can be verified. Look for seals that measure emissions in the test chamber, such as the eco-INSTITUT label, the Blue Angel (Blauer Engel) or natureplus.
- Tests mainly cover volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde, carcinogenic substances, heavy metals and biocides, and for latex also nitrosamines.
- The material plays a part: natural materials and doing without chemical flame retardants reduce the risk; with foams, it is worth taking a close look at the test report.
- A good test rating does not mean "nothing found". Always read the section on ingredients in tests.
- The whole bed counts: cover, mattress topper, bed linen and towels too should carry a textile seal and be free of fabric softener residues.
Contents
- What "tested for harmful substances" really means for a mattress
- The substances under scrutiny
- Test seals that really mean something
- Spring, latex, foam, natural fibres: the materials compared
- What mattress tests reveal about harmful substances
- Buying checklist: how to find a low-emission mattress
- The first nights: unpacking and airing
- The whole bed counts: mattress topper, bed linen, duvet
- Towels tested for harmful substances and why they lose colour
- A bed like in a 5-star hotel, with tested textiles
- Our view as hoteliers and interior designers
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
What "tested for harmful substances" really means for a mattress
Hardly any piece of furniture is as close to you as your mattress. You lie on it for hours every night, your face a few centimetres above the cover, breathing the air directly above the surface. That is exactly why the question of harmful substances is more relevant for a mattress than for a wardrobe.
It is important to distinguish between two types of test:
- Ingredient test: a laboratory examines the materials for a list of banned or restricted substances, such as heavy metals, certain dyes or biocides.
- Emission test: the finished mattress or a material sample goes into a test chamber, and the laboratory measures what is released into the air after a few days. This is the test that comes closest to the air in your bedroom.
A manufacturer who writes "free of harmful substances" without saying who tested what and by which method is giving you a claim. A manufacturer who names a test mark with emission measurement is giving you evidence. You should always ask for this difference when buying.
The substances under scrutiny
The test criteria of the eco-INSTITUT label for mattresses show well what a strict test programme covers. The emission limits there apply after a defined loading of the test chamber; measurements are taken according to standards including DIN EN 16516.
| Substance group | What it is | How it is tested |
|---|---|---|
| VOC / TVOC | Volatile organic compounds released from foams, adhesives or finishes | Total value (TVOC) in the test chamber after 2 and after 7 days |
| Formaldehyde | Can come from adhesives and finishes | Chamber measurement after 2 days |
| CMR substances | Substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction | Exclusion or limit values |
| Heavy metals | Residues, e.g. from dyes or catalysts | Laboratory analysis of the materials |
| Biocides | Antimicrobial or pesticidal finishes | Laboratory analysis of the materials |
| Nitrosamines | Can form during the production of latex | Specific test for latex mattresses |
In addition, there is a group of substances that plays a role mainly in foams: chemical flame retardants. The US Center for Environmental Health points out that polyurethane foam, as found in many standard and memory foam mattresses, can release VOCs and is often treated with flame retardants. The organisation recommends avoiding added flame retardants and antimicrobial finishes and preferring natural materials.
Legislators are also tightening the rules: since 6 August 2026, products that release more than 0.080 mg/m³ of formaldehyde under defined test conditions may no longer be placed on the market in the EU; for furniture and wood-based materials, the limit is 0.062 mg/m³. Voluntary seals go further than this minimum requirement for many substances.
Test seals that really mean something
Not every logo on a label is a test mark. The German consumer advice centre Verbraucherzentrale names the eco-INSTITUT label, the Blue Angel and natureplus as seals that exclude many harmful substances from the outset and test products in test chambers for emissions.
| Seal | Focus | What to look out for |
|---|---|---|
| eco-INSTITUT label | Ingredients and emissions according to fixed criteria for mattresses | Applies to the specific model; ask the manufacturer for the certificate |
| Blue Angel (DE-UZ 119) | Criteria across the entire product life cycle | Award criteria for mattresses, including emission testing |
| natureplus | Building and home products with emission testing | Check the product number and scope |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Textile seal for testing fabrics for harmful substances | Refers to textile components such as the cover or bed linen |
The Blue Angel for mattresses takes a holistic approach: its criteria consider production, use and disposal, with the aim of keeping indoor emissions low.
Three questions help you assess a seal:
- What exactly does it cover? Only the cover fabric, or the complete mattress with core and adhesives?
- Does it measure what is released into the air? A pure ingredient analysis says less about your bedroom air than a chamber test.
- Is it current? Certificates expire and are renewed. A reputable supplier will tell you the testing institute and validity on request.
Spring, latex, foam, natural fibres: the materials compared
Which construction suits you depends on your body, sleeping position and room climate. The German mattress industry association Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie describes the basic types as follows: spring mattresses are well ventilated, latex mattresses are point-elastic and supportive but heavy, and foam mattresses are comparatively light and easy to handle.
| Construction | Everyday strength | Harmful substances |
|---|---|---|
| Spring / pocket spring | Very good air circulation, little heat build-up | Steel core; what matters are the padding layers, adhesives and cover |
| Latex | Point-elastic, supportive, durable | For latex, the test report should cover nitrosamines |
| Foam / memory foam | Light, easy to turn and transport | Look for VOC emissions and the absence of flame retardants |
| Natural fibre padding (wool, cotton, silk, cashmere) | Moisture balance, pleasant bed climate | Natural fibres, ideally without chemical finishes |
In practice, hardly any mattress is "purely" one type. Usually it combines a core with padding layers and a cover. So don't just ask "spring or latex?", but go layer by layer: what is the core made of, what is the padding, how are the layers joined, and what is the cover made of? Natural fibre padding such as cashmere and silk comes close to what the recommendation for natural materials means.
What mattress tests reveal about harmful substances
Independent tests are a good reality check. In the mattress test by the German consumer magazine Öko-Test, whose results appeared in its 2025 building and living guide, eight mattresses were rated "good" and none "very good". Only some of the top-rated models were completely free of findings regarding ingredients; in another well-rated model, the laboratory found optical brighteners.
What you can take away from this:
- The overall rating and the findings on harmful substances are two different things. Lying comfort, durability and ingredients all go into one grade. Read the individual ratings.
- Optical brighteners are a typical finding. They make fabrics look whiter and serve no purpose in a mattress cover.
- Test results age. Manufacturers change formulations and suppliers. A test from a few years ago says little about the model on sale today.
Buying checklist: how to find a low-emission mattress
- Clarify the lying feel first. Firmness and construction must suit your body weight and sleeping position, otherwise even the cleanest mattress is of no use.
- Ask about the test mark. Which seal, for which model, with emission testing? Ask for the name of the testing institute.
- Go through the layers. Core, padding, adhesive, cover: the supplier should be able to name the material of each layer.
- Question finishes. Mattresses advertised as antibacterial, antimicrobial or "flame-retardant" contain exactly the additives that experts advise against.
- Pay attention to the cover. It is closest to you. A textile seal such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and natural fibres are a good sign here. A removable cover is ideal.
- Take the smell when unpacking seriously. A slight smell of new materials is normal. A pungent, chemical smell that does not fade after several days is a matter for the retailer.
- Clarify delivery and returns. With heavy mattresses in particular, it is worth checking the shipping conditions before you order.
The first nights: unpacking and airing
Every new mattress smells a little of the factory, the packaging or the material itself at first. This is easy to manage:
- Remove the film immediately, ideally in a well-ventilated room and not directly in the closed bedroom.
- Air the room thoroughly several times a day. Airing can reduce emissions from new textiles, and with mattresses, too, it is the simplest lever.
- Leave the mattress uncovered. Give it air for the first few days before covering it completely with a mattress topper, sheet and duvet.
- Wash the cover, if permitted. Many removable covers can be washed; follow the care label.
If a strong chemical smell persists after the new mattress arrives, air the room more and clarify the cause with the retailer; if you feel unwell, seek medical advice.
The whole bed counts: mattress topper, bed linen, duvet
Even a very good mattress is of little use if it is covered by a mattress topper made of unknown foam, a sheet full of fabric softener and a duvet with a silicone finish. A low-emission bed means thinking of the bed as a system.
- Mattress topper: it lies between you and the mattress, so the same questions about material, seal and finish apply.
- Bed linen: look for long-staple cotton, a textile seal and no artificial softeners. More on this in our guide Buying bed linen: 9 things to look for.
- Duvet and pillows: filling and casing are decisive. Our comparison natural vs. synthetic fillings explains the differences; the article Down vs. feathers helps you choose a natural filling.
- Washing without fabric softener: according to the Verbraucherzentrale, fabric softeners and laundry fragrance products leave fragrances and other chemicals behind without making the laundry any cleaner.
Towels tested for harmful substances and why they lose colour
What applies to the bed applies equally in the bathroom: towels and bathrobes are in contact with you every day. A textile seal such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100 shows you that the fabric has been tested for harmful substances.
If a towel loses colour over time, the cause is usually not the material, but the washing:
- Heavy-duty detergent bleaches. It contains bleaching agents and optical brighteners. The bleaching agents make colours fade, and the brighteners are unnecessary for coloured textiles, according to the Verbraucherzentrale. So wash coloured towels with a colour detergent.
- White towels can be washed hotter. Washed occasionally at 60 °C with heavy-duty detergent, towels are hygienically clean, the Verbraucherzentrale recommends.
- You can do without special products. The Verbraucherzentrale considers colour-catcher sheets or special detergents for black laundry unnecessary.
- New, strongly coloured items are best washed with similar colours the first few times, so that nothing transfers to lighter laundry.
- No fabric softener: it leaves fragrances on the fabric. A well-made terry towel doesn't need it.
A bed like in a 5-star hotel, with tested textiles
At Cottonbabe, we build the bed the way we know it from 5-star hotels. Our First Class mattress with cashmere and silk is available from €1,390, the matching First Class mattress topper from €690. You can find both in our luxury mattresses & toppers collection; all information on delivery is on our page on mattress shipping.
From early December 2026 we will also ship the Grand Suite mattress with a Flexizone pocket-spring core, latex, silk and wool – 28 cm high, delivered flat by freight carrier by 15 December 2026 at the latest.
For the layers above: our bed linen, duvets and pillows are certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and do without silicones and artificial softeners. The First Class flat sheet made of long-staple cotton is available from €79, our First Class towels from €29 and the First Class bathrobe for €149. We deliver free of charge within Germany.
Our view as hoteliers and interior designers
In a 5-star hotel, guests first notice what they are not supposed to notice: a smell, a scratchy sheet, a duvet that traps heat at night. Our founder Jens Liebhauser is a 5-star hotelier and interior designer himself. This experience shapes every decision in our range.
For us, a good bed starts with the materials. That's why we rely on long-staple cotton, new white goose down and, in our First Class mattress, cashmere and silk. Our bed linen, duvets and pillows are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, and we deliberately do without silicones and artificial softeners, which make goods feel softer in the shop than they really are.
A second point is often overlooked: what lasts a long time needs replacing less often. That's why we design to be timeless rather than fashionable, and guarantee that each of our piping colours remains available to reorder for ten years. You can add to your bed piece by piece in a matching colour instead of buying everything new every few years. As a family business, we have carried this attitude forward since 1870 – today in the fifth generation.
Jens Liebhauser
Frequently asked questions
Which mattresses have the lowest levels of harmful substances?
Mattresses that have passed an emission test in the test chamber, for example with the eco-INSTITUT label, the Blue Angel or natureplus. Add to this natural materials in the padding and cover and the absence of flame retardants and antimicrobial finishes. A good test rating alone is not enough; always read the rating for ingredients.
How do I recognise a low-emission mattress?
By a test mark with emission measurement, such as the eco-INSTITUT label, the Blue Angel or natureplus, and by a clear statement of the material for each layer. Also make sure that no flame retardants or antimicrobial finishes have been added. Choose the construction and firmness to suit your weight, sleeping position and temperature preference.
Why does a new mattress smell, and is that a problem?
A slight smell comes from the materials and the packaging and usually disappears within the first few days with good airing. If a pungent, chemical smell persists, contact the retailer – and if you feel unwell, seek medical advice.
Is there anything against a pocket spring mattress?
No, not in general. Spring mattresses are well ventilated, which suits many people who tend to get warm. For the question of harmful substances, what matters with this construction are mainly the padding layers, adhesives and cover, not the steel springs themselves.
How do I stop towels losing colour?
Wash coloured towels with a colour detergent, as the bleaching agents in heavy-duty detergent make colours fade. You can occasionally wash white towels at 60 °C with heavy-duty detergent. You can do without fabric softener and colour-catcher sheets.
Sources
- eco-INSTITUT label: test criteria for mattresses (German)
- Center for Environmental Health: Sleep on a Safe Mattress
- eco-INSTITUT: EU rules on formaldehyde emissions from August 2026
- Verbraucherzentrale: low-emission indoor air (German)
- Blue Angel: award criteria for mattresses DE-UZ 119 (German)
- Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie: spring, latex or foam mattress? (German)
- wmn: mattresses at Öko-Test (German)
- UmweltDialog: how to recognise good textiles (German)
- Verbraucherzentrale: washing laundry, proven detergents and unnecessary products (German)
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