My dream mattress came with a nightmare smell: Here’s what off-gassing is and how to get rid of it

Two mattress testers unboxing a memory foam mattress to test its off-gassing.

I thought my biggest challenge would be choosing between medium-firm and hybrid. Instead, my shiny new mattress arrived with an unwelcome guest: a harsh chemical stench that turned my bedroom into a paint factory.

While the support was sheer heaven for my aching back, the overwhelming scent made sleeping on it impossible. That lingering smell is off-gassing, a common nuisance with modern foam beds, but you do not have to just sit back and endure it.