oohh...I've heard about that happening but don't know if there is a quick fix for it. The one thing that comes to mind is maybe getting one of those mattress protectors for bed bugs. It would completely encase the mattress and maybe the smell?

They have these at JCP

Here is a link that might be useful: JCP link

It takes a few days to off-gas. I always left it, unrolled, in another room with ventilation for 2-3 days. You may still notice a little odor after a week.

Thanks, annz and lukk. I suppose it's 'off-gassing'. I foolishly put it on the bed without airing, along with a mattress pad, which, I guess, held the smell in. It's been outside for two days and seems just as strong. Any ideas how long it takes, on average, to go away? It's not a BAD smell, rather a weird, artificial odor.

I would return it and buy something that can be washed and doesn't have any smell at all. I wash new everything before I ever put it on, including bed stuff.

hmmm, It's a big queen-sized piece of foam. I wash all new bedding too, but had not thought to do this. Wonder if hose-washing it outside ( too big/fragile-foam for machine) would take away smell. had thought the off-gassing didn't go away with water. Cannot return. Had it too long. Thanks.

Give it time....the smell will go away...I left mine in another room for easily 2 weeks.
Don't hose it down....it's take eons to dry....and what you smell is chemicals.
Maybe fold it up and jump up and down on it? To get some air moving between the cells...
might work...LOL!

We love our foam topper (frankly, it was the best $140 we ever spent--anything that can save a ten year old futon mattress is a miracle!). But, yes, it stunk unbearably for the first three days. After that, it was still icky, but less so. And then, after two weeks, it had no aroma whatsoever. Hopefully, by the time your guests come, it should be fine.

lindac and zantippe: Thanks! I hope you are right. Maybe I'd better go out and jump on it....guests here on Sunday :>O

Do you really want something like that in your house? I'd toss it and find something else.

Did it come with a cover? Maybe by the morning your guests come, if there's still a slight odor, you can slip some not-so-strong-but-still-scented dryer clothes in between the mattress topper and the cover.

If you don't have a cover, I'd run to Bed Bath and Beyond to see if they have one that'll fit. Even, maybe, one of the regular zip-around mattress covers designed to be hypoallergenic and keep dust mites from getting close to the body (yeah i know, dust mites are all around and close to the body no matter what we do...).

I would be concerned, tho, that the guests sleeping on it might be extra sensitive to the odor. How long are they staying? Do you want to switch beds with them?

OOPS! They're probably here already!?!?!

Our king sized one had that smell too, but it dissipated pretty quickly. DO NOT WET IT!! It'll never dry.

I put the pillow top cover on it and sprayed the cover with Febreeze, opened the windows and let it air out. Didn't bother us for long. In fact, I don't think I noticed it after the 1st day, and DH mentioned it once and then commented about the Febreeze (he hates it).

We've slept on ours for 3 years now and I'd completely forgotten about that smell, it's loooong gone.

What about if you're allergic to latex? Is that what it's actually made of?

Put it up on boxes or on ladders turned on their side. Basically get it up off the ground so air can circulate on all sides. You might also try directing a fan at it to get better and faster air flow. They do quit smelling, but can't remember how long it takes. As someone stated don't get it wet.

On a side note. Memory foam is something that you have to guard against freezing. It will deteriorate if frozen, water is encapsulated in the foam cell. So if you use it in a camper, motor home, etc. you need to remove it in the winter.

Gosh! Thanks for all the help here:>) It may be memory type foam ...it does show indents when pressed. Not sure, but probably not latex( is latex a common allergen?). It's been outside for 3 days and getting better. I do have a nice, padded mattress cover to go over it. Will see how it is in the morning. My guest is a very dear, old friend who will tell me if it's yuk:>) I'll come back and let you know!

No idea how common the allergy might be. Dh has it. Just did a quick search and was very surprised to learn that certain food allergies are linked to a latex allergy. A couple ring true for dh.

Here is a link that might be useful: latex allergy

HELP please - my 100% pure natural latex mattress (dunlop) smells.
I am really concerned about this.We have been having this mattress for more than 6weeks now. For the first month we had to leave it unzipped and uncovered from its outer cover in a separate bedroom with windows non-stop open for over a month. We even avoided going to the room much, as the smell quickly spread over the house.I have to say that the smell has decreased considerably (and we started sleeping on it in last 2 weeks), but the smell still lingers enough to bother us. Our 2.5 year old daughter sleeps in bed with us and even if she takes only an hour nap in the afternoon, I can smell the mattress on her pyjama and her body (through a good quality mattress protector and a bedsheet!)! I myself am pregnant and although I keep reading about the smell not gassing off and not being harmful in these mattresses, I am concerned more and more. I think I would rather return it (but our trial period has ended). we were told (and everywhere I am reading I can see) that mattress smell should go within 6 weeks. Does anyone have a similar experience?

I'd like to here what came of this for you, kid213. We're having a problem with a natural latex mattress that is 4yo that is getting very strong chemical/septic type smell as months go by.

People are generally allergic to synthetic latexes. Organic, natural latex is not nearly similar.