Is it illegal to remove tags from pillows and mattresses in the USA? 0 12

Mattresses sold in the USA often come with warning tags. Although the wording may vary by manufacturer, the essence remains the same: “Removing the tag from the mattress is illegal.”

However, there is no need to fear that law enforcement will come after you for cutting off the tag. In fact, this warning pertains not to the end user, but to the seller.

As reported by Mental Floss, in the late 19th century, mattresses were often filled with various materials that might not have been the safest: horsehair, corn husks, old rags, newspapers, and even food waste. Such fillings could harbor harmful bacteria, parasites, and household pests.

To protect consumers, several states enacted laws requiring manufacturers to attach a tag to each mattress that informs about the materials used in the product. Manufacturers could face serious fines for deception. Removing such tags was also considered illegal. Thus, the warning “Removing the tag from the mattress is punishable by law” actually pertains only to sellers and is aimed at protecting consumers.

Interestingly, many Americans were unaware of this and were afraid to remove tags from new mattresses. Therefore, now most tags carry the statement: “Removing the tag from the mattress is punishable by law, except for the consumer.”