A Guide to PFAS, Safety & What to Look For In Waterproof Mats

You found a waterproof sex blanket you like. The reviews are good. The price is fine. But have you thought about what actually makes it waterproof? 

Most people don't. And for years, the waterproofing industry didn't ask them to. But in the last decade, a class of chemicals called PFAS has moved from obscure regulatory concern to front-page news — and they're hiding in more household products than most people realize, including bedding, outerwear, and yes, waterproof sex blankets.

Here's what you actually need to know.

What are PFAS — and why should you care?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They're a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals that have been used since the 1940s to make products resistant to water, grease, and heat. You've unknowingly encountered them in nonstick pans, stain-resistant carpet, food packaging, and water-resistant clothing.

The problem is that PFAS don't break down — they accumulate. That's why they've earned the nickname "forever chemicals." Research from the EPA and NIH links PFAS exposure to a range of serious health concerns: certain cancers, thyroid disruption, immune suppression, hormonal interference, and reproductive harm.

PFOA and PFOS — the two most studied members of the PFAS family — have been largely phased out of US manufacturing, but they've been replaced by newer, less-studied variants. Many products marketed as "PFOA-free" still contain other PFAS compounds. 

How do PFAS get into waterproof textiles?

Waterproofing a fabric isn't magic — it requires chemistry. The traditional approach involves treating fibers with PFAS-based compounds called durable water repellents (DWR). This is how most waterproof outdoor gear, performance activewear, and — relevant to us — waterproof bedding products achieve their water resistance.

When you lie on a PFAS-treated surface for extended periods, or wash it repeatedly, those chemicals can migrate. The skin is absorbent. Intimate areas are particularly so. For something like a sex blanket — which makes sustained, close skin contact during some of the most physiologically active moments of your life — this is worth thinking about.

What to actually look for on a waterproof sex blanket

The words to look for: PFAS-free, PFOA-free, PFOS-free. But look carefully — "PFOA-free" alone is not enough. A product can be PFOA-free and still contain other PFAS. You want a brand that specifically addresses the full class. Also note: fabric makers in China—who supply the vast majority of sex blanket manufacturers— will often say whatever is needed but they produce largely unregulated and untested textiles.

Also look for: American-made waterproofing. US manufacturing is subject to EPA oversight and consumer safety regulations that many overseas manufacturers are not. When a brand doesn't disclose where their waterproofing is applied, that's a red flag.

And look for: transparency about what the waterproofing actually is. A brand that's done the work should be able to tell you. A brand that can't is probably using an off-the-shelf treatment they haven't investigated.

How Venus Matters approaches this differently

Venus Matters has been PFAS-free, PFOA-free, and PFOS-free since our beginning in 2015. Our waterproofing is American-made, applied domestically, and we've never used chemical waterproofing treatments that compromise the safety of what goes against your body.

That was a deliberate founding decision. Our founder, Jules Cazedessus, started Venus Matters because she couldn't find anything in the market that was both beautiful and safe — both luxurious and trustworthy. 

Our mats are also breathable and designed for overnight use — not because we needed a marketing point, but because a product you're sleeping on shouldn't trap heat or off-gas dangerous chemicals.

A note on where regulation stands right now

In May 2025, the Trump EPA rolled back Biden-era PFAS drinking water protections, rescinding limits on four PFAS compounds and delaying compliance deadlines on the remaining two by two years. Over $15 million in PFAS research funding was terminated. The chemical industry lobbied hard for this outcome and got it.

What this means practically: the federal government is now doing less to protect you from forever chemicals, not more. The burden has shifted entirely to consumers to ask questions, read labels, and choose products made by companies that hold themselves to a higher standard than the law currently requires.

Venus Matters has been PFAS-free since 2015 — not because we were required to be, but because we believed your body deserved better. That was true before the rollbacks. It's true now.

The bottom line

You deserve to know what you're putting against your body. Especially during sex, during your period, during pregnancy, and during the long night. The waterproof sex blanket market is largely unregulated and widely non-transparent. Most brands don't disclose their waterproofing chemistry at all.

Ask the question. If a brand can't answer it clearly, that's your answer.

The body is a temple. We created a textile worthy of that sacred truth.

If you're ready to make the switch to body-safe waterproof protection:

• Shop all Venus Mats — PFAS-free, American-made, guaranteed 10 years
• Organic cotton Venus Mats — certified organic, the only organic cotton sex mat on the market
• Read our FAQ on safety & chemicals — every ingredient question answered