A Guide to PFAS, Safety & What to Look For In Waterproof Mats
You found a waterproof sex blanket you like. The reviews seem good. The price is fine. But have you thought about what actually makes it waterproof?
Most people don't 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 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PFOS — the two most studied members of the PFAS family — have been largely phased out of US manufacturing, but they've been replaced by newer, less-studied variants.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 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 waterproof bedding products achieve their water resistance.
When you wear or lie on a PFAS-treated surface for extended periods, or wash it repeatedly, those chemicals can migrate. The skin is absorbent, particularly intimate areas. For something like a sex blanket—which involves sustained, close skin contact— this is an important consideration.
Cutting through the marketing hype.
Be sure to look for the words PFAS-free, PFOA-free, and PFOS-free. But look carefully because "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 of "forever chemicals." Also note: fabric makers in China—who supply the vast majority of sex blanket manufacturers—will often claim their products are safe but the truth is, China produces largely unregulated and untested textiles.
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.
How Venus Matters approaches this differently
Venus Matters was born to create something beautiful and practical that you could trust in your most intimate spaces. Even though it is more expensive, we've always only used American-made waterproof layers that are "forever-chemical" free. Since our founding in 2015, we wanted to ensure that we never used chemical waterproofing treatments that compromise your safety.
Venus Mats are also breathable and designed for overnight use because a product you're sleeping on should neither trap heat nor 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. The waterproof sex blanket market is largely unregulated and widely non-transparent. Dig into the reviews on cheaper bed mats and you'll invariably find their waterproofing doesn't last—that means the chemistry they employ is breaking down into your bed and into our waterways. Many brands don't disclose their waterproofing safety or guarantee it's longevity.
At Venus Matters, we believe what you love should last.
If you're ready to make the switch to body-safe waterproof protection:
- Shop all Venus Mats — "forever-chemical" free, 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
