Do you think you have to leave that obnoxious tag on your pillow because of the warning on there? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Cartoons, sitcoms, and comic strips having been making jokes about this issue for years. Contrary to popular belief, you CAN remove that pillow tag! But, before you cut it off and toss it in the trash, consider why this tag exists.

That annoying tag is also known as a law label, and is legally required on any manufactured items containing filling. The pillow tag discloses all the materials (shown as a percentage by weight) used for the covering and the inner materials. The law label was born in the early 1900s to make sure manufactured products didn’t include horse hair, corn husks, or any other undesirable filling. Additionally, the law label lets you know if contents are new or if recycled materials were used. The International Association of Bedding and Furniture Law Officials (previously known as the Association of Bedding and Furniture Law Officials), regulates the uniformity, terminology, testing, and enforcement of these labels.

The wording of the pillow tag warning has caused a common misconception that removing the label under any circumstance is a crime. For many years, the label simply stated, “Under penalty of law this tag not to be removed.” Now that the phrase “except by consumer” has been added, it’s less confusing for consumers. So, why the warning? The law label must be left on the product until sold to the consumer. This really protects us so that we can be assured that the product is new and unused (in addition to knowing the materials).

But hold on, don’t toss those pillow tags in the trash just yet. Many high-end pillows come with a warranty, and that warranty will only be honored with both the original purchase receipt and the law label. So, while you’re free to remove the tag, but you might want to store it along with your warranty cards or other important paperwork. As a note, you really want to make sure the law label is on the product before you buy it. If there is no label, you should assume that the pillow is used--meaning it could have bacteria, mold, dust mites, bodily fluids, or unknown filling materials...yuck! So, make sure the pillow tag is present when you buy your pillow, but feel free to escape that annoying tag after you buy it. I promise that the pillow police won’t show up!