Worried about Toxic Chemicals in Furniture

October 30, 2013, by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Anonymous

We recently ordered a lot of new furniture from Ashley Furniture store (bought in CA, made in China) and I am nervous about all the chemicals that may be in my air. We got a dining room table and hutch, and kitchen table that have a chemical smell. I did order a test kit from ACS and I am going Safe seal the wood furniture. However, what can I do to protect myself from the chemical exposure from the sofa’s and loveseats? My husband and I have a 4 year old and we’re currently “trying” to have a baby. Any advice would be appreciated. I recently ordered some zeolite drops as well.

Debra's Answer

If you had asked me before the purchase, I would have said "Don't purchase this furniture."

I don't know any way to "protect" yourself from standard synthetic sofas and loveseats with fire retardants. I personally had my sofa and chairs custom upholstered years ago with natural fiber fabrics and filling.

Update 2018: A reader just sent me an anonymous comment for this post:

“Some of us cannot “afford” customized, expensive furniture. Are we locked out of this market, and condemned to exposure because of this? It is not right, and I feel that manufacturers of toxic free furniture items are taking advantage of us….!WHY IS “CLEAN” FURNITURE SO EXPENSIVE…?

Can you update this article with your suggestions.”

So here is my response.

I understand many people cannot afford custom toxic-free furniture.

But that does not mean you are “locked in to this market” or “condemned to exposure.” You always have the choice to remove-yourself-from-toxic-exposures or remove-toxic-exposures-from-you in one way or another.

Before I get into specifics about sofas, I’ll answer your question about why they are so expensive.

1. the materials are more expensive for manufacturers to purchase.
2. they are all made by hand, so the labor costs more.

Toxic-free furniture is a relatively new, emerging market. There are very few customers. As there is more awareness and demand, the prices will go down.

There is a lot of emphasis today on price, to purchase things at the lowest possible prices rather than toxic-free. Toxic-free is actually better value in the long run even if it costs more because it will not make you sick and require medical bills and loss of income. You’re not paying the real cost of cheap toxic products.

For now, however, here are some thoughts on avoiding the cheap toxic furniture without paying top dollar for toxic-free furniture.

1. Don’t have a sofa. I know that sounds extreme, but do you really need a sofa? I recently sold my beautiful toxic-free sofa that I had custom-upholstered about 20 years ago because I am downsizing and realized that I rarely sat on that sofa. I had a sofa because one should have a sofa. Even with a sofa, I usually sat at my desk or sat or laid on my toxic-free bed. Now I have a desk chair and a bed. By choice to live simply, not because of poverty.

2. See my post Q&A: Affordable Sofas, which lists a number of ways you can obtain sofas for less money.

Again, nobody is condemed to being poisoned by toxic furniture. You always have a choice.