Safe Sofa Guide

Written by Maia, President

UPDATED: October 2017

When I was on The Dr. Oz Show last month, my co-guest was a toxicologist from Yale. Although we were discussing phthalates in macaroni and cheese , when I asked him what he was MOST worried about in terms of toxins in the home, he said household dust, largely thanks for furniture whose toxic contents constantly shed and accumulate there.

Since sofas are often among the largest pieces of furniture we have in our homes, and ones on which we spend a lot of time, this seems like an important item to get right.

I wrote this post for those of you ready to invest in a truly safe sofa (or upholstered chair). We’ve done the research for you, and I will cover all the (scary) details in this post. Or, if you want a simpler answer–just skip down to the Good Stuff tab, where we’ve identified the manufacturers who make non-toxic upholstered furniture.

(Two of these companies, Medley Furniture and The Organic Mattress, have generously extended discounts to my readers. You’ll see more details on this below!)

My Top Pick for Best Sofa

I recently got a Medley sofa, and I’m obsessed! This is the brand I recommend most, and because I’m an affiliate, my readers get 5% off with code GOODSTUFF5.

Shop Medley with code GOODSTUFF5

You’ve probably read–on this website and elsewhere–that your sofa (and the rest of your furniture) is bad for your health, in large part because of the flame retardant chemicals in which all upholstered items are doused. So here’s the deal with that:

The Trouble with Flame Retardants

Your sofa, particularly if it’s more than a few years old, almost certainly contains one of the following flame retardant chemicals:

• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are found in mattresses, electronics, and cars, in addition to the foam of sofas. PBDEs are associated with hormone disruption, hyperactivity, and neurodevelopmental delays, including lowered IQ . The European Union has banned the use of PBDEs in electronic devices. Studies show that children in the United States have higher levels of PBDEs than adults do. Oh, and here’s the kicker: they don’t even work very well at stopping fires.
• Firemaster 550 is made with bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH). Yes, you saw that word in there: phthalate. TBPH is nearly idential to DEHP, the phthalate banned in children’s products due to evidence of carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity.
• Chlorinated tris is the chemical that was removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because it was shown to cause cancer.

But There is Good News on Flame Retardants!

This is huge: the flammability standards enacted in 2014 can be met WITHOUT the use of the toxic chemicals I just described! To be clear–the new law does not BAN the use of the chemicals; it just renders them unnecessary.

My son enjoys his first flame-retardant free sofa, which we bought in 2013.

How to Tell if a Sofa Contains Flame Retardants

The bad news is that this puts us in limbo land–we don’t know for sure which companies are still using treated foam and which have switched over to safer materials. One clue: Look for the TB117-2013 label on sofas and pillows, which suggests that the item meets the standards without fire retardants.

When possible, you should go straight to a furniture’s manufacturer to find out what chemicals they are using, as even knowledgeable-sounding retailers rarely know, as you’ll see in my examples of “The Sneaky Stuff,” below.

For now, I still advise my clients to choose a sofa that they know is untreated with flame retardants, and that typically means either a custom piece of furniture (I work with interior designers to design these, but they are admittedly quite pricey) or a brand that we here at Gimme the Good Stuff have vetted. For these recommended brands, see The Good Stuff, below.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Flame Retardants
This guide is intended to help you select the safest sofa (or upholstered chairs–all of the Good Stuff below also makes flame-retardant free armchairs). However, if you’re not yet ready to plunk down thousands, here are some other steps to limit your exposure.

1. Keep foam enclosed. Be sure to mend any rips in your sofa or chairs that might allow chemically-treated foam to be exposed, and don’t remove cushion casings to launder.
   
2. Upgrade your mattresses. If replacing your own mattress is out of the question,consider upgrading just the mattresses for your children. Many of my clients think their crib mattresses are okay if they are old because they have “already off-gassed.” In fact, as the foam degrades, more PBDEs  and other chemicals may be released. Get help choosing a truly non-toxic mattress with our Safe Mattress Guide.
3. Ditch your broom. Flame retardants accumulate in household dust, and sweeping puts plumes into the air. Instead, use a vacuum or wet mop to banish dirt and toxins. Invest in a HEPA-sealed vacuum that really traps toxins.
   
4. Invest in a robust air filter. We like (and own) Austin Air filters, which employ HEPA, activated carbon, and zeolite, a mineral with superior ability to trap toxic gases and odors such as formaldehyde, ammonias, and carbon monoxide.
5. Eat more plants. Unfortunately, even though these chemicals are being phased out, they will continue to persist in our environment for years. The number one food source of PBDEs is poultry fat. The lowest levels of a variety of toxins–including flame retardants–are found in plant-based foods, so if you substitute beans for chicken a couple of times a week, you’ll reduce your exposure.

What Other Toxins Are in Sofas?

Flame retardants are of greatest concern when selecting a sofa, but there are other toxins to consider as well. Anything that is wrinkle or stain-resistant should be avoided (see the box below on Scotch Guard). The glues and finishes on wooden legs can contain formaldehyde. Even without a chemical bath, polyurethane foam is a petroleum-by product that releases VOCs. This said, if you can get a sofa that doesn’t contain flame retardants, the biggest concern is off the table.

A Note on Scotchguard

Many of my clients–particularly those with young children–ask about Scotchguard. Here’s the deal: Scotchguard used to be SUPER toxic because it contained a noxious chemical called PFOS–which is not only terrible for the environment but also linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system dysfunction. Scotchguard agreed to phase out PFOS and has replaced it with PFBS. Overall, PFBS seems safer, as it has a shorter half-life and accumulates in our bodies at a slower pace.

I remain skeptical as safety studies are still lacking. At this point, there really is no natural alternative to Scotchguard. You can get a good spot stain remover to deal with spills as they happen. You can cover your furniture with slipcovers. You could try this natural stuff called NikWax that’s really made to waterproof clothing but some people use on furniture.

The Good Stuff

The Okay Stuff

The Bad Stuff

The Sneaky Stuff

Want a less expensive sofa? One alternative is a futon. Here’s the one I like.