Question from Stacey
Hi Debra,
I found some glass lamps that I like but wonder how safe the lamp shades are…the website states that the lamp shades are made of “a natural linen” but can I trust this? Are lamp shades usually made with a plastic/synthetic base also? And, do I have to worry about any flame retardants on the shade?
Thanks so much!
Debra’s Answer
I have one lamp with a fabrics lamp shade in my house, all the others are task lamps with metal shades.
I looked at the shade. Mine is basicallly two pieces of fabric stretched over a wire frame.
If I remember correctly, I seem to recall some paper lining (here is a how to make a shade that shows attaching a styrene plastic “shade paper”).
So I would just check and see. If the shade is 100% fabric, it’s probably OK. If it has a paper liner, I wouldn’t use it because the heat of the lamp would make the plastic outgas.
The other possible toxic exposure would be a fabric finish that would still be on the fabric because it probably isn’t prewashed.
As for fire retardants, you should ask as some may have it and others not. It may say “fire retardant fabric” in the description, but absence of these words does not necessarily mean there is no fire retardant.
To be really safe, you can choose your own fabric and have a lampshade custom made. Be sure to provide prewashed fabric and give exact instructions about what you want and don’t want. There are many custom lampshade makers online and probably available in your local community as well. If you are handy, you might be able to do it yourself.
The one lamp shade I have I bought when I moved here to Florida 14 years ago. It’s a synthetic fabric, I’m sure, but it had no toxic outgassing and is very pretty. But this is very much an exception to my general rules.
You just have to evaluate each lamp shade individually.
