Question from Lynn
Hi Debra,
I am a mother of three young children attempting to furnish a new home (yikes). My eyes were opened to the toxic chemicals in consumer products when trying to chose a bottle for my first son years ago. I relentlessly read and research the safest/healthiest choices for my family and upon doing so I found your gem of a website!!
I’m having trouble locating any information on chemicals in leather couches. IE: what am i exposing my family to? My question…which would be a safer choice for my family: a leather couch or a fabric couch? Seems simple, but I know there is a lot to consider. Any insight you may have would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much!
Debra’s Answer
All the information you are looking for regarding both leather and fabric sofas can be found at oecotextiles.wordpress.com
Here are their posts about leather: oecotextiles.wordpress.com/category/leather.
Other materials and related issues can be found in their very detailed menu on the right side of every page.
These articles are pretty long and detailed, and a lot of the information has to do with environmental effects in addition to direct health effects.
The simplified story is that tanning leather involves about 250 chemicals, including formaldehyde. You can easily smell these chemicals in a new sofa and they outgas for a long time.
A fabric sofa usually is made of synthetic fabric, polyurethane foam, and may have fire retardants and stan repellants (which outgas formaldehyde).
You can purchase all-natural sofas from the sellers on the Furniture page of Debra’s List.
If you can’t afford this, another alternative is to get a futon and put it in a sofa converter frame, such as this one from White Lotus Home.
