Question from Bruce
For a rental home with particle board kitchen cabinet shelves, (the particle board is 11 years old and likely mostly offgassed), does anyone know if cork is safe for lining shelves and drawers? Williams-Sonoma sells some. Okay for chemically-senstive people? Odor?
Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
I’m not sure I understand your question. Particleboard cabinet shelves have nothing to do with the toxicity of cork.
I have used cork myself to make bulletin boards. You can buy it in big sheets for flooring underlayment, and it would probably cost less per foot that way that if you bought it at Williams-Sonoma. It’s a good material for lining shelves and drawers as it holds things in place instead of having them slide around.
I’m not aware of any chemicals used on cork, but it does have a slight odor from the natural cork itself, as is true for many natural materials.
While formaldehyde outgasses most intensely for the first 7 years, it continues to outgas at a lower rate indefinitely. Cork would absorb that formaldehyde and re-emit it. Cork is made from cork oak, a.k.a. Quercus suber of the beech family. If you are allergic to this tree, it would obviously not be the best choice for you. If you are allergic to many other trees, I recommend caution; you may develop an allergy with ongoing exposure.