Shelton Sofa Blue/Brown vs Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam: which is safer?

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam is the clear pick. Ethan Allen Shelton Sofa Blue/Brown carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Ethan Allen Shelton Sofa Blue/Brown

Ethan Allen

Shelton Sofa Blue/Brown

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

upholstered fabric with stain/water treatment

Confidence

45%

LikelyFlame retardants (brominated/chlorinated) in foam cushioning

ReportedPFAS in stain and water repellent fabric treatments

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde from foam, adhesives, and batting

Our pick

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam

Joybird

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Poor 39/100

Verdict

Buy with care

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

polyurethane foam

Confidence

72%

LikelyVolatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off-Gassing

PossibleFlame Retardant Chemical Content

PossibleFormaldehyde in Adhesives and Binders

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Flame retardants (brominated/chlorinated) in foam cushioning, PFAS in stain and water repellent fabric treatments, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde from foam, adhesives, and batting and Microplastics from synthetic fabric deterioration on the Ethan Allen and not on the Joybird.
  • We flag Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off-Gassing, Flame Retardant Chemical Content, Formaldehyde in Adhesives and Binders and Foam Degradation Over Time on the Joybird and not on the Ethan Allen.
  • The Ethan Allen is upholstered fabric with stain/water treatment where the Joybird is polyurethane foam, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Joybird is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Ethan Allen grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More upholstered furniture, see the full ranking