Better Homes & Gardens · Stain-Resistant Textiles
Better Homes & Gardens Fringe Table Throw
Lower concern; standard textile throw with no known PFAS risk drivers but brand silent on chemicals.
Better Homes & Gardens' polyester fringe throw has no obvious stain-resist, water-repellent, or nonstick treatments typical of PFAS use. No brand chemical disclosure was found.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester fringe textile
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester textiles are sometimes treated with formaldehyde-based finishes for wrinkle resistance or hand-feel. No specific finish composition is disclosed by the brand; off-gassing is typically low for table throws and decreases after initial washing.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Polyester dyes may include azo compounds or heavy metals (lead, cadmium in pigments). Better Homes and Gardens does not test or certify dye suppliers. Risk is very low for a non-skin-contact home textile, and standard industry dye safety levels apply.
Source, FDA ↗Microfiber shedding during use and washing
Polyester textiles can shed fibers with washing and handling, particularly at seams and fringe edges. This is a microplastic concern at the point of environmental disposal, not an acute in-home health hazard.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
New polyester textiles may off-gas trace VOCs (toluene, xylene) from dyes and finishing. Airing the throw outdoors or in a well-ventilated space for 24-48 hours before use minimizes exposure.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Flame retardants
No evidence that this product is treated with brominated or phosphorus flame retardants. Table throws are not subject to flammability standards that would require such additives, and no brand statement indicates their use.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is a polyester fringe textile throw, a synthetic fiber blend typical of home décor textiles. Polyester itself is chemically stable and does not leach monomers under normal use conditions (unlike some plastics). The fringe trim and weave structure do not introduce additional chemical exposure pathways, and the product is not intended for direct skin contact over extended periods, which further limits dermal or inhalation risk from any residual manufacturing chemicals.
The brand's record and disclosure
Better Homes and Gardens (Walmart house brand) does not publish detailed chemical composition or supply-chain testing data for most home textiles. The brand has no documented recalls or chemical safety controversies for table throws or similar products on record. However, the lack of proactive disclosure about formaldehyde resins, dye suppliers, or PFAS testing represents a gap in transparency rather than evidence of hazard; many mid-market home textile brands operate similarly.
How it compares in its category
Stain-resistant table throws in this price tier typically rely on coating or finish treatments rather than fabric-level water repellency, which can introduce PFAS or other chemicals. This product's lower PFAS grade (Good, 65/100) suggests standard textile production without heavy stain-resistant finish loading. It is comparable to or has lower concern than competitor throws from Threshold (Target) or Pier 1 alternatives at similar price points, most of which lack public chemical certification.
If you buy it
Wash before first use to remove any residual dyes or finishing agents. Machine wash warm or cool; avoid high heat drying, which can accelerate polyester degradation and potential fiber shedding (though not a chemical hazard per se). Check seams and fringe periodically for pilling or unraveling; this is a wear indicator, not a safety trigger. Store in a dry, cool space away from direct sunlight to prevent UV-driven polymer brittleness.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Better Homes & Gardens has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More stain-resistant textiles grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.