Better Homes & Gardens · Stain-Resistant Textiles
Better Homes & Gardens Woven Stripe Tablecloth
Skip until the brand discloses treatment chemistry; stain-resistant textiles frequently use PFAS.
This Better Homes & Gardens tablecloth has stain and water-resistant finish typical of treated textiles, historically relying on fluorinated compounds. No coating disclosure provided.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Woven cotton/polyester blend with stain/water-resistant finish
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water and stain-resistant textiles commonly use PFAS compounds; BHG does not disclose treatment chemistry, making PFAS presence unconfirmed but plausible. No recalls or testing for this specific product are documented.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Durable finishes on cotton-polyester blends sometimes use formaldehyde-based cross-linkers; BHG does not exclude this. Off-gassing is typically low for tablecloths due to distance from breathing zone and ventilation, but not zero.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in color
Polyester and cotton blends in mass-market textiles may use azo dyes, which can release aromatic amines under breakdown or extended contact with food. No testing of this specific product's dyes has been publicly disclosed.
Coating degradation and microparticles
Woven finishes degrade with washing and use; flaking finish material could shed into food or washing water. No data on microparticle size or content exists for this product.
What’s reassuring
Antimony in polyester fiber
Antimony is used as a catalyst in polyester production but is not typically released during normal use; no health concern at household exposure levels documented for tablecloths.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This tablecloth is a cotton-polyester blend with a durable water and stain-resistant finish applied to the fabric surface. The finish chemistry is not disclosed by Better Homes and Gardens, which is the critical issue, water and stain resistance in textiles is historically achieved using PFAS compounds (PFAS "forever chemicals") that persist in the environment and accumulate in the body. Cotton-polyester blends themselves are stable and low-hazard; the finish is the variable.
The brand's record and disclosure
Better Homes and Gardens does not publicly disclose the chemical composition of its durable finishes on textiles, nor does the brand appear to have made commitments to phase out or test for PFAS. The parent company (Walmart) has not issued brand-level transparency statements about treatment chemistry for this product line. Without third-party testing or manufacturer disclosure, the specific finish cannot be verified as PFAS-free.
How it compares in its category
Most mass-market stain-resistant tablecloths carry the same undisclosed-finish problem; this product is typical rather than distinctive. Premium alternatives like 100 percent certified organic cotton or linen tablecloths without water-resistant treatments eliminate the PFAS question entirely. Budget-conscious options with the same finish opacity are widely available; choosing this brand does not reduce chemical uncertainty.
If you buy it
Wash before first use to reduce any loose finish residue or dyes. Avoid prolonged contact with food, especially fatty or acidic foods that may interact with the finish. Wash separately in cold water initially, as excess detergent can degrade the stain-resistant coating. Replace if the finish begins visibly flaking or degrading, as coating breakdown may increase leaching.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% 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.
Better-graded alternatives in Stain-Resistant Textiles
Amazon Essentials Light Blue Multicolor Cotton Tablecloth
100% cotton
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes and colorfast concerns
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Microbial growth and mold
Limited concern
Plain cotton tablecloth, no surface treatments, lower PFAS concern.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Ethan Allen
Millbrook/Bridgewater Cove Extension Dining Table Cover
polyester fabric with unknown finish treatment
Flame retardants
Limited concern
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
High concern
Water repellent finish degradation and leachables
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Skip pending brand verification of finish treatment.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Ethan Allen
Nod Hill Collection Covers 35"h
upholstery fabric (composition unspecified)
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Flame retardants
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
High concern
No PFAS disclosure available from brand on this cover.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
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.