Ethan Allen · Stain-Resistant Textiles
Nod Hill Collection Covers, 41.5"w x 41.5"d x 30"h, Square Dining Table Cover, Polyester by ETHAN ALLEN
Polyester outdoor table covers often use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes; Ethan Allen silent on treatments.
Ethan Allen's Nod Hill polyester cover features stain and water resistance, treatments typically applied with PFAS compounds. The brand provides no coating information or PFAS claims.
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Material
Polyester with stain/water-resistant treatment
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
Polyester outdoor table covers routinely use PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings. Ethan Allen does not disclose treatment chemistry. PFAS can leach into food, soil, and water over the product lifetime, particularly with washing or environmental weathering.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester fabric finishes sometimes contain formaldehyde-releasing resins to improve wrinkle resistance or durability. No specific report exists for this Ethan Allen product, but the hazard is routine in the category if finishing was used.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding during washing
Polyester sheds microfibers when washed, which enter wastewater and the environment. While not a direct health risk to the user, repeated washing increases fiber loss. Gentle hand washing and cold water reduce shedding compared to machine washing.
Coating degradation and material exposure over time
Water-repellent coating-treated fabrics degrade with use and UV exposure, causing the coating to crack, peel, or flake. This exposes underlying polyester and may release residual treatment chemicals. Visual inspection for peeling is a practical maintenance indicator for replacement.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
Polyester tablecloths may be dyed with azo dyes (which can release carcinogenic amines under certain conditions) or contain heavy metal pigments. No recalls or documented issues exist for Nod Hill Collection covers; risk is general to the material class, not specific to this brand.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is a polyester fabric tablecloth treated with a stain and water-resistant (water-repellent coating) finish. Polyester itself is a stable synthetic polymer with low toxicity when intact. However, the water-repellent coating treatment applied to achieve water-repellency is the concern, these coatings often contain PFAS "forever chemicals" (PFAS), which resist breakdown and can leach into soil or food contact over time. Ethan Allen has not disclosed the chemistry of their finish, making independent risk assessment impossible.
The brand's record and disclosure
Ethan Allen is a major furniture and home-goods retailer but maintains limited public transparency on chemical treatments in textiles. The company does not advertise PFAS-free certifications or publish detailed material safety disclosures for table linens. No product recalls specific to this Nod Hill Collection cover are on record. The brand's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry reflects an industry-wide gap rather than a documented concern specific to Ethan Allen.
How it compares in its category
Most polyester outdoor and indoor tablecloths in this price and brand tier include water-resistant treatments, nearly all using PFAS-based chemistry by default. Certified organic cotton or untreated linen covers avoid this hazard entirely but cost more and lack stain resistance. This product sits in the mainstream middle, functional but chemically opaque. Buyers seeking transparency would need to request Material Safety Data Sheets directly from Ethan Allen, which are rarely provided for consumer textiles.
If you buy it
Do not machine wash in hot water, as heat can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and potentially mobilize residual chemicals. Hand wash with cool water and mild soap, or spot-clean. Avoid prolonged food contact with the treated surface; use a plate liner if serving directly on the cloth. Do not use near children's mouth-level areas (e.g., young toddlers prone to chewing). Replace every 3-5 years or when the finish visibly degrades or flakes. Store dry in a cool space to prevent mold and bacterial growth in the fabric.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Ethan Allen 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.