Did You Know Choosing Natural-Fiber Rugs and Bedding Can Lower Your Exposure to ‘Forever Chemicals’?

If you’ve ever shopped for rugs, pillows, or bedding, you probably looked first at color, texture, or price. But there’s another dimension worth your attention: what the fabrics are treated with and what that means for your health and your home.

Here’s a truth many people don’t realize: many synthetic textiles, especially for items like carpets, upholstery, rugs and bedding, are treated with chemicals known as flame retardants and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily and can accumulate in our bodies and in the environment. 

By contrast, natural fibers like cotton, wool, jute, and when untreated or minimally treated, can offer a safer, more biodegradable alternative. Let’s walk through the questions we’re asked most about this topic.

Why Are These Chemicals (PFAS & Flame Retardants) in Rugs and Bedding?

• Many synthetic fiber products are engineered to resist stains, water, oil, wear, and flame. To achieve those performance traits, manufacturers often add or finish the fabrics with PFAS and flame retardant chemicals. For example, a Minnesota‐government guide notes that PFAS have been used in carpets, rugs, upholstery, bedding and other home textiles to impart water-, oil-, stain-resistance—and in some cases flame-resistance. Minnesota PCA+1
• A 2022 review of chemical additives on plastic and synthetic fibers found that “the content of flame retardants in synthetic fibers is often higher than that in cotton fabrics.” PMC
• PFAS: The so-called “forever chemicals” are durable, resistant to heat and water, which makes them appealing for textiles—but that same durability means they persist and can lead to exposures. Arms of Andes+1

So when you buy a synthetic rug or bedding set, especially one marketed as stain/spill resistant or flame-retardant, chances are it has been treated with or contains additional chemical finishes.

What’s the Risk to My Health or Home Environment?

• Exposure to flame retardants and PFAS has been linked to a variety of health concerns. A report from EarthDay Initiative notes that flame retardants “have been linked to bio‐accumulate health risks including infertility, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption and cancer.” Earth Day
• Natural fiber fabrics (cotton, wool, linen, silk) tend to have a lower “chemical burden” than synthetics, particularly with respect to dyes and finishing treatments. Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation+1
• Additionally, because synthetic fibers are often chemically finished and the chemicals may migrate or off-gas over time (especially in indoor environments like bedrooms or living rooms), there is a practical exposure route.
• It’s not just the fiber, but the treatments. As one resource puts it: “Textiles & Health Prioritize Organic Fibers: Synthetic fabrics require the addition of chemicals. Organically grown textiles such as wool, hemp, linen and jute do not.” Healthy Materials Lab

So choosing untreated or minimally treated natural fibers is a proactive way to reduce the chemical load in your home environment.

Why Natural Fibers (Cotton, Wool, Jute) Often Make a Safer Choice

• Natural fibers are inherently different in structure and treatment compared to many synthetics. For instance, wool has a natural lanolin coating that gives some water & dirt-resistance without heavy chemical finishing. Healthy Materials Lab+1
• For bedding and rugs, natural fibers often require fewer finishing additives—especially if they are marketed as organic or minimally processed.
• Natural fibers are generally biodegradable (or more biodegradable) than synthetic fibers, meaning at end-of-life they are less likely to persist in the environment as long.
• Many certification systems (e.g., GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standard) help identify textiles made without PFAS or excessive chemical treatments. For example: “Textiles (both interior fabrics and clothing)… that are GOTS certified are guaranteed not to contain PFAS.” ecologicaltextiles.com

How to Make Smarter Choices & What to Look For:

1. Choose natural fibers.
   If you’re buying rugs, bed linens, pillows or mattress covers, give priority to fibers like cotton (especially organic cotton), wool, jute, linen. These are less likely to have been treated with heavy chemical finishes.
2. Ask about chemical finishes.
   Look for language like “water-repellent,” “stain-resistant,” “flame-retardant.” These are often signals that chemical treatments have been applied. If you see that, ask the manufacturer: Is it PFAS‐free?
   For example, a guide states (I’m not sure what “a guide states” means): “From couches and curtains to bedding… the textiles in your home can carry hidden exposures to formaldehyde, BPA, PFAS, and flame retardants.” Interior Medicine+1
3. Look for credible certifications.
   Certifications such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX® (for testing of chemicals in textiles) can give additional assurance. Interior Medicine+1
   For bedding and rugs, ask if the manufacturer or brand provides a chemical‐finish disclosure, or identifies their product as meeting low chemical/low finish standards.
4. Consider untreated natural fibers for rugs.
   Rugs can often have heavy finishing treatments (for stain resistance, soil release, flame retardant). By choosing jute, wool or cotton rugs that are minimally finished, or that are labeled as chemical-free or low-chemistry, you reduce exposure.
5. Maintain your textiles.
   Regular cleaning (vacuuming, airing) helps reduce dust and chemical residues in indoor textiles. While this doesn’t eliminate exposures, it reduces accumulation in the home environment.

Realistic Approach: It’s Not About Fear, but Empowerment

We’re not saying you have to throw out all your synthetic textiles, or that everything synthetic is “bad.” What we’re encouraging is AWEAR-ness. Knowing what you’re bringing into your environment and how it might affect you, your family, and your home.
Here’s how we suggest thinking about it:

• When buying new rugs/bedding, ask: “Was this treated with PFAS or flame-retardant chemicals?”
• Choose natural fiber options when practical and when the budget allows.
• If you do choose a synthetic or treated option (particularly if you need certain performance like stain resistance or flame compliance), pick items with transparency around chemical finishing and a good reputation for indoor-air safety.
• Over time, consider replacing older heavily treated textiles with cleaner options, just like you might upgrade your bedding or rugs for style.

Why This Matters for Your Wellness Mission

At AWEAR, our focus is on creating environments and choices that support your well-being. Our homes are where we rest, recover, and renew. The textiles we surround ourselves with (what we sleep on, what we walk on) matter. Choosing natural fiber rugs and bedding is a tangible way to reduce hidden chemical exposures and align your home with your wellness values.

Here’s to making spaces that reflect the vitality we want in our lives, inside and out!

By: Melissa Coulier & Melanie Samuels, Co-Founders of Live Well Lead Well.