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Question from Sue P.

Hi Debra,

I am trying to figure out if a commercially made quilt would typically contain flame retardants or any other harmful chemicals. I have found a quilt online that says the cover is 100% cotton, but the filling is 100% polyester. Are there flame retardants in 100% polyester? Would washing this several times, remove any harmful chemicals? Thanks for your great website and research.

Debra’s Answer

It’s unlikely that polyester fill would contain flame retardants. Furniture manufacturers use layers of polyester to help them pass the flammability tests. It doesn’t burn, it melts.

Many many years ago I was wearing a polyester nightgown. I took it off and threw it on the floor—right on top of my hot curling iron. And I saw that polyester melt right before my eyes. So it passes the flame test, but I wouldn’t want molten polyester on my skin.

Polyester itself is not particularly toxic, it’s usually the finishes that are the toxic part.

But again, polyester is plastic, so if you want to avoid plastic for other reasons, then that’s something to consider. But it’s not toxic.

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