Is Ikea Furniture Toxic? (All You Need To Know) (2024)

IKEA is a Swedish-based company that manufactures a wide range of furniture and products.

Like every other furniture manufacturer, IKEA has come under heavy scrutiny over its product manufacturing choices and safety standards.

The most asked questions are if IKEA furniture contains toxic chemicals and dangerous materials that are bad for your health.

IKEA furniture is made with non-toxic materials and limits the number of harmful chemicals used while manufacturing them. They are not coated with chemicals like flame retardants and use small quantities of Formaldehyde to reduce toxicity.

Is Ikea Furniture Non-Toxic?

IKEA furniture is non-toxic, but its toxicity can be affected by several factors. The chemicals used to treat furniture can be toxic and cause bad ailments.

IKEA has prided itself as one of the safest and cheapest furniture manufacturers.

Even though IKEA has had V.O.C.’s problems, like the 1992 formaldehyde scandal, they have implemented many safety improvements.

To show their commitment to the cause, IKEA stopped using Formaldehyde in their paints and some products.

Though I cannot claim IKEA Furniture is 100% Non-Toxic ( no furniture is), IKEA Furniture is one of the, if not the safest, furniture you can buy.

Here is a list of chemicals and materials that IKEA has reduced their concentration or completely banned in their products.

#1. Formaldehyde

It belongs to a class of compounds called V.O.C.’s, an abbreviation of “Volatile Organic Compounds.”

Formaldehyde acts as a type of adhesive and preservative and is used to bond composite wood together.

Exposure to Formaldehyde causes cancer and skin and lung irritation.

Even though IKEA banned using Formaldehyde in their products, IKEA furniture made of composite wood still contains some formaldehyde.

#2. Flame Retardant

Flame Retardants are chemicals used to reduce the explosive properties of wooden furniture.

There are different flame retardants, the most dangerous being “brominated flame retardants.”

IKEA has banned brominated flame retardants on their products and switched to safer alternatives.

IKEA does not use flame retardants on their furniture unless they are legally required to do so.

#3. Particle Board Wood

Particle wood boards, also called engineered boards, are wooden boards made from sawdust and glues.

The glue used to make such boards contains V.O.C.s like Formaldehyde which is bad for your health.

IKEA has reduced the amount of furniture made using engineered wood boards. Most IKEA baby cribs use solid wood instead of particle wood board.

#4. P.F.A.’s

Also known as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, they are synthetic compounds in furniture and clothing.

P.F.A.’S are dangerous and can cause irritation, asthma, and cancer. IKEA has banned P.F.A.’S to increase safety on their furniture and products.

Is IKEA Furniture Carcinogenic?

IKEA has phased out chemicals that are carcinogenic and are using safer alternatives.

There are many chemicals found in everyday furniture that are confirmed to cause cancer.

Such chemicals have led to multiple government regulations and policies to reduce the number of carcinogenic materials in furniture.

Here are some chemicals found in furniture and the ailments they cause.

Chemicals In Furniture	Reactions and Aliments
Formaldehyde	Carcinogen, lung irritation, and skin irritation.
Saw dust	Lung irritant, rhinitis, and sore throat.
Flame retardants	Mental development issues, infertility, hormonal disruption, and cancer
P.F.A.’s	Causes cancer, infertility, lung diseases, and liver/kidney problems.

Luckily most of these dangerous chemicals can only be found in older furniture, and IKEA has limited their use in modern furniture.

Prop 65 Warning

Prop 65 warning A.K.A. proposition 65 is a bill passed in the U.S. state of California in 1986.

Proposition 65 is a bill requiring businesses and manufacturers to give a warning label.

Their products contain dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer, congenital disabilities, and infertility.

Any product that contains labels with prop 65 has traces of the chemicals listed in the table above. Avoid furniture that contains any of these dangerous chemicals.

Does IKEA Furniture Have Formaldehyde?

IKEA officially banned the use of Formaldehyde in all their products in 2015. Formaldehyde is a well-known V.O.C., and studies have shown it causes cancer.

Even though IKEA does not use Formaldehyde, their furniture still contains traces of Formaldehyde; the glue and resins used in their engineered wood contain Formaldehyde.

Before purchasing, it would be best to check if sensitive furniture contains traces of Formaldehyde.

Here are some types of furniture you should avoid if they contain Formaldehyde or engineered wood.

Baby Cribs

Bed Frames

Mattresses

Couch

You should ensure sensitive furniture like your baby cribs and mattresses use materials containing small amounts of V.O.C.s like Formaldehyde.

Does IKEA Furniture Off-Gas?

IKEA furniture does off-gas, but they do so in relatively small quantities.

The glue and resins used to make IKEA furniture contains some V.O.C.s that are off-gas for a while.

The chemicals in V.O.C.s are bad for your health and can cause several health issues.

Here are some conditions that can cause your IKEA furniture to off-gas more than normal.

#1. Poor Ventilation

Rooms with poor ventilation can cause off-gas to accumulate in your room, leading to higher concentrations than normal.

You can reduce the amount of off-gas in your room by improving ventilation.

Poor ventilation is detrimental to any room’s occupants’ health, and you should improve at all costs.

#2. Relatively New Furniture

New furniture from the factory is more prone to off-gassing. The concentrations of V.O.C.s in new furniture are higher than in older furniture.

It would be best if you air your new furniture before installing them in your house.

It would be best if you considered purchasing older furniture in sensitive areas of your house.

#3. High Levels of Voc’s

If you have furniture with higher concentrations of V.O.C.s, it will off-gas much more than normal.

It would be best if you avoided noticeably smelly and discolored furniture.

IKEA furniture normally has low levels of V.O.C.s, but you should be extra careful when selecting furniture made from engineered wood.

#4. High Temperatures

Furniture is more prone to off-gassing in rooms with high temperatures. High temperatures increase the rate of off-gassing in furniture.

It would be best if you placed your furniture in rooms with proper ventilation and away from exposure to direct sunlight.

Is IKEA Furniture Safe For Babies?

IKEA has put a lot of effort into making its furniture as safe as possible for children and infants.

IKEA furniture is a good choice if you are selecting furniture for things like baby cribs and mattresses, but there are some pieces of furniture you should avoid if you want to be on the safer side.

Here are some things you can do to create safer living conditions for your baby.

Avoid synthetic mattresses

Use low V.O.C.s paints

Avoid particle board furniture

Improve the room ventilation

Conclusion

IKEA furniture is one of the safest furniture you can purchase for your home. IKEA banned the use of toxic chemicals in the production of their furniture.

IKEA has reduced the concentration of chemicals like fire retardants, V.O.C.s, and P.F.A.s in their furniture; this creates room for safer living conditions.