Tales of a Toxic Pottery Barn Rug

As per my last post (which I didn’t even notice had the same title as the one prior), the multiple infections swarming our home were wearing me down physically and emotionally.  A passing remark from my boss (“Do you have mold?”) had my head spinning. W’s coughing was so violent in spells that his ear drum would rupture again. No one was sleeping. The vicious cycle had to stop. 

While I couldn’t find any mold, I started to pare down items that could trigger allergies. Out went the majority of stuffed animals, textiles cleaned, all surfaces carefully dusted and out went his Pottery Barn Kids area rug.  

I felt better with the rug out, as my husbands points out, it always carried a funky smell.   It aired outside for 48 hours.  When the rug came back into the house, it still seemed off.  I rolled it back up and immediately found myself irritated by whatever it was harboring.  A day later, my husband was concerned that a burning smell was coming from my office. Turns out the smell was the rug - it stank of burning rubber.

A Google search quickly revealed that there is an  alarming issue with PB rugs.  About one in ten rugs have an issue with the adhesives used to bond the wool rugs to the canvas backing. These adhesives weren’t cured properly and seem to deteriorate at various points in time. The hand tufted wool rugs were manufactured in India. Bottom line, these off gases and fumes from the deteriorating materials are horrid.

According to other customer’s posts, Pottery Barn was frequently taking back the rugs without question.  After a morning of driving around with the toxic rug in our hatch back, I was noxious and sick to my stomach on the side of Warden Ave. I drove across the highway, windows down retching, desperate to return it. The staff at PBK were efficient. They politely processed the return and provided me a store credit.  While no apologies were given, I’m pleased that they stood behind their product. If anything seems stinky now, perhaps there is a silent product recall – one that ought to be made public.

My next stop was to Costco.  Without batting an eyelash, I picked up an Oreck XL tower cleaner. It was on sale for a bargain given the prices from Oreck directly. Yes, W’s room is tiny and this air cleaner is for larger spaces. However, within 4 hours of it running on full blast, the air was noticeably …. wonderful.  (The price was so good, I am tempted to return for another one for the basement!).   

Last night, W slept soundly the entire night. Not a cough, hack or sniffle. Simply deep, restful, healthy sleep which he desperately needs.  While I don’t believe that the rug is the cause of all our health ills, it most definitely contributed to being unwell. The VOCs emitted from decaying latex are noticeable and unbearable.  It’s quite disconcerting when you keep in mind that W sleeps on a mattress, inches off the floor, thus inches from the rug. I’m still coughing, but at least I am sure that the air quality in our home is radically improved.

In my opinion, other products have been recalled or investigated for less.  Consider signing this online petition to make William-Sonoma, the parent company, be accountable for selling these toxic, smelly, faulty rugs.  Toxic rugs in a baby’s room doesn’t make me feel warm and cozy.

Advertisement