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Question from John Landau

Hi Debra,

I order clothing, sheets, etc. from so-called organic companies, and without fail, I’m always left disappointed. Organic clothing has arrived reeking of toxic perfumes and chemicals. Sheets are a nightmare!

I’ve ordered organic sheets from West Elm that came in a ‘duffle bag’. They smelled like perfume. I assumed it was because they were in the store exposed to God knows what. I sent a complaint to their headquarters, and alas, no response.

Fast forward. Someone gave me a gift card from there recently. I ordered (2) sets of organic sheets. These arrived in plastic. However, I’ve washed them a zillion times, and they still reek of some awful chemical smell.

I recently ordered organic t-shirts from a company out west. When they arrived they, too, had to be washed a zillion times. I finally just threw them away. The chemicals would not come out..

I’m going crazy because I have no clothes and sheets left and can’t find a company that is not being deceptive about their product.

I ordered a shower curtain (hemp) from another company. I had a severe reaction (MCS). How could they send something like this to someone and claim its “safe”? Is there such a thing as truly organic?

I’m beginning to wonder if it’s not just easier to order conventional items, pay less for them, and call it a day. I’m in the market for new pillows, but I’m afraid to order them and receive toxic smelling pillows. Any ideas? What to do, what to do? Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

I can understand what you are saying. “Organic” can refer to the raw cotton only, but not necessarily to the process of making the fabric or finishes applied. So it’s possible to get “organic” clothing and bedding that contain chemicals.

You didn’t mention the places you purchased all these items, except for West Elm. So I’m just going to comment on them. On their website, West Elm says, “west elm offers modern furniture and home decor featuring inspiring designs and colors” Hmmm, nothing in that statement suggests to me that their business is about providing safe anything for people with MCS. So even though they might sell something called “organic,” they really don’t know much about choosing a product that’s really organic.

I suggest that you try businesses listed on Debra’s List. And if you have any problem with products from those businesses, come to me. While obviously it’s impossible for me to inspect every product on every website (the idea behind Debra’s List is to POINT you to websites that have an underlying philosophy of having pure products, but you need to evaluate them for yourself if they meet your own needs), it’s more likely you will find what you are looking for on these websites.

And it’s perfectly fine to choose non-organic fabrics. I wear a lot of non-organic clothing because I can’t afford organic. And by the time the fiber is turned into fabric, there are little, if any, pesticide residues. Of course, there are environmental reasons why one should choose organic, but I find that if you choose the right clothing, non-organic fabrics are not toxic.

I stick with cotton or linen fabrics and cotton knits. Things without no-iron finishes that I can toss in the washer.

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