Question from Dennis
I’m know I’m rarity it seems, a guy with MCS, I just found your site. I been trying to find underwear, that I can wear with out getting sick for months now. I’m currently not working and have no source of income and thus can not afford to purchase organic undies at $17-$30 a pair, Is there any other alternatives?
I’ve purchased and returned numerous brands of conventional underwear including Fruit of The Loom (the worst offender), Hanes, and Jockey. I’m not sure what there finishing these with but they all had this horrible sweet sickening smell. I got them all from different stores as well thinking maybe it was the store. Just opening the package made me quit sick for several days. I tried soaking one pack of underwear in Seventh Generation scent free, & baking soda for 24 hour and the smell seemed to actually get worse.
Thank you for your great site, and thank you for your time!
Debra’s Answer
You could always go without…
Readers, which brands do you find most chemical-free?
We Clorox both stinky kinds of ladies’ jockeys like four times and then smell is bearable. The cotton briefs in a flesh color were by far worse than white.
This is very very serious matter and it involves CHEMICALS. They are called ANTIMICROBIAL agents. When our bodily fluid mixes with this chemicals it the odor reminds me of rotting flesh.I have a sensitivity to chemical and know how to protect myself.My very best advice to you is to make your own underwear,This is no joking matter!
(1) consider sample very basic white ladies underwear. At Walmart or kmart u should be able to buy a sample for low price. Keep receipt & return if encounter that odor. We found itvin Fruit of Loom even tho wife had worn same for years.
(2)Take a sewing class then borrow a machine & sae from organic fabric u’ve tested safe for u.
(3)look for men’s underwear with covered elastic. Also, no one in our hpuse can use natural latex which has strong odor. Read fabric content labels, esp for underwear& socks and avoid natural rubber or latex.
(4) shop inexpensive stores e.g.kmart, & keep ur eyes open for lightweight regular or “gym” shorts from 100% cotton knit & use these instead of underwear. Kmart has had great 100% cotton clothes very cheap.
(5) consider buying ladies 100%cotton flannel pj’s at kmart now or soon as price goes down. Lots patterns available. Wife & i both wear them as pj’s. Avail in size up to 4X. You can cut the pants to “underwear length”. Should be no need to hem. Would make very comfortable subbstitute underwear. May have to pay $9 each unless get a super sale s Spring approaches.
(6) consider men’s bikini style covered-elastic underwear. Their elastic is narrow and the odor problems i think might come from those extremely wide sturdy elastic they put on most men’s underwear.
(7) keep researching online. Those $20 organic underwear may go on clearance somewhere for $4.99, u never know.
(8)Check cheapo disposable underwear. Wife got some years ago after having baby in hosp. They are not not those incont. pants!! They were of lightweight meshy fabric. You might tolerate it. May be available only in women’s model but who cares.
(9) get estimates from tailorsvon custom sewing lightweight organic shorts from organic fabric you buy. Proceed carefully. Say u want one modelvmadecup first, under perfume free environment. Then soak and wash and test-wear. If this is affordable, u migjt be ablevto have 5 to 15 made up. Sewing class instructors might know homemakers wanting small sewing jobs too.
(10) companies like National and Women Within offer ladies banded leg underpants that are like grandmavused to wear. You can get the catalogs or go on line and look them over. Ladies cotton undetwear is much less complex than men’s. I got Jockey’s covered elastic almost the bikini style this past summer at Jockey outlet. Carefully opened at home to check for odor then washed one as a test. This style has been discontinued tho!! I stick with covered elastic men’s models where elstic is thin not wide.
God bless your search. You will find something, i’m sure. Just widen your perspective.
the smell is from the rubber in the waist-band. perhaps there’s a chemical added. it stinks. i notice it too. i find Jockey classic is fine after i wash it.
My husband is somewhat chemically sensitive but thankfully not as severely as I am, but he notices smells a lot more. He cannot stand almost all the underwear he’s bought, and the last two packages he will throw away. Not just the smells (I have to wash them at least 3 times before he can wear them, and even then the weird smell is bad) but also the polyester on the elastic. I was hoping to find some answers but I guess only the expensive ones are good, which we can’t afford. He’s thinking of making his own!
I just read my comment and I wasn’t clear. Husband is noticing smells more and more (not as much as me thankfully) and wants to avoid becoming ultra sensitive.
Debra’s right. Who needs underwear? 😉 I have severe MCS and after many attempts at finding underwear that I could tolerate, I just gave up. However, I did order some jock straps (less material, less chemicals) was my logic here, and I can just wash these a few times and they become tolerable.
Hi Dennis,
I have had to eliminate all synthetic rubber from our home including all commercial clothing, etc., containing elastic, as well as Spandex, Lycra and polyurethane foam “everything.” We have only cotton and wool clothing – got rid of the rest. My husband loves his 100% cotton shorts made by http://www.decentexposures.com. They do cost but maybe you could get a couple pair and keep them washed. My husband says they are the best, most comfortable shorts he has ever had. He is not chemically sensitive but I am and I do the laundry and must be in contact with all our clothing. One thing, though – I have to supply the 100% cotton – natural latex elastic for the waistband of each pair made by Decent Exposures. They are very accommodating – a great company. You can buy this elastic online.
we were told that Jockey uses disinfectant, pesticides, fumigants on their underwear, because it is imported. ugh!