Question from Melbrecht
As a mom of four I appreciate hand me downs and gifts of clothing. I wish I could buy all organic clothing, but can’t all the time. I have been reading about all the chemicals in clothing and am becoming very confused about which brands are safe. My question thus has two parts. Does soaking new clothes in a cup of vinegar added to the soak cycle help rid harmful chemicals like formaldehyde? Also will chemicals transfer from new clothing to the organic clothing I do have?
Debra’s Answer
Vinegar will not remove a formaldehyde-resin finish. And yes, chemicals from one clothing item can transfer to another.
The good news is that not all new clothing contains formaldehyde. The worst are thos labeled “permanent press,” “easy care” or something that indicates it will not wrinkle. Also, anything made with a polyester cotton blend. This is impossible to remove because it is permanently bonded to the fabric and continues to outgass formaldehyde.
Most new clothing is, however, treated with a finish called “sizing” which helps garments keep their shape. This is cornstarch-based and washes out easily.
ALWAYS wash new clothes before wearing or putting them in a drawer or closet.
