Question from Diana
Dear Debra – I typed in toxins in clothes and read the article provided.
It answered one of my questions that had to do with whether more expensive clothes had less toxins in them. Might have known! I just bought some jeans and a warm-up outfit at Kohl’s. They are all outside, day and night.
I’ve read that soaking them in baking soda and later water diluted with vinegar will take care of the smell. However, I’m wondering if the toxins are still there doing damage to the wearer. I’m guessing they are.
If so, this rules out all department stores and leaves only organic clothes (haven’t found many of those) and consignment shops where clothes have been washed many times.
Could you comment on this?
To me it seems like a silent holocaust — aimed especially at juniors. Mudd and So manufacturers are two that have cute jr. clothes but the smell on them is enough to knock you out. Just bury your nose in them and inhale. Then taste the inside of your mouth. Next, run for your too toothbrush.
Debra’s Answer
Yes, average clothes DO contain a lot of toxic chemicals that we need to watch out for.
The best thing to do is wear organic. There are many online sources of organic clothing, some of which are on Debra’s List: Textiles: Clothing.
I have to say, though, I find this to be easier said than done. It’s difficult for me to find suitable organic clothing in my size, style, and budget. And so I do what I’ve been doing since before organic clothing was available, and that is, wear ONLY 100% natural fibers.
I find of the clothing I purchase if I wash them before I wear them, I have no problem. But I am wearing very simple clothing. I have a drawer of 100% cotton tank tops and a drawer of 100% cotton capri pants and mostly I wear those. I can just reach in the drawers and pick any top and any bottom and they all coordinate because I stick to neutral black, beige, brown, blue, and cream for the bottoms and buy both neutrals and colors for the tops.
I also have a couple of 100% natural fiber jackets.
All clothing usually has “sizing” on it, which is made from scented cornstarch. I find this washes right out.Beyond this, if clothing smells bad to me in the store, I just don’t bring it home.
Hi Debra, Re: your comment about wearing natural fibers – I just found out from Dockers/Levi’s that their 100% cotton men’s slacks have a formaldehyde resin on them, whereas their cotton/poly/elastane slacks do not. Regardless – the cotton/poly slacks we bought have a strong sweet, smell, that is still on them after soaking and washing in baking soda, white vinegar and non-toxic laundry detergent. Do you know if the chemicals themselves (pesticides, fumigants from shipping) would still be in my washer and/or dryer? Thank you very much for all you do. Now I am fearful of the chemicals getting on my baby’s clothes, as well as ours. Cannot use bleach.
That doesn’t sound right to me. Are you sure the 100% cotton slacks are not permanent press? That would be a formaldehyde resin. I’m not surprised you have an odor from the cotton/poly/elastene.
I am making a new post about getting chemicals out of your washer because this has been asked before.
HOW TO GET CHEMICALS OUT OF YOUR WASHING MACHINE HERE
I’m wondering if anyone with MCS has had the experience where you washed a new item of clothing and “contaminated” the washer and then clothes washed afterwards. This has happened again to me and I was thinking it had to be mycotoxins from mold, as that’s my biggest sensitivity and I know it “cross contaminates” but maybe new clothing chemicals can stick in machines so badly that they get onto the next things washed, too. I have been trying unsuccessfully to rinse machine out. Has anyone tried Mystical and had any good results? I hear mixed reviews but…wondering still…
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
I recently bought a new washing machine and when it was delivered there was a scent in the washer. I tried many things, including Mystical. Maybe I didn’t use it properly, but it didn’t work.
What DID work was a product called “washing machine cleaner,” which I bought at a supermarket. I used Clorox brand, but there were several others. It’s very very strong chlorine bleach. Stronger than you would use to wash clothes,
Prior to using this I couldn’t wash anything because the fragrance in the washer would end up in my clothes. Now I can wash anything and there is zero fragrance.
I also use a 1/2 vup borax, which also helps to remove fragrances.
I have been finding that sometimes it is more important where it is made than if it is organic when purchasing natural fiber clothing, and where you buy it is important too – it doesn’t matter if it is organic, if it is sold next to super scented toxic products, sometimes you just can’t get them out, and if it is made by a person wearing scented products, same thing.
I’d like to recommend wool to those having difficulties in purchasing chemical free clothing – specifically, SmartWool. It is the only clothing right now I have purchased from a scented store that I only have to wash once or twice to take the smell out – and it does not have a chemical odor after. You can hang it up after wearing and it will outgas on its own – the air actually cleans it.
How can I remove P65warning chemical from my new sweater?
Thanks!
Its impossible to say without knowing what the chemical is. Regardless, it is unlikely that you would be able to remove it. I would get rid of the sweater.
How do you handle the chlorine bleach smell? Is it gone after one wash? That would give me a 3 day migraine
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
I’m not saying use chlorine bleach every day. But sometimes chlorine bleach needs to be used to remove other toxic chemicals. Open doors and windows for ventilation. It usually dissipates in less than 24 hours.