Can I wash out the chemicals?

 

Unfortunately the answer is no for many of the chemicals of concern. These chemicals are designed to do a job, and they do it well. They are designed specifically NOT to wash out.  The chemicals are used because they are intended to last for the life of the fabric, which can be very long.

For instance, a commonly used class of dyes called “fiber reactive” dyes chemically bind with the fiber molecules in order to remain color fast. (Fiber reactive dyes are not necessarily made from toxic chemicals.)

Think about it: would you be happy if your permanent press sheets suddenly got extremely wrinkled, or if your shirts lost color in the wash?

Frequently this permanence is achieved by the use of a plastic resin we met in a previous LEARN article, “Aren’t All Fabrics Safe?” That plastic resin is urea formaldehyde resin.  It is a liquid plastic that impregnates the fibers, and carries the chemicals necessary to make our fabrics as well-behaving as we demand: wrinkle resistance, anti-cling, anti-static, anti-shrink, waterproof, stain resistant, and color fast, for instance.

This particular resin treatment is toxic. It or its close cousins are used on the majority of bedlinen sheet sets sold, whether cotton or bamboo rayon (not flax linen usually.  And please note that nobody at any place in the chain of manufacturing or selling is required to tell anybody anything about any finish used on any fabric or any article made with fabric except flame retardants in upholstery in the state of California; and 9 individual chemicals, mostly phthalates or tris, in children's pajamas.  The European Union, in late 2024, bans 2,000, with toxicological studies on-going for thousands others ).   

You must insist on third party certifications (and hope that they have been used correctly).

 

 

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