Help with glitter from fabric please
 

I was given yardage to make face masks. The first thing I did upon receiving it was to wash it all in hot water and hang it outside in the sun.

One of the pieces has a ton of glitter in the fabric and now I see that it is also on all the other fabrics. It's even on my hands!

If I wash all this fabric again tomorrow, will the glitter go away? Is it hopeless?

(Just realized the inside of my washer probably has glitter in it too so my next load of clothes will be glittery. Grrrr)

Thanks.

Would the glitter fabric cause a problem with someone breathing in the glitter particles?

Maybe shake as much of the glitter off as you can before you bring the fabric inside.

I had that happen to me, too. I think I am still getting glitter off some things!

Aw geez, I didn't even think of the glitter causing breathing issues. I'll check with the group I sew for. They sent it to me though.

I would not use the glitter fabric- run a washer load with an old towel or something to hopefully rinse away all the glitter that may be in the washer and rewash all the other fabrics- with a double rinse. Hopefully that will remove all the glitter. If it doesn’t don’t use the fabric for masks.

Thanks. I am concerned now. I've reached out to the group that I sew for.

Ahhh glitter, the herpes of the craft world, the pink ring around the Cat in the Hat's bathtub. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png My Innova was a Christmas present, the ladies who worked at the dealership wrapped it up in glitter-covered tulle. 18 months later and I'm still finding glitter in weird places, like my master bathroom and inside my car. I hope someone else can give you a tip for removing it from the inside of your washing machine and all your other fabrics!

Run a wet sponge around the tub of your washer. Should pick up most glitter left behind.

Lint roller
 

I have heard of people using a lint roller to get glitter off things. You might try wrapping sticky tape around your hand with the sticky part on the outside to clean the inside of your washer and dryer.

our local hospital requested that glitter fabrics not be used for face masks as they will sometimes use heat to disinfect and as you know the glitter can make a huge,irritating mess.

Think it you pull that fabric and re-wash the others, it should remove the glitter from the other fabrics. Maybe do a rinse cycle in the washer first?

Wipe the washer out with a damp paper towel and throw it away. Do the same thing for anything else that might have glitter on it. As far as masks, do not use it, even if the group sent it to you. They may have not even given any thought to it. I know that children's pillow cases for charity should not be made with glitter fabric either. The fabric you washed with the glitter fabric can be shook out, use a lint brush on it after shaking it and wash it again.

Thanks all. I wiped the washer three times, each time there was less glitter. Now I'm running a sacrificial load with drop clothes and an extra rinse. I'll hang it on the line and hopefully the last of the glitter will fall off. I didn't use my dryer for this fabric thank goodness! I line dried it. The jury is still out on the other fabrics in the batch. They still have enough glitter on them to give me pause.

As for "why would someone think this was ok"?? I never gave it a second thought, I'll bet my mask group didn't either. I saw the pretty fabric and said "oooh" but never thought about the glitter.

As far as "glitter/shiny/metallic" -

If it "sheds" or is scratchy - I would avoid using it. Especially for bedding or something that will touch a person's face.

I bought some t-shirts that had glitter on them. They are still scratchy many washes later. I also learned this "the hard way". I am also still finding glitter on some of the other garments that are in the same load.

Regarding the "metallics" - printed ink? - some of the "metallic" will wash off eventually - but it does not seem to flake or leave "dust"/residue" in my washer or dryer. I have been having a debate with myself about whether or not to use a "metallic" print in a face mask.

Just remember Not to put it in the dryer. Fortunately the weather is good for drying outside.

I "think" you are already "thinking" seriously about this one.
I'm with the others, that alarm bells went off for me, when I read about it.
If it were I, I would return this fabric to the source, advising them of your concerns.
It could be that they never noticed that it was all glittery!

In the end, let your conscience rule ... even if others say, oh sure, make masks!!
If so, let them have some one else use it.

If I can add my 2 cents worth. Do not use the material with glitter or metallic on it for masks. One of the sewing masks groups I belong to, the first thing they say not to use is "No fabric with glitter or metallic".

I have a conclusion. My group agreed that we should not use the glittery fabric for masks. They had placed a bulk fabric order for masks and got so busy distributing the fabric to the sewists that they didn't even notice the fabric shop had included a glittery piece. They are sending me a new batch of fabric. We are not using the other non glittery fabrics that got contaminated either. It's too risky.

My sacrificial laundry came out glitter free too so all is well!!

Thanks for all the advice.

I would be a little skeptical about making masks out of the fabric that has so much loose glitter. I am not sure that washing it many times would make the fabric any better? Good luck to you and I think everyone here gave you great advice as to how to remove the glitter from you washer. Hopefully you will get all of it out of the washer or you will be sharing glitter on all of your laundry.

I have made about 10 or so quilts to donate that had glitter inbedded in the fabric. I prewash and wash finished quilts. I did not find any glitter in my brand new washing machine or dryer. The fabric is beautiful.

I like glittery fabric. I have a rainbow fabric quilt that is over years old. It still glitters, but not as much as new. I don't use glittery for baby quilts, either.