I believe our government has not done enough to make sure that what comes in this country is safe. Besides fabric, toys are still getting on store shelves with lead in them. There is a web site that will send you the recalls, [email protected].

I usually prewash my fabrics but today I've been feeling lazy and was about to skip the prewashingof the fabrics for my next quilt. Changed my mind and in the washer they go for a few washes with colorcatchers. Will also wash the lastest baby quilt as it is a scrappy one and I'm not certain that all of the fabrics were prewashed. Thanks for the heads up, May in Jersey

I think you are absolutely correct. Wonder which political party is blocking efforts to fund such inspections by making it possible to raise revenue? froggyintexas

Light Bulb moment! I am so glad you posted this. I am going to do a lot of laundry. I have suffered with exzema on my hands for years, but not as a child. I did not sew much as a child. Duh! :oops:

Makes me wonder if not washing my fabrics is making my hands so dry they crack? I used to prewash but stopped doing it. Guess I will try it again.Thanks

Have you washed charms and how do you if you did?

Back in the days of perma press, formaldehyde was used in the finishes, it go so bad, I couldnt walk into a fabric shop without wheezing and getting a headache, these days I dont think too many fabrics have it, but if they do by all means wash till the smell goes away. Formaldehyde is badstuff.

I think you have helped lots of people with your information. We all thank you and will pass it on, I am sure.

Oh, I'm so sorry Auntpiggy!!! What torture for a quilter - not to be able to "feel" fabrics!! I prewash everything - mainly to get the sizing out and stop the colour from bleeding. I have found that my hands get really dry during my "peak" quilting times - mostly during the winter. I thought it was the cotton absorbing the moisture out of my hands, but now think it is probably the chemical residue in the fabric! This is a very interesting post. Thank you all for contributing.

LOL GingerK!!! I'm enclosing a picture of the coffin I told my kids I want when I die! (actually I told them to just wrap me up in one of my old quilts, but this is pretty spectacular!)

Is this making you all as sick as it is making me? I just don't understand the need for these chemicals...

WOW, I too have wondered why my quilting gloves get so dirty and I also prewash all my fabric. Well now I know.

i don't know if either of you is old enough to remember this, but years go you couldn't walk into a fabric store without your eyes burning up. that's how bad the formaldehyde was. whatever there is now is a VAST improvement on what was. a great deal of progress has been made as more has been learned about the effects of chemicals in fabric.

The formaldehyde is used in the manufacturing and is intended to wash out (and yes it does). That's why it's allowed in fabric. I always wash clothes before wearing for that reason.

I know when I handle fabric a lot at work my hands get really dry and such. Cracked and hurting. Burlap really is bad on my hands. I wash my hands asap after dealing with it.[/quote]

I itch just thinking about burlap. I worked in fabrics at WM about 25 yrs ago and I couldn't cut it. Had to find someone to cut it for me. I also had bronchitis 3-4 times a yr. Doc said that was also fabric related from the lint. Another reason to wash.
Robin in TX

I wash everything that comes into this house imediately. I buy a lot of fabric 2nd hand, and don't know where it's been. Plus I buynew, and you can feel that there's something on it.

Reason #2 When I want to shop my stash for something it is ready to cut and sew.

In my humble and new quilter opinion, there is no valid reason not to wash your fabric before handling it.

In order for the fabric to be shipped to the U.S. it has to be treated with a chemical that will kill bugs and such that we don't want in this country. I worked in a store where we had quilts and pillow cases and such made in china because of course cheaper labor, but it has to be treated to come back into the country. At times the chemical smell was so strong I coudn't breathe. I purchased a quilt that had to be returned because after trying 5 differenmt products in the washing machine the smell was still there. That is when I started making my own quilts. No way was I going to give my grandchildren something that could make them sick. So, to say the government is involved yes, they are, but they are doing it for our own good in the long run? If, they would have kept the business' here in the first place we wouldn't have these problems.

Suzy

For those that prefer not to wash their fabric, setting the fabric outside for a while should help dissipate the formaldehyde. You don't want formaldehyde in your home.

Thanks to all for this fascinating post. And to whomever made the comment about formaldehyde in carpet...thank you. We have been considering replacing our carpeting in the house, and now I think we will have to consider something else...I wonder, do they make carpet from organic fibers...and no chemicals? Will have to research this...

I recently picked up a MaryJane's Farm magazine...in the current issue there is an ad for Organic Cotton Plus...an all organic fabric company. Now I've NOT investigated their web site nor if their fabric has chemicals on it, nor what their prices are....but the web site is
www.organiccottonplus.com...if any of you are interested.

oh yea, the ad says free shipping in the USA....that's cool!!

Its not necessarily formaldehyde in carpet, but the voc's (volatile organic compounds) Those come from the adhesives to adhere the face of the carpet to the backing, and sometimes from the backing itself depending upon its makeup. Whenever purchasing new carpet to be installed request that it be opened to offgas 24 hours before installation. Make that a condition of the sale, or if you can't plan on a hotel or visit somewhere else the first 24 hours since that is when the gasses are released. Formaldehyde is in all particle board so never let that stuff (often the base for plastic laminate) into your house, it never completely goes away. I have regularly dealt with these issues for many years for my clients (I am a retired interior designer) and am glad this discussion is on the board.:)

Our government does not do the importing, greedy people do.

Thank you!

One more thing - please do not make the mistake of thinking that "made in the USA" means that it's made without, or even with, fewer potentially harmful chemicals. That simply isn't so. The US has a long history of leading the way in enviromental and human harm. Also, just because we have regulations for businesses to follow, doesn't mean that those businesses do follow them.

I hate to say this but my friend who is a doctor says there is formaldehyde in toilet paper. There are so many chemicals in everything we bring into our homes it's unbelievable. However, some chemicals have greatly improved our quality of life.

My hands get dry turn white scalylike I've been using bleach without gloves, and crack when I quilt. I wear gloves when doing the quilting, but not when I cut or piece. Guess I will need to start wearing gloves to do those too. I do prewash my fab. though, but not 5 times.I have to use allergy makeup and can't be around hairspray, many many kinds of perfumes, colognes, cleaning things lots of different kinds of soaps and hand creames because of allergies. I get and instant headache when I am around some using the hand santizer stuff. Now for the craziest one of all, when I read some magazines and newspapers, I start sneezing and my eyes burn, from the ink used. Weird me!

I learned the hard way!!!!
I bought and wore a new set of panties on a trip.I did not know they had tiny,unseen bugs in them. What a horrible time I had itching . I developed sores too on my but.
I learned my lesson and wash all new panties before I use them.

I always prewash.

I have a terrible time finding unscented antipersperant deoderant! It's getting rediculous out there!

I had to give up rag quilts as the homespuns made my forearms break out and my nose itch non-stop.

Thanks for the info

thank you for sharing this info...it is all so interesting and so many of the NON washers really need to wake up and see what they are bringing into their homes.

When I was a fabric buyer for a name/chain store, my hands would crack, peel, etc..that is when I started to learn more about what I was handling all day long! Now at this chain store, when you apply for a job it asks on the form if you have ever had contact dermatitis, or even headaches from walking into the fabric store. You would be surprised how many have to quit within their first 6 weeks, because they find out the chemicals on the fabric give them headaches, migrains, itchy irritated eyes, rashes, etc...

Back in the 70's the smell of formaldehyde was so strong in some fabric stores (used in perma press finishes) that I would have to leave the store due to breathing issues. Yes I regularly get migranes from fabric stores if I stay too long, if it is a humid or rainy day or their AC system is a closed system. As a designer, Iam very aware of the dangers with fabric finishes. I developed contact dermatitis back in the mid 60's and have had to be very careful of any perfumes, or the products I put my hands into, as I get a rash like poison ivy. YOU BET I WASH MY FABRICS FIRST !!
:-D :-D

Read my similar post, BTW Mitchums has an unscented version on their stick, ladies or mens doesn't matter, and it is the only thing I don't get a rash from. :-)

Hi Ladies,
Thanks for this information not sure we have the same problem in the UK. My hands have always been very greasy and now adays I put on habd cream because they feel so dry perhaps we do have a problem.
Some one mentioned headaches. Can the ingrdients on the fabric also cause these please?
Now one lady who is going to stop herslf sneezing with a mask. I have the answer us a bra one cup is enough.

Most definitely will cause headaches, as a matter of fact many allergies manifest themselves as rather bad headaches.