We are rural & if something is too big for the box they will bring it to the door. If we are not home they will leave it on a table on the carport under cover. If we are home they bring to door ring the door bell & leave it on the table.

If it smells "chemical" I wouldn't wash & dry it as some chemicals are flammable. Call the shop to see if they will exchange or refund. Good Luch.

We USED to have a mail carrier like that too, always in too much a hurry (lazy) to bring anything to the door. He would fold, cram & shove it all into the box. If it was too large, he left it on the ground right by the mailbox !! This was in a suburban neighborhood where it was only 30 ft to the front door. After many complaints, they reassigned him. Call your Postmaster & go up the chain ...

The USPS not handling your packages correctly should be addressed by the Post Master at your post office. If you do not get any satisfaction, then go over his/her head to their supervisor. You will definitely get some repsonse from that person. Make sure you document the day the package was delivered, type of damage to the package and all contents of that package including envelope or box that it arrived in.

Use vinegar in the softner dispenser. It will help rinse out detergents and chemicals.

I still vote to wash it and see, but call the fabric shop first and see if they will replace/reimburse if the smell doesn't come out. Rain water has a whole different reaction than tap water. Wash with whatever detergent with vinegar in the softner dispenser. My machine has an option for a double rinse and I use this on bedding and fabrics with a vinegar rinse. It helps get all the detergent out, which is afterall, a chemical also. Diane/Wyoming

:shock: :shock: :shock: Can you mention that to the postmaster? That's horrifying that she'd even open things!!

Honestly, after several attempts to rectify the situation, it reached the point where it wasn't worth my blood pressure to continue to fight. It's wrong, but you have to choose your battles. I won't live here forever; this battles is conceded for now.

I have a sensitivity to smells, and most fabrics stink! I just wash all of them in the washer, and I use vinegar as a rinse. Works great! Fabrics come out with very little smell. And vinegar is a natural fabric softener too. :)

Sorry to hear of your mail person ill treating your mail! :(

i guess i"m lucky because the place i get all of my material comes by fedax and has never been wet or the boxes been ripped open.but my material co is here in arkansas also.i love them to death they have been really nice to me over the years
arkie