Re: fabric softener/scented dryer sheets

August 3, 2010

Sorry, repeating myself here, but I've tried doing laundry half a dozen times in

hot water plus either unscented detergent, vinegar, ammonia, baking soda or

borax, and nothing gets out the dryer sheet/fabric softener film except powdered

milk. It was a waste of time and hot water to do all those washes without it.

It's really creepy, actually, how you can wash so many times and that film still

persists.

Throw the bedding in the washer on hot with half a box of powdered milk. To be

extra safe you could repeat with the other half of the box. Then do one final

wash with just unscented detergent or borax.

I do this everytime we get hand-me-down kids' clothing from a friend who uses

that icky stuff. I've tried so many things and this is the only one that works.

Amy

> and it should only take one washing with this to get rid of the fabric softner

smell. just a thought.

August 3, 2010

,

I agree w you. We tried mem foam mattress toppers. Gave us headaches, restless

leg, heart palpitations. Made my mom's B P go up. Dust mites are another issue.

Organic is expensive.

Have any of you had luck w organic mattress toppers?

Kathy

From: <maria2sangria@...>

Subject: Re: [] Re: fabric softener/scented dryer sheets

Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 6:31 PM

Not only dump the dryer sheets - but dump the fabric softener as well. Use

only unscented detergent. Our country uses so many toxic chemicals to make

things " smell " nice, it's crazy. It might make them smell nice to some

people, but to *all* people, those are toxic chemicals you are breathing in

and toxic chemicals you have against your skin.

It's a good point, Sue, that you bring up about mites. That could

definitely be an additional thing going on. One thing you could do is get a

really good mattress cover. A dust mite cover should encase the entire

mattress and zip on one end. Make sure to tape the zipper. You can buy

special tape but I'd think you could even use duct tape or something like

that in a pinch - but it would probably leave residue when you remove it

for washing.

We got ours at National Allergy Supply online. There are tons of places

online that sell them. Also make sure you get pillow covers for dust mites

too. No sense in covering your mattress if the pillows go uncovered.

Another thought...not sure what kind of mattress/pillows you have. But I

had very bad reactions to anything memory-foam-like. That stuff is terribly

toxic. You might not have that at all, but I just wanted to throw that out

there in case.

August 3, 2010

Not wanting to take any chances my g/f gave up her expensive mattress and box

spring before we moved into the new place. Once she closed and had the furniture

delivered we bought a new mattress, box spring, bedding and pillows. I slept on

just the comforter and pillow the other night and was slightly affected beings

it wasnt the comforter since its never been washed it had to be the pillow case.

I'll be honest I dont think I can take anymore, the mold exposure has put so

much of a strain on my relationship that I dont think either one of us can take

anymore. There's something in the crawl space thats give me headaches and a sore

throat but from what I've been told its not mold and the bed that I spent nearly

$1000 on I cant even sleep in. Im about ready to pack my things and move to the

desert at least there I know I'll be in complete control of the air that I

breathe. The only problem with that is I dont know if it's safe to take anything

with me or just leave everything behind.

Tug

>

> or it could be the mattress, could be old, moldy, full of dust mites, if

> a conventional mattress it contains highly toxic chemical flame

> retardants, maybe antimicrobial treatments, etc etc. an interesting

> experiment would be to remove the mattress and box springs if any from

> the room and try sleeping on the floor, see if you get any reactions

> that way? try removing suspects one by one, the fabric softener sheets

> and bedding, then the mattress, then both, etc.

>

> but dave, dump the dryer sheets for good, THEY ARE TOXIC TO EVERYONE!!!

> My opinion is the companies come up with new products we mostly don't

> need to continually expand their businesses, there is no govt oversight

> or regulation, the us is the toxic dumping ground for the world now

> (read the book EXPOSED), they do not care about your health, 99% of the

> population is uninformed, assumes products on the market are

> safe....dump the dryer sheets, they are toxic, useless, and

> expensive....i won't tell you again but put them in the trash now....

>

> sue v

August 3, 2010

dave,

just because the mattress is new DOES NOT mean it is safe. is it an

organic mattress with no chemical fire retardants and antimicrobial

treatments? if not, then you may be reacting to the chemicals in the

mattress, i know this sounds crazy but you need a doctor's prescription

to get a mattress w/o fire retardants, wool is a natural fire retardant,

but if you want a cotton mattress you need a prescription. that is our

govt protecting us non smokers from the unlikely event of a fire

starting in our bed but not giving a damn about the cancers, autoimmune

and other illnesses brought on by the mattress being soaked in chemicals....

also, if the bedding wasn't organic it is likely full of formaldehyde so

you need to wash it multiple times before using, are your sheets cotton

or other natural material or synthetic?

best of luck, hang in tehre, sue

>

>Not wanting to take any chances my g/f gave up her expensive mattress

>and box spring before we moved into the new place. Once she closed and

>had the furniture delivered we bought a new mattress, box spring,

>bedding and pillows. I slept on just the comforter and pillow the other

>night and was slightly affected beings it wasnt the comforter since its

>never been washed it had to be the pillow case.

>

>I'll be honest I dont think I can take anymore, the mold exposure has

>put so much of a strain on my relationship that I dont think either one

>of us can take anymore. There's something in the crawl space thats give

>me headaches and a sore throat but from what I've been told its not mold

>and the bed that I spent nearly $1000 on I cant even sleep in. Im about

>ready to pack my things and move to the desert at least there I know

>I'll be in complete control of the air that I breathe. The only problem

>with that is I dont know if it's safe to take anything with me or just

>leave everything behind.

>

>Tug

>

August 3, 2010

Amy,

Thank you. I have heard of this but haven't tried it.Â I'm reacting to a cotton

quilt & bedding my mom gave us,Â in like new condition.

My sister won't listen to me & washes her things in scented detergents & uses

fabric softeners. I'm having burning & itching.

From: amybreau <abreau4@...>

Subject: [] Re: fabric softener/scented dryer sheets

Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 7:01 PM

Sorry, repeating myself here, but I've tried doing laundry half a dozen

times in hot water plus either unscented detergent, vinegar, ammonia, baking

soda or borax, and nothing gets out the dryer sheet/fabric softener film except

powdered milk. It was a waste of time and hot water to do all those washes

without it. It's really creepy, actually, how you can wash so many times and

that film still persists.

August 3, 2010

I know many of us right in frustration. I'm sorry if I upset anyone w chemical

frustrations.

I know we have some cross contamination. I'm still throwing out things &

replacing when I can. I wasn't a member before moving. We couldn't swing

testing our rental & scraped to buy a house.

All of us don't have can't go sleep outside. My hat's off for those it works

for.

Some of us live in climates that it would not be possible in summer & winter. I

know we're all suffering. Many of us have strained relationships, but have to

have hope.

Through it all I have faith in God. I'm sorry to bring up religion but it &

strong will keep me going. All who suffer will be rewarded in Heaven. You have

to hang on to that. Offer it up to him when it's too hard.

My prayers

Kathy

August 3, 2010

I'm sorry, wrote in a hurry. Kathy

I know many of us write in frustration. I'm sorry if I upset anyone w chemical

frustrations.

I know we have some cross contamination. I'm still throwing out things &

replacing when I can. I wasn't a member before moving. We couldn't swing

testing our rental & scraped to buy a house.

All of us can't go sleep outside. My hat's off for those it works for.

Some of us live in climates that it would not be possible in summer & winter. I

know we're all suffering. Many of us have strained relationships, but have to

have hope.

Through it all I have faith in God. I'm sorry to bring up religion but it &

strong will keep me going. All who suffer will be rewarded in Heaven. You have

to hang on to that. Offer it up to him when it's too hard.

My prayers

Kathy

August 3, 2010

Sue Im not sure about anything anymore. Today was the worst day I had in terms

of feeling symptomatic since I moved out of the mold condo. Were having a vapor

barrier installed on either Thursday or Friday hopefully that'll be enough to

stop whatever is making me sick.

Tug

>

> dave,

>

> just because the mattress is new DOES NOT mean it is safe. is it an

> organic mattress with no chemical fire retardants and antimicrobial

> treatments? if not, then you may be reacting to the chemicals in the

> mattress, i know this sounds crazy but you need a doctor's prescription

> to get a mattress w/o fire retardants, wool is a natural fire retardant,

> but if you want a cotton mattress you need a prescription. that is our

> govt protecting us non smokers from the unlikely event of a fire

> starting in our bed but not giving a damn about the cancers, autoimmune

> and other illnesses brought on by the mattress being soaked in chemicals....

>

> also, if the bedding wasn't organic it is likely full of formaldehyde so

> you need to wash it multiple times before using, are your sheets cotton

> or other natural material or synthetic?

>

> best of luck, hang in tehre, sue

August 4, 2010

I believe Sue was referring to the bedding containing formaldehyde no the

mattress itself.

" also, if the bedding wasn't organic it is likely full of formaldehyde so you

need to wash it multiple times before using, are your sheets cotton or other

natural material or synthetic? "

>

> I feel really stupid but how do you wash a mattress to get rid of the

> formaldehyde?

> I do use cotton sheets and someone just told me that Target sells Bamboo

> sheets. Does anyone know if they are good to use?

>

> also, if the bedding wasn't organic it is likely full of formaldehyde so

> you need to wash it multiple times before using, are your sheets cotton

> or other natural material or synthetic?

>

August 4, 2010

best of luck with it! hang in there......I'll be thinking of you.... sue

>Sue Im not sure about anything anymore. Today was the worst day I had in

>terms of feeling symptomatic since I moved out of the mold condo. Were

>having a vapor barrier installed on either Thursday or Friday hopefully

>that'll be enough to stop whatever is making me sick.

>

>Tug

>

>>

>> dave,

August 4, 2010

you can't wash a mattress, what i am saying is conventional mattresses

in this country are toxic, and mandated so by our govt. since we all

spend a third or more of our lives in bed, buying chemical free bedding

may be one of the best investments you can make, but expensive.

I am buying cotton futons from Heart of Vermont + allergy encasing

covers. You need a doctors prescription though. I also like wool

bedding from Shepherd's Dream. I have purchased their mattresses

before, but because I have to replace all our bedding at once and it is

expensive I am buying the less expensive organic cotton futons from

Heart of Vermont and buying the wool mattress toppers and wool mattress

pads from Shepherd's Dream. Take good care of them and they will

last. If you can't afford all of that at once, then buy a good clean

mattress topper now and buy a better mattress when you can. ALso,

since these are expensive, request material samples before you buy to

see if you tolerate.

THese are just the products I know and like, there are other options,

but ask lots of questions and make sure you are getting chemical free

products-no fire retardants, no antimicrobial coatings, etc.

For sheets I love Garnet Hill flannel sheets, they are comfy both winter

and summer, but not organic so wash 3 times before use, I also like

their cotton fleece blankets....

Sue V.

For sheets >

>I feel really stupid but how do you wash a mattress to get rid of the

>formaldehyde?

>I do use cotton sheets and someone just told me that Target sells Bamboo

>sheets. Does anyone know if they are good to use?

>

>also, if the bedding wasn't organic it is likely full of formaldehyde so

>you need to wash it multiple times before using, are your sheets cotton

>or other natural material or synthetic?

>

August 4, 2010

I'd still wash the sheets and pillow cases too, may be a combination of both.

> >

> > dave,

> >

> > just because the mattress is new DOES NOT mean it is safe. is it an

> > organic mattress with no chemical fire retardants and antimicrobial

> > treatments? if not, then you may be reacting to the chemicals in the

> > mattress, i know this sounds crazy but you need a doctor's prescription

> > to get a mattress w/o fire retardants, wool is a natural fire retardant,

> > but if you want a cotton mattress you need a prescription. that is our

> > govt protecting us non smokers from the unlikely event of a fire

> > starting in our bed but not giving a damn about the cancers, autoimmune

> > and other illnesses brought on by the mattress being soaked in chemicals....

> >

> > also, if the bedding wasn't organic it is likely full of formaldehyde so

> > you need to wash it multiple times before using, are your sheets cotton

> > or other natural material or synthetic?

> >

> > best of luck, hang in tehre, sue

>

August 4, 2010

Maybe in California you need a prescription but there are many organic

mattresses advertised online and in natural magaszines like Natural Home. My son

bought an organic mattress for my grandson... no prescrition needed! Good luck~