those thrift shop towels again

[Guest guest]

Back in Oct 2010 I bought 4 plastic bags of towels from the thrift shop-- to use

as rags. I spread them out on my spare room carpet to sort-- there was a bad

odor (? musty) coming from them & I got ill immediately. I washed one load in

my washer & dryer, did the others in the laundry room where I live. I used my

detergent and non-chlorine bleach in one load, and detergent & baking soda in

the other. Got same reaction to the rags even after washing. I returned 3 bags

to the store (could not find receipt for the other one, so it's in my shed).

Last week my spare room was finally 'safe' again. So, I assumed that since the

room is safe perhaps the washer & dryer are. A few days ago I did wash an old

set of clothes as a test, wore them all day but no reaction. Yesterday figured

it safe-- washed my bed blankets (only ones I have), and the linens.

This time the whole house seems contaminated-- I'm ill in every room, spent the

night in the recliner.

This AM I put everything I had washed into plastic bags for now, put in spare

room. Such stress, to probably have to throw away most of my linens, my 2 sets

of good bed sheets, the blankets, and I am worried my bed will have to go. A

task finding safe replacements.

I have been on the lookout for 2 years for a safe rental in Tucson or a safe

older mobile home to buy in a 55+ park but no luck so far. If I can get a MH, I

thought if it did not have an attached 'bonus' room or sun porch I would hope I

can build one-- to have a safe room to stay in while I wait for whatever is

bothering me in the house to burn itself out.

I am getting better at thinking things through before I act. No reaction from

washing those clothes as a test. Spare room safe after 3 mos, so I figured

washer & dryer safe now too.

But I still should have been cautious-- should have just washed a few pieces as

another test.

The outside air, even though these are no burn days, has a stink to it-- cannot

detect what it is. I was wondering what the off chance is that the outside air

is what's making me ill in the house and not the laundry I did yesterday.

Wonder if my bed will off gas and be safe again.

I wonder because in Oct when my spare room was making me ill from sorting the

towels on the floor in there, it was the ONLY room in the house where I got

symptoms. Now I am ill in every room. ? Outside air.

Hope some of you have experienced something that can tell me what this is and

what to do about it.

Also, is there a place (? health dept) where I can take that unopened / unwashed

bag of towels from Oct & have them tested to find out exactly what it is? And,

how much would they charge?

....Corky