Most of us have experienced stinky feet at one point or another in our lives. While some may reach for the fabric refresher spray or cleaning chemicals, those with chemical allergies need to be a bit more cautious in the products and methods we use. Even essential oils, which are tolerated by some with chemical […]
I see people from time to time asking about what dryer sheets and fabric softeners do, how they work, and what people can use instead to get rid of static in their laundry. I thought it was high time to address this issue. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets and bars perform similar functions. They coat […]
Readers of this site will know that I’ve slowly been working on reducing the synthetic fibre content of my clothing and the fabrics in my environment. I’m allergic to polyester (including things labelled olefin), lycra/spandex/elastane, which is made from polyester, and nylon, whose fibres are lubricated with oil containing isothiazolinones. Given that, I’d rather not […]
One of my saving graces lately has been my cotton flannel PJ pants. Whenever I’m home I can put those on, even if they do have polyester seams, and avoid contact with the lycra/spandex/elastane in yoga pants and jeans. Someday I hope to cover or change all of their polyester seams, but for now they’re […]
I mentioned before having a lot a shirts and socks that were *almost* wearable with my chemical allergies, except for the presence of polyester or nylon in the threads. Polyester is made with polyethylene glycol, which is a cross-reactor with my allergen propylene glycol, and nylon fibres are lubricated with an oil containing isothiazolinone(s). While […]
I spoke on Monday about natural fibre coat options I had found. Today I’d like to share a few more ideas for more natural fibre jackets: Canvas jackets – Canvas is a heavier cotton fabric that functions similarly to Ventile, absorbing water and swelling to block water penetration. Its fibres are not water resistant without some […]
Anyone who has looked for a synthetic-fabric-free jacket quickly learns that synthetic fabrics are everywhere. Nylon and polyester shells dominate the market. Gore-tex sells well for people looking to stay dry in wet weather, stretch weaves rule for fitted coats, and nylon and polyester linings help us slide into our jacket sleeves. Artificial furs and […]
For the past few months, I’ve been thinking about socks. I’ve been trying to get synthetics off my skin, and socks were a part of this process for which I couldn’t seem to find a good answer. Buy mass-produced, everyone-buys-them socks from a big-box retailer, and you’ll come home with a sock that’s probably about […]