clothes from Penney's making me itchy

trishasaffron

I bought 2 t-shirts from Penneys today. I tried them on - bought them and went to do some more shopping. 5 mins later I was itching where I had tried them on and still am. This happened me once before when I bought a hiking t-shirt from Penneys - I threw that one out. The fabric is just normal 95% cotton 5% elastane. Anyone else experienced this?

eviltimeban

Its not the fabric, its the chemicals used in the clothes. You can get the smell the minute you walk into the shop.

trishasaffron

Thanks - do you know if washing will get rid of the chemicals? I've washed them once and am still itching!

eviltimeban

Not really. They are cheap clothes, so the quality of the fabric isn't going to be great, even though they are cotton. I have Penney's clothes myself, but if they are itching you - well, there's not much you can do. Maybe after loads of washes, but then they might shrink.

wmpdd3

I work with a girl that comes out in a rash when she has to hang cotton tops or linen. It must be the starch thats sprayed on the clothes.

ladhrann

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I work with a girl that comes out in a rash when she has to hang cotton tops or linen. It must be the starch thats sprayed on the clothes.

There is no starch used in cloth production, or for preparing clothes for display. This is because starch makes a cloth quite stiff and is only used and rarely at that for mens formal shirts. Also starch will yellow with age and so cannot be used on stocks that are kept in storage.

Anything non-shrink or labelled washable has been very aggressively treated with chemicals including formaldehyde in order to reduce creases.

OP the best thing you can do is buy 100% natural fibres (so no blends) produced in the EU where controls on chemical treatment of fibres are more strictly enforced.

trishasaffron

ladhrann wrote: »

OP the best thing you can do is buy 100% natural fibres (so no blends) produced in the EU where controls on chemical treatment of fibres are more strictly enforced.

Thanks for the info. The thing is that the only shop whose products cause me problems is Penneys. I've often bought t-shirts with similar fibres from other cheapish stores like H&M or Zara and never had a problem. That's why I think it is a Penneys specific problem - I'm not ultra allergic (just a bit) so I wondered if I was the only one - a bit surprised that no one else has this issue.

Corruptedmorals

That is odd. What about Dunnes clothes? Their suppliers are pretty much of the same ilk so I imagine the clothes are treated with the same chemicals and made of roughly the same quality of fabric.

ladhrann

trishasaffron wrote: »

Thanks for the info. The thing is that the only shop whose products cause me problems is Penneys. I've often bought t-shirts with similar fibres from other cheapish stores like H&M or Zara and never had a problem. That's why I think it is a Penneys specific problem - I'm not ultra allergic (just a bit) so I wondered if I was the only one - a bit surprised that no one else has this issue.

I couldn't say myself beyond the chemicals and dyes used in the weaving and finishing processes. It may also be due to where they're warehoused or shipped from if theres a plant or other allergen in the area. If its something that remains a problem after washes then its most likely the fibre itself.

Are the items in question 100% cotton or 100% natural fibre? I find that poly/cotton blends are extremely uncomfortable, so it may be that sensation too instead of a full allergic reaction.