Are fabric toxins lurking in your kids' clothes and bedding?

Sadly, even natural fabrics can be treated with toxins.

What are your kids' clothes made of? Could they be toxic? How do you clean them? Do you bleach your kids' bedding to keep it germ free? If so, your kids could be breathing and absorbing toxins as they sleep. Are fabric toxins lurking in your kids' rooms, either on or in clothes and bedding? Here's how to be safe when choosing and caring for your kids' clothing and linens.

Your kids' clothing may be chemically treated.

Today's clothing industry often adds pesticide and stain repellant to textiles. This is true, whether we are talking about blue jeans or bed sheets. In addition, fire resistant chemicals are routinely used in sleepwear and more. Kids with sensitive skin may react to the chemicals in new clothing. As for the rest, they are still exposed through skin absorption.

What to do:

*Wash new clothing several times before use.

*If reactions still occur, soak in lemon juice and water to detoxify. Then rinse thoroughly.

Wash kids' clothes and bedding with care.

Most conventional detergents, bleaches and stain removers contain highly toxic chemicals. Because of its' toxicity, chlorine bleach is one of the worst things you can use on your kids' clothing. For years we have been taught this is the best way to kill germs. Actually, there are other ways to wash, disinfect and bleach clothing without using chemicals.

What to do:

*Avoid dry clean only fabrics. The conventional dry cleaning process involves chemical washing.

*Wash clothes with vinegar and baking soda.

*Bleach clothing with lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide.

*Disinfect clothing with thyme extract. This is made by seeping thyme in clear vodka.

Which fabrics are most likely to contain chemical residues?

Synthetic fabrics are actually chemically produced. Some are not fabric at all, but different forms of plastics made with a petroleum base. You best bet is to purchase natural fiber fabrics such as cotton and wool. It's important to remember, not all natural fabrics are free from chemical treatment. In fact, a great deal of the cotton fabric available has been heavily treated with pesticides.

What to do:

Be sure the natural fabrics you buy for your family are labeled 100% organic.

Kids' room carpeting likely contains toxins.

The majority of carpeting in homes is made from synthetic materials. In order to insure easy clean up, most carpet is treated with stain resistant chemicals. Some carpet is treated with fire resistant chemicals as well. Between the make up of the carpet and all these added chemicals, that makes carpeting a real health hazard. When kids walk on the carpet in their rooms, particularly if it's new carpet, these chemicals can be transported into their bedding via their clothing.

What to do:

*Opt for tile or untreated hardwoods.

*Use organic natural fiber throw rugs.