Cotton Questions

[sojii]

Hi, everyone,

I'm moving this week and deciding what clothing to take and what to ditch.

I've been able to continue wearing denim jeans for some reason; maybe the processing required for denim kills the critters or maybe my jeans are just old enough not to have the problem in the first place. I haven't tried wearing any new ones.

ANYWAY, is there any way to treat new cotton coming from China, etc. to get rid of the stuff before wearing the first time or is it a hopeless effort?

Is older cotton ok?
How old does it have to be?

What about cotton from the middle east, esp. two or three years old or older? I've got some things I got at Dress Barn a year ago that were made in Jordan; it was older merchandise at the time, so is probably 3 years old now.

If the older stuff has hung with new cotton and the critters have spread, do I need to toss the old cotton or can it be treated?

What about linen and silk? I've seen posts about bamboo clothing, but bamboo comes from China. Couldn't the problem conceivably exist in the bamboo, too?

Is anyone having good luck with microfiber towels, washcloths, etc.? I was using them for awhile but when the critters get in them they're almost impossible to remove.

I've been looking at organic and made-in-the-US clothing websites and emailing about the origin of the cotton they're using. It's all imported and no one can tell me where it's coming from. Not much good if the product's made in the US but the fabric comes from China!

[cynical]

Sojii,

One thing I have thought about trying just have not gotten around to it is Dry Ice treatment. They use Dry Ice to rid attics of mold now. Not saying this is mold but if it works on that you have to wonder if it would work on this. It has been mentioned before as treatment for interior of car. Don't recall if it was this site that it was mentioned on though. Maybe if we put infected clothing into a closed container with the dry ice for a period of time maybe this would work. I know a local ice house here carries Dry Ice I just have not gotten over there to purchase some. If anyone else has tried this and it worked please let us know.

I have thought I had stuff rid of this and it comes back so don't know what to tell you there. I do think older clothing seems be less affected and I also can wear certain jeans with no problem. I bought a pair of organic cotton jeans 2 years ago and they were worse then my non organic jeans.

Fracty said the stuff barbers use to sterilize combs works if you soak and then let air dry. She says she does not wash them after that not sure I could get away with that though because I have sensitive skin.

Bug Arrest helps to get them out of clothes I just wish it smelled less like a pumpkin lol.

Good Luck!

[Doc Holliday]

Originally Posted by sojii

Hi, everyone,

I'm moving this week and deciding what clothing to take and what to ditch.

I've been able to continue wearing denim jeans for some reason; maybe the processing required for denim kills the critters or maybe my jeans are just old enough not to have the problem in the first place. I haven't tried wearing any new ones.

ANYWAY, is there any way to treat new cotton coming from China, etc. to get rid of the stuff before wearing the first time or is it a hopeless effort?

Is older cotton ok?
How old does it have to be?

What about cotton from the middle east, esp. two or three years old or older? I've got some things I got at Dress Barn a year ago that were made in Jordan; it was older merchandise at the time, so is probably 3 years old now.

If the older stuff has hung with new cotton and the critters have spread, do I need to toss the old cotton or can it be treated?

What about linen and silk? I've seen posts about bamboo clothing, but bamboo comes from China. Couldn't the problem conceivably exist in the bamboo, too?

Is anyone having good luck with microfiber towels, washcloths, etc.? I was using them for awhile but when the critters get in them they're almost impossible to remove.

I've been looking at organic and made-in-the-US clothing websites and emailing about the origin of the cotton they're using. It's all imported and no one can tell me where it's coming from. Not much good if the product's made in the US but the fabric comes from China!

>>>>>why..........Hi their sojii!,........jeans and any thing like them should be fine,.jeans have a very tough and fine weave,.... fluffy frilly stuff more likely to get things embedded in the clothing your good to go. Doc

[sojii]

Thanks, cynical and Doc,

I was kindof hoping to salvage some kind of cotton summer tops. It gets hot and humid in Texas! Polyester's going to be tough on top of critters.

cynical, I'd read about the dry ice thing somewhere, too, don't remember where. Do you remember whether it works for upholstered seats? I used Lysol spray as someone suggested here (was it Fracty?); Will continue to use it. Do you know whether you have to disconnect the car battery before using dry ice? Any idea how much and how long you have to leave it in there?

My skin is very thin and sensitive, too, and I have eczema. There are a lot of things people do that I'd be afraid to use. If you have any special tips for a sensitive skin person about skin, laundry, whatver, please let me know.

Sorry...so many questions!

[cynical]

Sojii,

Yes Fracty mentioned Lysol too I forgot to mention that. The berry one smells pretty good but hard to find. I found it at walmart. She said you can get a spray like Lysol at the dollar store I have not checked for that yet. It would be cheaper though. I'm not sure about the car battery and dry ice. I would have to look into that. Wonder if Wikipedia would have any info on precautions. I know you should not be in a closed area with it yourself not sure about spark and flammability issues.

[cynical]

Dry Ice

safety info on dry ice. If you transport this home in car crack you windows. I'm guessing it would be wise to let your car air out well before driving it afterward. maybe get a container you could place outside with your clothes in it so you are less exposed to it. I kind of want to try this now.

[cynical]

I wonder if anyone's doctors have ever tried this on lesions?

I was tempted to try it. I had to take my son to have a wart removed on the bottom of his foot that he got from our community clubhouse. The doctor used dry ice... hmmm...

[jonsi]

Try using borax in every load of wash.

20 Mule Team™ Borax
It is inexpensive and found in the laundry aisle (but not next to the detergents).

I also use Seventh Generation Laundry Soap. I might not be able to afford it if I had larger family... we have to make choices though.

My question is whether "M" goes inside out or outside in. My clothes haven't bit me for several years now, I don't think I got "M" from clothes, but when I was really sick all of my clothes bit me, especially the ones made in China. Microfibers were especially bad (lots of weird fuzzballs on those!).

Good luck in Texas. I used to live there. Awfully hot but the people are really nice!

In the white light,
~jonsi

[sojii]

Boy, I'm glad the forums are back!

Hi, Jonsi (et al)
Just now reading your response. I've been using the Borax and Oxyclean "cure" since last January, I think, and washing almost everything in hot water. I guess it's working; as long as I don't wear anything more than once, most things are ok. Except the rayon that feels like t-shirt material; it bites no matter what and immediately. Cotton is still out for me except older jeans.

I found some sheets and jammies that are wonderful; they're polyester satin and although the critters will pull threads out of them (does that sound as nuts to you as it does to me?), they're not interested in hanging out in the fabric and I can sleep at night. They sound like they'd be hot, but I sleep under a fan and so far I haven't gotten sticky. And they can be washed in hot water, even bleached.

[sammy]

There is a lot of good info on this web site so glad its back up. I use borax everyday in my laundry also throw in some amonia. seems too help. but still have lesions going too see a derm on monday at johns hopkins my 6th or 7th drm lost count.