Clothing & Home Textiles
Fabrics sit against skin for hours. Fibre type and a few finishes — wrinkle-free, water-repellent, stain-resistant — are the things to know.
What this covers
Kids clothes, baby clothes, sleepwear, underwear, activewear, bedsheets, blankets, towels, mattress protectors, and curtains.
Skip "non-iron/stain-resistant" everyday clothing — choose untreated fabric and wash new items first.
"Performance" / Wrinkle-Free / Stain-Resistant Clothing
ModerateMODERATE priority within clothing — these are defined by added finishes (formaldehyde resins and/or PFAS), so they're the clothing items most worth questioning.
What to check: The finish, not the fibre. "Non-iron/wrinkle-free" = formaldehyde resin; "stain-resistant/spill-proof" = likely PFAS. Wash new items; prefer untreated.
Skip "non-iron/stain-resistant" everyday clothing — choose untreated fabric and wash new items first.
Carpets & Rugs
ModerateMODERATE priority — especially with crawling babies/toddlers. Carpets are the biggest household dust-and-finish reservoir at exactly child floor level.
What to check: "Stain-resistant" carpet (strong PFAS flag), flame-retardant treatment, and new-carpet VOC off-gassing. Untreated wool/natural fibres and hard flooring avoid most.
Skip the stain-resistant treatment on new carpet, HEPA-vacuum regularly, and take shoes off indoors.
Underwear & Base Layers
Lower–moderateLOW–MODERATE priority. Worn closest to skin for the longest time, often with sweat — so fibre choice (cotton-rich) and avoiding heavy finishes matter more here.
What to check: Cotton-rich content (a little spandex for fit is fine), and avoid "antimicrobial/odour-control" treatments for daily underwear.
Choose cotton-rich underwear and skip "odour-control/antimicrobial" treated versions.
Activewear / Sportswear
Lower–moderateLOW–MODERATE priority. Synthetic, tight, sweaty, often treated — and the one clothing category with a specific recent contaminant finding (BPA in some sportswear).
What to check: "Antimicrobial/odour-control" finishes and tight all-day synthetic wear. Note: testing has found BPA in some polyester/nylon-spandex sportswear (the contaminant, not the fibre).
Change out of sweaty activewear promptly, and avoid "antimicrobial/odour-control" versions.
Outerwear & Rainwear
Lower–moderateLOW–MODERATE priority. Low skin contact, but waterproofing is the textbook PFAS keyword — so the move is PFAS-free at purchase, not avoiding rain gear.
What to check: "Waterproof / water-resistant / DWR" → look for "PFAS-free / PFC-free." Avoid spray-on waterproofing treatments (inhalation + PFAS).
Buy PFAS-free ("PFC-free") rainwear next time, and skip spray-on waterproofing.
Bedding & Sheets
Lower–moderateLOW–MODERATE priority. You spend ~8 hours a night against it — so this is a long-contact item where fibre, "wrinkle-free" finishes, and laundry residue all add up.
What to check: Natural fibre (cotton/linen) vs synthetic; "wrinkle-free/easy-care" (formaldehyde resin) finishes; and fragrance-free laundry (residue sits on you all night).
Switch to cotton/linen sheets (not "wrinkle-free") and wash them in fragrance-free detergent.
Curtains & Upholstery Fabric
Lower–moderateLOW–MODERATE priority. Low direct skin contact, but a major dust reservoir and a common home for flame-retardant and stain-resistant (PFAS) finishes.
What to check: "Stain-resistant" upholstery (PFAS flag) and flame-retardant treatment in furniture fabric/foam; air out new items; vacuum/dust regularly.
Skip the optional stain-treatment on new sofas/chairs, and vacuum/dust upholstery regularly.
Synthetic / Faux Leather Items
Lower–moderateLOW–MODERATE priority. "PU" (polyurethane) faux leather is lower concern; "PVC/ vinyl" faux leather is the one to limit, especially soft, smelly, or child-handled items.
What to check: Whether faux leather is PVC/vinyl vs PU. Avoid soft, strong-smelling vinyl, particularly for bags/items children handle or mouth.
Choose PU or "PVC-free" faux leather over soft vinyl, especially for items children handle.
Everyday Clothing
Lower priorityLOW priority for the fibre itself; the practical moves are washing new clothes before wearing and favouring natural fibres for items worn against skin all day.
What to check: Fibre content for long-contact basics, and "wrinkle-free / non-iron / easy-care" finishes (formaldehyde resins). Wash new garments before first wear.
Wash new clothes before the first wear — it removes surface finishing chemicals and dye.
Towels
Lower priorityFrequent skin contact but brief and clean; fibre choice and laundry residue are the only real points.
What to check: Cotton over synthetic for absorbency and feel; fragrance-free laundry (and skip softener, which actually reduces towel absorbency anyway).
Wash towels in fragrance-free detergent and skip the fabric softener.
Materials to know
The everyday materials behind these products — and how they behave with heat and wear.
Labels you will see
What the claims on these products actually mean, with an honest verdict for each.
AntibacterialFlame ResistantFragrance FreeFree & Clear / SensitiveNatural / Naturally DerivedPFAS FreePVC FreePhthalate FreeWaterproofWrinkle Free / Easy Care / Non-Iron
Related chemicals
Plain-language guides to the ingredient groups that come up in this category.
BPA / BPS / BisphenolsBisphenols on Thermal ReceiptsFlame RetardantsFormaldehydeFormaldehyde ReleasersFragrance CompoundsMicroplasticsPFAS / Fluorinated ChemicalsPhthalatesQuatsSynthetic DyesVOCs
Micro Detox is an educational exposure reduction guide. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any condition. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or managing symptoms, speak with a qualified health professional.
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