This conversation came up on another quilting list I'm on just recently. The result of which I now make sure it is all washed! Here are exerts of 3 posts which will scare the **** out of you.. I have removed the names to protect the innocent.
1) "I didn't used to be the type to prewash. Then one of my friends who drives a tractor trailer told me about transporting fabric. He says that the fabric sits in a warehouse, supposedly wrapped in plastic. But they have such a problem with rats and bugs in there, that before they load the fabric onto his truck (and he delivers to lotsa quilt stores, as well as Joanns and Wal-Mart) they set off a "bug bomb" in the warehouse, or sometimes wait till his truck is about loaded, and set it off in there. Theoretically, when the stores unwrap the plastic from the bolts, they take the chemicals off, too. But I'm sure that some of it gets on the fabric, or on their hands and then they handle it.....etc. Once I heard that, I became a fanatic about washing fabric. We have to deal with enough chemicals in our lives without adding those we can eliminate. I do a lot of swaps, and just don't particpate in those that don't require prewashing. "
2) " I used to never pre-wash, in part due to fact that I don't like extra work, but also because I love the look of a quilt that shrinks. Not pre-washing does enhance that effect. However, I have fibro-myalgia. When I had a flare, I would spend time sitting quietly -- and often sewing. I began to realise I was sicker on the days I sewed then on the days I didn't sew. I had an honest talk with some of the managers of several fabric stores. After talking to them about the reality of probable pesticides, I began washing ALL fabric. My DH was great and ironed a great deal of my existing stash. He is sure I had no idea how much fabric I had! If you think about it, we are buying 100% cotton shipped all over the globe. It is VERY improbable that it can do that much traveling without collecting "buggies" unless there is some pesticide. The plastic covering is not impermeable. If it were, the cotton would have mold and mildew issues. Back in the 1970's, I loved polyester. I couldn't have gone from an at home mother to full time employment and grad school if I had to spend all of Wednesday ironing. Pre-polyester meant Wed. was reserved for ironing in most of the mid-west. In very large families, the nuns even smiled when the oldest girl would be called off from school so she could iron! I wouldn't care if quilting fabric had polyester, but it doesn't. So I buy cotton and know it affects my yet unknown allergy. Formaldehyde is what most expect is on the cloth. So now, all fabric is pre-washed and I am doing much better. "
3) "Yes, all the material is treated with formaldehyde. My late hubby and I use to haul it on the big rig. Yes, it is also sealed in plastic wrap put the bottoms are not totally sealed. This chemical is used on strawberries and all perishable fruits and veggies. They use this chemical in the trucks like we use deodorant. You wouldn't believe the critters that come out of some of that stuff. "
Hope you didn't mind me posting this but I think the more people are aware of this the better.. Elly