Is your mattress making you ill?
WHAT YOU WEAR
IT IS possible synthetic clothing (such as fleeces) could release thousands of plastic microfibres every time they are washed. These are not caught by water treatment plants and end up in our waterways. There they may bond with toxic and harsh chemicals before being eaten by small fish, bigger fish, then humans.
The worst offenders are clothes covered in glitter or sequins and fluffy jumpers that shed fibres freely, so either avoid these, or wash them as little as possible. When you wash them opt for a low temperature with a slow spin cycle to avoid the fabric or decorations breaking down.
If you suffer from unexplained health issues such as skin irritation and rashes, itching, chronic fatigue, headaches or breathing difficulties, you may find switching to natural fibres eases your symptoms.
THE BEST FABRICS
COTTON/LINEN: Breathable and they don’t retain smells the way synthetics do. WOOL: A fabulous insulator, even when wet (it’s naturally absorbent), making it comfortable in all temperatures. Whether you choose alpaca, angora, cashmere, merino or mohair, all forms of wool are naturally durable, mould and mildew resistant, wrinkle resistant, and non-allergenic, and have built-in flame retardant properties. An all-round genius fabric.
HEMP: Similar to cotton, it breathes well and is soft on the skin. Being naturally insect and mould resistant, it grows with minimal, if any, need for fungicides and pesticides.
BAMBOO: Similar qualities to cotton and hemp. It can be grown quickly without pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers.
But some bamboo clothing uses harsh toxic chemicals to break down the cellulose pulp to turn it into a fabric. Look for Lyocell or Tencel on the label, which indicates that it was made using a much less chemically intensive process.
LEATHER: Tough and timeless, but be wary of pleather or faux leather (aka Naugahyde) which is often toxic PVC.
SILK: Comfortable to wear in all weathers. It absorbs moisture well and has low conductivity, keeping warm air near the skin.