Yep, you heard me. Ironing can actually help to keep you and your family healthy.

This means that this dreaded chore should be regarded as a superpower, and our families should thank us every day for doing it (ok, that may be a big ask). But the reality is that many of us are always looking for ways to simplify our lifestyles. One of the inventions that has helped us do this is the ‘wrinkle-free’ movement. Is there any greater convenience for the business-casual crowd than the wrinkle-free dress shirt? Or how about wrinkle-free bed sheets? Wrinkle-free cotton hats?

There are synthetic, wrinkle-free fabrics such as polyester on the market, but have you ever wondered what the secret is behind wrinkle-free fabrics, such as cotton? How do they get away with things that normal fabrics couldn’t dream of? Get ready to be alarmed. These magical fabrics have a secret ingredient, which is embalming fluid, also known as formaldehyde.

To be more scientifically correct, the chemical that is used is called dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene (DMDHEU). Over time, as DMDHEU breaks down, it releases formaldehyde, which is one of the materials used to make it. The dead don’t mind formaldehyde, as they are past caring about things like cancer, but for the living it is a known carcinogen.

I don’t want you to think that I’m the first person to write about this issue. In 2010 The New York Times reported that out of 180 fabric-related products tested, 5.5% exceeded the ‘recommended’ limit of formaldehyde (75 parts per million). This scares me for a number of reasons. First off, I don’t want ANY formaldehyde in my clothes. Secondly, the study highlighted that many countries don’t regulate the use of this chemical. Plus, the study also found that these ‘higher-than-recommended levels’ were found in some baby clothing. What kind of person would believe that coating baby clothes in formaldehyde sounded like a good idea?

So, it may be worth skipping the non-iron options next time you’re shopping and taking 10 minutes to iron your regular old fabrics. Or, if you’re like me and you end up adding more wrinkles than you remove, invest in a steamer!

Small steps, big impact.

_{This post was originally published on My Pure Earth Blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image credit: iron on ironing board from Shutterstock}

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