Why do some fabrics become more comfortable the more they are washed (such as bedsheets) and some fabrics get less comfortable (such as fleece)?
In: Physics
Someone once told me that very harsh chemicals are used in the process of fabric making. My favorite fabric is rayon as I tolerate it the best because I have a hypersensitivity to touch sensations. Rayon goes through very harsh chemical treatment and is not eco-friendly but is very soft so I don’t have a reaction to it. I can tolerate cotton also but after it is washed a few times. I was told one must always wash their clothing several times, including their bedding, before they use it the first time. To add, when I was a teenager sewing a lot in my day in the 1960’s, I learned that permanent press used to have elements of formaldehyde. They probably have taken that out by now. I think there are two key factors…
1. individual skin sensitivity to chemicals (usually resulting in rashes or itchy areas where there’s more contact to the fabric such as the neck)
2. individual sensitivity to touch receptors in the skin (May also result in itchiness but most likely a maddening need to pull the fabric away from the skin such as waist bands or groin areas)
Individual body differences in sweat areas, hairy areas, larger areas whether boney or fatty and where any of these areas brush against the fabric can contribute to either of the above sensitivities.
Edit: sorry, I missed the part of your question that was comparing to fleece. I have no idea about that part as I never wear fleece. And I’ve not heard much about it.
Edit: Just googled what fleece is and now I get it. It’s wool or other soft animal fur material. I’ve seen an allergist and I am very allergic to wool and do not wear it ever so it is a specific allergy and it is fairly common.
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