Critters - pre-loved, thrifted, consignment clothing cleaning

ironkurtin

Since lice (shudder, skeeve) are making the rounds at my daughter's school, I was reminded of all of the precautions I take with my ebay and consignment clothes to get them clean of any potential hitchhikers before I wear them.

Basically, I wash everything, and then I put them in the dryer on high for 45 minutes. (The delicates or cashmere items I hang to dry first.) I have been assured that this procedure will kill anything, from live bugs to eggs. And I've - so far - never been bit and my cashmere has not been eaten. (Although I'm told this process doesn't work for lice?)

What do you do to decontaminate your pre-loved treasures?

14 years ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from Fruitful

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

If you bag the items and put them in the freezer for 2-3 days, anything alive will die.

14 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Huh! What about for leather?

14 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I'm itching right now. I would think the high heat in the dryer post-washing would be the ticket to any infestation. That's a great reminder, IK. Hope your daughter stays free and clear.

14 years ago

mamaKate

Veteran

Freezer for delicates, dryer for non-delicates

14 years ago

Veteran

I haven't tried either method. I just wash and hang dry.

I wouldn't want to risk shrinking anything that I bought, so I will keep the freezer method in mind. Anybody try that and see dead creepy crawlies?

14 years ago

Heather

Veteran

I keep my pieces in a plastic sack and then take them to the dry cleaner. (Vicki, I am scratching imaginary itchies, too!)

14 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

You know, I've never actually found anything after using these methods, not even in my dryer lint. But better safe than sorry!

I forgot to mention that I dry-clean wools, etc.

Still wondering what to do about leather; I put my latest leather coat in the dryer and it seemed OK.

14 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Dryel and steam for me... good call on the freezer! I knew about the freezer for funky odors, but I never thought about it for critters.

14 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I wash everything or wipe it down/spray it down with lysol disinfectent.

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

IK, great suggestions as far as clothes moths, carpet beetles, and bed bugs go. Especially the freezer for delicates.

Head lice do not transmit via clothing, only head to head contact. They can barely crawl unless they have a hair to hold onto (and then they move fast), do not want to be off heads, and the only time you would see them off a head is if they were dying. The eggs are glued onto hairs so will not be hanging out in clothes either.

14 years ago

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