Should I use these sheets?

[fiddlefern]

When my dad asked about gifts this Christmas, I mentioned that I had one really "nice" set of organic sheets, and one set of sheets that was falling apart. I said I could use another nice set of sheets.

He tried. What he got was a very high thread count set of sheets (from a fancy, non-natural store), but the color of the sheets is silver. I'm a little worried about sleeping in something with a metalic color. What chemicals were made to make it look like that?

What do you all think? Are silver sheets safe? I don't have a ton of money, and hate to get rid of them, but since our kids sometimes bedshare with us, I want to make sure we're all safe. We haven't washed them yet, because we don't even want to wash them with our other stuff until we do more research.

[KristyDi]

I have no idea about the silver, but the 1st thing I'd do is find out if the store would allow you to exchange them for a different color that you're more comfortable with.

[larablue]

The silver colour shouldn´t be a problem.

Make sure to wash the sheets one or two times before using them.

The non-organic sheets only are problematic while they are produced (pesticides etc. for the cotton), but you can eliminate any rests of chemicals by washing them.

[CariOfOz]

Silver.. as in shiny metallic/lame looking silver???? Or just silvery grey? If the former... does dear old dad think you moonlight in the oldest profession on earth??

*can't imagine why on earth silver metalli8c sheets are even produced, can the market for them be huge? lol*

[mumkimum]

A high quality cotton can be woven to look semi-metallic without any kind of chemical treatment. If it's 100% cotton, I'd simply use them without worry, so just check that first.

[fiddlefern]

Thanks for the replies. I checked and they are 100% cotton, so that's good. They're Calvin Klein sheets, but I don't know which department store they were purchased at. We don't have a car, I'm not feeling super excited about bussing/ biking to a bunch of stores after work with two little ones in tow, so I think I'll probably either keep them or give them away (or resell them).

I'll try washing them a few times and see how they look/smell. My mom sent me a bunch of links to consumer reports, the CDC, etc, and I couldn't find any problems or recalls.

Nothin' can beat the undied organic sheets we bought before having kids. I hope those sheets last forever because they are so yummy to sleep in! Our other cheap set shrank so much right away, and now it's a wrestling match all the time to keep it on the bed, plus the seams are ripping. So the new sheets would be an improvement over our cheap set at least in usability.

[lovebug]

Originally Posted by mumkimum

A high quality cotton can be woven to look semi-metallic without any kind of chemical treatment. If it's 100% cotton, I'd simply use them without worry, so just check that first.

[Tizzy]

I'd soak them overnight in milk (or powdered milk) and then wash and use.

[GearGirl]

It's true, the organicness (not a word, but I'm sticking with it) is important as far as the production goes, but once you wash them a few times your non organic and organic sheets are no different as far as giving off any chemicals.

It's not like a mattress that keeps off-gassing, with cotton sheets you wash them!

[Drummer's Wife]

I would use them, for sure.

[fiddlefern]

Since survey says..... YES, dh is now throwing them in the laundry, to wash twice while our diapers dry twice.