I bought a $5.00 100%polyester blanket from Walmart to cut up and use for a lining as I normally use batting, but this was thicker. I had itchy burning eyes, runny nose, my head arms face and hands were itchy. I took a allergy pill and that didn't help.
Today I still feel a bit itchy and my nose is irritated. Has anyone else ever had this happen? I am going to try washing them first and see if that will help. Any suggestions or answers will be great.
By Vickie from Oregon, OH
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I would suggest that you let the blanket soak in a solution of water & vinegar. An allergic reaction from the polyester or dyes, the vinegar should eliminate it. Let the soaking last over night. (I'd recommend at least 1/2 gallon of vinegar as a minimum; after soaking run it through a cycle in the washing machine; cold water)
I have done everything as far as washing the blanket and I still break iut
Been there, done that got the tee-shirt. If after washing the polyester blanket, you still have the same reaction, you are allergic to polyester.
I'm allergic to all polyesters and have to wear 100% cotton clothing.
Have you ever had a reaction like this to anything else made of polyester? I ask, because a lot of what Wal-Mart sells is made in China, of inferior materials. So maybe you're allergic to polyester, but you might also be allergic to some unknown contaminant in this particular item.
I use polyester batting all the time for my projects. And i did wash these blankets and started from scratch making another poncho for the same wheel chair student and i was fine. Just as a note it states on label it was made in the USA. Thanks to all who responded and now i have a few more ideas from you in case it happens again. I invite anyone who would be interested to view my home made items on my face book page.
Since you only paid 5.00 for it, I would throw it away. You will spend more than that on allergy meds and why give it to someone else who might have the same reaction.
My son has the same allergic reaction to polyester/fleece style blankets. He gave his to the dog.
Was it blue camoflage? I just had an immediate reaction where my eyes swelled as if to a cat. We received it as a gift to my child from a vacation bible school.
I gave my boyfriend a new 100% polyester blanket for Cristmas and his face, eyes and lips swelled and his skin turned bright red a couple hours after using the blanket. It turns out that it wasn't the polyester but the chemicals they spray on the blanket to keep the color from fading. We washed it 3 times and he took 2 benadryl and he's fine now.
I have a weird reaction to materials mostly polyester, and materials that are treated and colorfast . I think it is the resins they spray on them and formaldhyde.
I bought a King-sized velour blanket (burgundy) from Walmart, washed and dried it but didn't use it during the winter because, for some reason, I didn't like the feel of it on my skin. I've always loved the feel of velour, but with this blanket, things were different right from the start. Because it never touched my skin for an extended period of time, I had not noticed anything dramatic before. But last night, it was the only blanket that I used to cover me, and I was awake all night long with extreme itching despite taking Benadryl. I didn't realize what was wrong with me until I finally dragged myself from bed this morning and sat on my sofa for a while. All night long I wondered if someone had infested my bed with lice or some other biting bug during the night! It was unbearable!
I have hives that are calming down somewhat, but my throat feels weird, I'm feel some restriction with my breathing, and I feel so sick that I fear I will vomit. I now realize that it is the blanket that made me ill.
Although I no longer have the receipt or the packaging that this blanket came in, I intend to take it back to Walmart. If they refuse to give me back any money for it, I have to leave it at the store as I will not allow this hideous thing to remain in my house any longer. Who knows what noxious fumes this thing has been emitting?
I read from one of the posts that it might have polyester and perhaps people are allergic to polyester. Well, I've never been allergic to polyester, but I have had reactions to chemicals before and have gotten very sick. I really think there must be chemicals in this blanket that are unhealthy if the blanket touches the skin and/or if they are breathed in.
I am late to this post, but believe I just experienced a similar reaction to a Walmart Better Homes and Garden Indigo Plaid Velvet Plush Blanket - King. Since I used it over a sheet, I didn't have the skin irritation, instead a sequence of bloody noses (respiratory problem) that ended when I removed the blanket from my room. Good thing I am not at all anemic, or I might not be writing this now.
Seems like something more should be done. Or are we just super sensitive to a chemical on the blanket. Just had to comment, shari_peterson's post was so close to what happened to me. This could be disastrous for the wrong person.
I still have the clear zipper case and the blanket, so identifying the exact blanket won't be a problem. I think Walmart and probably a consumer safety group should know about this. I appreciate the shari-peterson post, but I am not trying this blanket again to further validate the reaction. I guess it is "Buyer Beware".
I am allergic to polyester blanket and I have soaked in water and vinegar over night but I can feel ichy though not as strong as before. What more can I do to stop this allergy.
Well, I think I may have bought the same $5 polyester blanket, but bought it from Walgreens instead of Walmart. But here's a new twist on the story...I bought 3 of these blankets to put in several outdoor "kitty houses" for several stray cats/kitties who roam the neighborhood. I live in the South, but we were having below freezing temperatures and I didn't want the little kitties to freeze. However, one of the kitties (maybe more?) seem to "up-chuck" on those polyester blankets. I thought that it may be the food, but I changed foods, and it's still happening. I honestly don't know what is causing this, but it just may be these blankets. I've noticed that I have had some slight itching of my arms after carrying the blanket from the outside porch to the laundry room. I may have found the source of the problem.
love the internet lol. i have the same problem - it seems to be this newer microsuede style polyester
... because i've been wearing fleece jackets for 20 years. i will try the washing in vinegar thing...
I have experienced a simikar problem with a blanket, I wake up at night feeling itchy, I do not sllep directly on the blanket, Even though I am under the sheet my arms are over the blanket, whenever I move,I put my hands on the blanket. My body feels itchtt all night.this has been going on for years. suddenly I realized it must be the blanket. I am removing the blanket now. o
I just bought two blankets from Walmart and had a more severe reaction. At first I was getting a headache, I fell asleep, woke up an hour later and was extremely dizzy, light headed, sick to my stomach. Took 5 hours for me to feel somewhat okay. Was actually thinking about going to the emergency room. I'll be returning the blankets to Walmart ASAP. Blankets had a perfumey smell to them.
I bought a comforter filled with polyester batting from Target. Have been experiencing severe eyes' redness and itchy-ness. I also had occasional chest tightness and running nose. After 6 weeks of this discomfort; I realized maybe the comforter was causing the problem.
I check the label; to my surprise a warning was listed; "New Material Polyester Batting" and of course made in China. I just removed the comforter and wash all other bedding; I will return with verdict in a few days. I know we do not even test our own new materials; so I know China did not test it. Since you have had a similar reaction with polyester batting from Walmart; I am thankful for your post.
Now 1 year later from the purchase/return of the comforter from Target with a polyester batting noted on label New Material made in China. The eye redness and burning continues; I have been on multiple eye drops multiple doctors; no one has an answer for this.
Frank
Yes see my comments below. I have not found any remedy for the burning red eyes from the comforter with polyester batting from Target.
This is an old post I see but just in case others thought they were crazy....like I thought I was, this post is exactly what I was looking for. I just bought a Woolrich shawl thats make of 100% polyester and I feel like my throat is very dry and almost feels like the fibers are in my throat. This isnt the first time this has happened to me. Starting to see a connection. God bless
Hi, I am from Spain, I was looking for people who felt the same reaction to this type of fleece blankets 100% polyester. Thanks I am not the only one, my family can not understand this, I can not even touch them ... after handling them I can not breath normally and I washed them twice... The blankets had very bright colors and were very very cheap ... I throw them away ... I will not buy anything like this anymore! I've using clothes made by poliester for years and never felt any reaction like this.
Same message in spanish, just in case It could be helpful for someone:
Hola, soy de España, buscaba gente que hubiese tenido la misma reacción a este tipo de mantas de forro polar 100% poliester. Menos mal que no soy la única, mi familia no lo entiende, no puedo ni tocarlas ..después de manipularlas no puedo respirar con normalidad y eso que las lavé dos veces... Las mantas tenían colores muy brillantes y eran muy, muy baratas ... Las he tirado ... ¡No volveré a comprar ninguna de este tipo! Uso ropa hecha de poliester a diario y nunca he tenido una reacción así.
Might also be caused by fine filaments of polyester detaching from the throw/blanket. If you find that there's a lot of 'dust bunnies' of the same colour as the throw throughout your house, there's the culprit!
Bought two 100% polyester fleece $10.00 blankets from Walmart a few days ago 4/19/22 unwrapped them and Phew! They smelled awful! Washed them with regular detergent and they smelled even after washing. After drying them in the dryer I found dirt or sand (from India) in the lint trap. After reading all these comments we will take them off the clothesline and trash them. Thank you
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