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  1. #1
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Do they make clothes out of recycled paper?

    I buy 100% cotton shirts straight off the Walmart clearance shelf at $3 a pop. At that price, my wardrobe is pretty extensive. Basically, I buy 15 shirts at a time, long sleeve or short sleeve, depending on the expired season then I wear them the next time the appropriate season comes around. I've been doing this for the last two years and it works great.

    Here's the thing. Our washing machine drains into our utility sink and over the course of the last year or more, we've had major drain issues. My husband wound up buying a fine mesh drain plug to figure it out and it turns out that there are very small fibers clogging up the drain. Very very small fibers. Enough to clog up the sink regularly. We've never had this issue before in this quantity.

    So I have to wonder. Are my cheapo clothes made out of recycled paper?

  2. #2
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    Yikes. Some cotton seems to lint a lot more than usual....thinking nice plush towels and bath mats, not clothes. Maybe it's just a less processed cotton or something?

    I remember back in the late 60's or thereabouts where clothes were being made of paper....I actually had one but never wore it....cheap and ugly....may have been a gag gift....I can't remember if they were meant to be washed or not. Definitely a trend that didn't take off (except maybe where your shirts were manufactured).

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  4. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Cotton can be very linty if not processed properly. The cheaper clothes makers take shortcuts, thus more lint.

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  6. #4
    House Broken bestadmom's Avatar
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    Cotton fibers are grown in different lengths. The longer the fiber the better and stronger the thread and the smoother the fabric. Did you ever see a cotton shirt or embroidery thread that looks like silk?

    Egyptian cotton is a long fiber and Pima cotton is slightly shorter. Yours is most likely at the opposite end if the spectrum in order for Walmart to be able to sell them at such an affordable price.

    Wool is the same way although with wool the shorter fibers make the fabric scratchy.

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  8. #5
    Senior Dog doubledip1's Avatar
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    Pima cotton is fabulous.
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  10. #6
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bestadmom View Post
    Cotton fibers are grown in different lengths. The longer the fiber the better and stronger the thread and the smoother the fabric. Did you ever see a cotton shirt or embroidery thread that looks like silk?

    Egyptian cotton is a long fiber and Pima cotton is slightly shorter. Yours is most likely at the opposite end if the spectrum in order for Walmart to be able to sell them at such an affordable price.

    Wool is the same way although with wool the shorter fibers make the fabric scratchy.
    That's fascinating. Thank you. I knew about thread count but I didn't realize that fiber length played a part.

  11. #7
    House Broken bestadmom's Avatar
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    Try using the delicate cycle and seeing if the less aggressive turning of the washer's drum helps save your drain and your shirts.

    I work in publishing in the menswear business and have been in or around the garment business for over 30 years. I know way too much!

 



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