Federal standards have greatly reduced the risk of burn injuries related to flammable clothing. Recalls, too, are declining. But in our new tests, we discovered something consumers may not know, namely that clothing can become more flammable when laundered with liquid fabric softener.
Federal standards limit flammability risks by banning the use of highly flammable fabrics.
But all fabrics burn at some point when exposed to a flame, some faster than others. Napped fabrics with a fuzzy surface, such as cotton fleece, flannel, and terry cloth, are particularly vulnerable. Fleece and sheer fabrics are two major fashion trends. These photos were taken three seconds into the test. We prepared some swatches according to current, albeit arcane, government standards.