S/O: speaking of Kohl's... What is that smell at Kohl's, Walmart, Macy's?

[Anonymous]

Chemical off gassing stores and malls have terrible air quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a distinct smell, and I tend to feel ill after a few minutes, so I no longer set foot in these stores. Is it the smell of whatever chemical is fumigated in their storage or holding facilities? The smell of cheap clothing dyes? The Walmart clothing section and Macy's are the worst.

I don't smell this at similar bargain shopping places, like Nordstrom Rack.

I don't know if it's still used but formaldehyde was used in manufacturing fabrics. I used to make some of my clothes and I washed fabric before cutting pattern because the smell was so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a distinct smell, and I tend to feel ill after a few minutes, so I no longer set foot in these stores. Is it the smell of whatever chemical is fumigated in their storage or holding facilities? The smell of cheap clothing dyes? The Walmart clothing section and Macy's are the worst.

I don't smell this at similar bargain shopping places, like Nordstrom Rack.

I don't know if it's still used but formaldehyde was used in manufacturing fabrics. I used to make some of my clothes and I washed fabric before cutting pattern because the smell was so bad.

Does formaldehyde wash out of clothes?
Washing new clothes before wearing them can remove up to 60% of formaldehyde. The process only requires a regular detergent to be effective.
I
Do all clothes have formaldehyde?
Not all clothes have formaldehyde, and the use of formaldehyde in clothing has decreased since the 1980s. The most common fabric to contain formaldehyde is cotton.

Is formaldehyde toxic in clothing?
Formaldehyde in clothing is not considered toxic. The levels of formaldehyde in clothing are too low to be considered dangerous. Furthermore, the more dangerous exposure to formaldehyde is inhalation, rather than contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Deodorizers, carpet cleaners and disinfectants. There is not adequate ventilation with closed doors so the smell doesn't dissipate.

It's this. The clothing area usually has some thin carpet that gets vacuumed and scrubbed with disinfectant. The tile gets waxed and mopped with similar. If you've worked in one of these stores you know.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have an issue. Your claim could possibly hold true at Walmart and Kohl's but not whateverr is left of Macy's (higher end). I do think it is in your head.

[Anonymous]

Macy's does have a distinct and perfumy smell to me. Even upstairs from the cosmetic department.

And we bought a pair of Boy's Tommy Hilfiger khakis from Macy's two years ago and the smell remained after multiple washings.

Macy's kind of smells like other department stores I used to work in and patronize in my 20s. I can see that it could be something like carpet cleaner + new clothes smell + cosmetics dept.

[Anonymous]

Fabulaso cleaner?

[Anonymous]

OP, you are being horrible.

[Anonymous]

Oddly enough, I only rarely shop at stores now, with the exception of a drug store or grocery, maybe a hardware store- and even then I use a mail service for some of those things. Household goods, clothes- all online. I hate shopping now and I used to really enjoy it. Frankly, most things aren't available in brick and mortar stores anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oddly enough, I only rarely shop at stores now, with the exception of a drug store or grocery, maybe a hardware store- and even then I use a mail service for some of those things. Household goods, clothes- all online. I hate shopping now and I used to really enjoy it. Frankly, most things aren't available in brick and mortar stores anyway.

Yep. Covid killed my desire to shop.

[Anonymous]

Target has a distinct smell, too.

Anthropologie always smells good.

My favorite store smell was Victoria's Secret in the late 80s, early 90s when they played classical music, before PINK and before everything was crap.