What You Need To Know Before Buying Clothes That Claim To Be ‘Wrinkle-Free’

Having wrinkle-free clothes is great and all, but one chemical—formaldehyde—is often used in wrinkle-free clothes, but it might not be that safe for you. The chemical helps reduce wrinkling and shrinking in some clothes (you’ll see tags that say “wrinkle-free”). Used in such low levels in clothing, it shouldn’t be of major concern, but it has been linked to rashes and headaches (and formaldehyde in general is a known carcinogen). It’s most potent when items are brand-new (think: that new-clothes smell)—one reason some tags advise washing before you wear. And while that does help, the compound will continue to degrade over time, evaporating from your clothes. (Kick-start your new, healthy routine with Women’s Health’s 12-Week Total-Body Transformation!)

Is sitting really bad for your health? Watch this video to find out: