Wash OEKO-TEX Standard 100 clothing in cold water with a mild, fragrance-free detergent. Avoid fabric softeners, bleach, and high-heat drying. Air-dry garments inside out. This protects the safety-tested fibers and preserves the safe integrity certified by OEKO-TEX.
When you invest in OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified clothing, you’re not just buying comfort, you’re buying safety.
These garments are tested against 1,000+ harmful substances and made to protect your skin and health. But improper washing can undo those benefits.
Vibrant Body Company goes even further with its Certified Clean promise, ensuring every fiber, dye, and thread stays safe even after repeated washes.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to wash your OEKO-TEX clothing the right way, so you keep the benefits, and none of the risks.
Key Points
- OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certifies clothing is safe from over 1,000 harmful substances, including PFAS, formaldehyde, and heavy metals. But safety doesn’t stop at the label; how you wash your garments matters just as much as how they’re made.
- Vibrant Body Company builds on OEKO-TEX with Certified Clean, a proprietary system that verifies every fiber, dye, and thread is safe, even after repeated wear and washing. It's not just fabric safety, it’s full-garment peace of mind.
- Washing cleanwear properly means cold water, gentle detergent, and no harsh additives. With simple steps like rinsing twice and air-drying, you can extend your garment’s life and protect your skin from hidden residue.
Behind The Label: What OEKO-TEX® Actually Means
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 isn’t a marketing gimmick or a feel-good greenwashing label.
It’s a globally recognized certification that tests every component of a textile, every fiber, dye, thread, button, and even the elastic, for over 1,000 harmful substances. That includes carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, and other toxins linked to serious health risks.
Most people assume if the fabric is organic or soft, it must be safe. But OEKO-TEX doesn’t assume, it tests.
And not just the fabric, but every element sewn into a garment. That matters. Because if you’re wearing something for 8, 10, 12 hours a day, especially on the most absorbent, sensitive parts of your body, you’re not just wearing clothes.
Why It Matters For Your First Layer
When your skin heats up and sweats, like during a workout or a stressful day, it becomes more permeable. Whatever is on your skin can get into your skin.
That’s called transdermal absorption, and it's the reason our First Layer philosophy exists.
Your bra, your underwear, your camisole, these aren't just garments. They're a delivery system. The wrong materials can deliver chemicals directly into your body. The right ones protect you from them.
Toxins Often Found In Non-Certified Apparel:
- Formaldehyde – Used to make clothes wrinkle-resistant; can irritate skin and respiratory system.
- BPA (Bisphenol A) – Common in synthetics; known endocrine disruptor.
- PFAS – The infamous “forever chemicals” that don’t break down in your body.
- Phthalates – Plasticizers in elastic; linked to reproductive harm.
- Azo Dyes – Can release aromatic amines; banned in the EU for being carcinogenic.
- Heavy Metals – Nickel, arsenic, cadmium… not just toxic, but absorbed through prolonged wear.
Health Risks from Toxic Clothing
This isn’t fear-mongering. It's a fact. These toxins are tied to:
Hormonal Disruption
Toxins like phthalates and BPA can mimic or block hormones, throwing off your body’s natural balance, impacting mood, metabolism, and reproductive health.
Fertility Challenges
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in dyes and synthetic fabrics have been linked to reduced sperm count and ovarian dysfunction in multiple studies.
Chronic Rashes And Contact Dermatitis
Irritants like formaldehyde and azo dyes can trigger persistent skin issues, especially in areas where fabric clings or rubs, think bras, underwear, and waistbands.
Allergic Reactions
Even trace amounts of nickel or latex in non-certified clothing can cause hives, itching, and inflammation, especially for those with sensitive skin or eczema.
Increased Cancer Risk
Long-term exposure to carcinogens like heavy metals and aromatic amines from azo dyes may increase your risk of cancer.
Let’s not forget: the U.S. only bans about 11 chemicals in textiles. Europe bans or restricts over 1,000. That gap? It’s your responsibility to fill it.
That’s what OEKO-TEX does, and it’s why Vibrant uses it as our baseline, not our bragging point.
Vibrant’s Clean Commitment: OEKO-TEX Certified + Certified Clean
If OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is the gold standard, Certified Clean is what happens when you take that standard and go even deeper.
When I founded Vibrant Body Company, I knew OEKO-TEX would be our starting point. We proudly meet its Standard 100 requirements, the highest tier for products worn closest to your skin.
We also created Certified Clean, our own proprietary approach that goes beyond OEKO-TEX, adding third-party verification for every fiber, dye, and thread in every product we make.
Not just the fabric. Everything.
Because you deserve more than claims. You deserve proof. And that’s what makes Vibrant different: clean that’s not just marketed, but measurably safe.
Our Top 3 Certified Clean Essentials
1. The EveryWear Bra
I spent over seven years refining this bra, because women deserve support without compromise. It’s a patented wireless design engineered to work with your body, not against it.
Whether you're commuting, working, or doing yoga, this is the First Layer that actually respects your health. Certified Clean, OEKO-TEX® approved, and lymphatic-friendly by design.
2. The Ignite Sports Bra
Your sweat shouldn’t make you more vulnerable, it should release toxins, not absorb more. But too many “performance” bras are loaded with PFAS, BPA, and formaldehyde.
The Ignite Sports Bra is part of our Sweat Smart Series, built to endure heat and movement without reintroducing chemicals back into your system.
It performs without polluting, period.
3. The Hikini Underwear
If there’s one place you want your clothing to be clean, it’s here.
The Hikini is seamless, ultra-soft, and engineered to never ride up, because function matters as much as form. But what truly sets it apart is our full-fabric safety testing.
Every elastic, every dye, every inch of our Hikini underwear is Certified Clean and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. So you can wear it all day, every day, with full confidence, and zero compromise.
How To Wash OEKO-TEX® Clothing The Right Way
When I say “Certified Clean,” I don’t just mean what goes into our garments, I mean what stays out after every wash.
Because even the cleanest garment can become a chemical delivery system if you wash it the wrong way.
Let’s walk through how to preserve the safety, integrity, and softness of your OEKO-TEX® certified clothing, especially those First Layer pieces like bras and underwear that sit closest to your skin.
Step 1: Choose The Right Detergent
Not all “free & clear” detergents are truly clean. Choose one that’s mild, fragrance-free, and enzyme-free, with no bleach, softeners, or optical brighteners.
If it wasn’t on your Certified Clean garment when you bought it, don’t add it in the wash. Check ingredients like you would your skincare.
Step 2: Water Temperature Matters
Stick to cold or cool water (under 30°C/86°F). Hot water breaks down fibers and compromises the safety of your OEKO-TEX® garment, especially in high-friction zones like bras and underwear.
Step 3: Sort And Load Thoughtfully
Wash your cleanwear separately from rough fabrics like jeans or towels. Turn items inside out, and don’t overload the machine. Good rinsing matters as much as good detergent.
Step 4: Rinse Twice, Especially For Underwear
Sweat and heat increase absorption, so even small detergent residues matter.
Double rinse First Layer items, especially if you have sensitive skin or are in a life stage like postpartum or menopause.
Step 5: Drying Tips
Line dry indoors or in the shade to protect fibers and dyes. If using a dryer, choose low heat and a mesh bag.
High temps and sunlight can damage the garment, and the safety that comes with it.
Bonus Tips From a Cleanwear Evangelist
- Avoid dryer sheets altogether. They’re often loaded with undisclosed fragrances and silicones that cling to fibers, and your skin.
- Wash less often, but smarter. You don’t need to wash bras or camis after every wear unless they’re visibly dirty or soaked. Overwashing just wears down the garment, and its safety.
- Always wash before first wear. Even OEKO-TEX certified items can collect packaging dust or traces from handling. A gentle first wash ensures you start clean, and stay clean.
Care isn’t just about extending garment life. It’s about honoring your body. If your clothing is certified safe, your washing routine should be too.
Still Wondering What’s Safe? Let’s Break It Down
You’ve asked smart questions, and I love that. It means you’re thinking beyond the marketing and into the real-world use of your clean garments. Let’s dig into a few that come up often:
Can I Wash OEKO-TEX Bras With Non-Certified Items?
Technically, yes. But should you? No.
Washing OEKO-TEX clothing with conventional garments opens the door to residue transfer, especially in tight loads. If those other clothes were treated with softeners, synthetic fragrances, or harsh detergents, they can undo everything your cleanwear is built to avoid.
Think of it like cross-contamination in the kitchen: it only takes a trace to cause harm.
How Do I Wash OEKO-TEX In Hard Water?
Hard water is tricky. It binds with detergents and makes them less effective, leaving mineral + detergent residue on your fabrics.
For OEKO-TEX garments, this can dull fabric integrity and introduce irritants to your skin.
Use a detergent that’s rated for hard water, or go the extra mile with a distilled water rinse, especially for bras and underwear.
Do Certifications Wear Off With Time?
The certification applies to the garment as sold, not as it’s treated.
Washing a Certified Clean item with bleach, high heat, or contaminated loads can compromise its integrity. The fabric may not be “re-toxic,” but it’s no longer holding the line you think it is.
That’s why care is part of the clean equation. It’s not just about what we make, it’s about what you do with it.
Ready To Protect Your Skin And Your Peace Of Mind?
You already know how to wash your OEKO-TEX® certified clothing. But if the garment wasn’t clean to begin with, no amount of washing can undo what was baked into the fabric.
That’s why I didn’t stop at the label, I built an entirely new standard around it.
I’m Michael Drescher, and I founded Vibrant Body Company after witnessing what happens when we ignore the invisible threats we wear.
The underwires, the synthetic dyes, the chemicals soaked into skin through sweat and heat, no one was talking about it. So I did. I became the Unlikely Messenger, and I made it my mission to design better.
Not just “better looking.” Not just “better fitting.” But better for your body.
Here’s what I have in store for you:
🩷 EveryWear Bra: Our patented wireless design supports your natural lymphatic flow. No wires. Just clean, certified safety for your most delicate tissues.
🖤 Sweat Smart Series: High-performance activewear that’s made to sweat with you, not against you. Safe from PFAS, formaldehyde, BPA, and anything else you shouldn’t absorb mid-spin class.
🧺 Certified Clean First Layer Underwear: No ride-up. No irritation. No compromises. Every thread, every dye, and every component is verified safe for your most sensitive skin.
You’ve already taken the first step by learning how to care for safer clothing. Now it’s time to upgrade what you wear in the first place. Because your skin isn’t a barrier, it’s a gateway.
And when it comes to your First Layer, you deserve more than a label.
→ Explore the Certified Clean Collection and make the switch to intimate apparel that’s as safe as it is beautiful. Your body will thank you. So will your peace of mind.
About The Author: Michael Drescher, Founder of Vibrant Body Company.
An unlikely messenger in women’s health, he’s speaking truths the industry has long buried beneath sleek silhouettes at the expense of women’s health. After losing loved ones to cancer, he uncovered the toxic reality of intimate apparel and set out to create a truly health-first alternative. Michael’s work challenges assumptions about who gets to lead wellness conversations, blending radical transparency with science-backed design. He started Vibrant Body Company to rewrite the standard, because comfort shouldn’t come with a chemical cost, and health should never be an afterthought.
