How to Make Something Fire Retardant

Although most commercially produced child's fabric costumes and pajamas are fire retardant, homemade garments are not. But you can make a fire-retardant solution easily and inexpensively, and temporarily treat your child's clothing or costumes. This is the formula often recommended by fire departments for treating garments. You'll need to reapply the solution after you wash or clean the clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Large bucket or pail Gallon of hot water Borax Boric acid Long-handled spoon

Instructions

1. Machine wash and rinse the garments to be treated as you usually do. Do not dry them.

2. Pour a gallon of hot water into a large bucket or pail.

3. Add 9 or 10 ounces of borax to the water, stirring very well with a long-handled spoon to dissolve it. Stir in 4 or 5 ounces of boric acid. Mix thoroughly to dissolve.

4. Soak the garments in the bucket of fire-retardant solution. Squeeze out as much excess liquid by hand as possible. Tumble dry the clothing as you usually do.

Tips & Warnings

• If the garment should not be washed or immersed in liquids, you can put the solution in a plastic spray bottle to spritz it onto the clothing.

• Don't forget to retreat fabrics with the solution after laundering. Washing or cleaning removes the fire-retardant properties.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish