Is stain-resistant children's clothing safe to wear?

What's actually in it

The "stain-resistant" or "water-resistant" finish on children's clothing is typically achieved with a PFAS coating called DWR (durable water repellent). These coatings are sprayed onto fabric during manufacturing. PFAS can be absorbed through the skin when worn, and children's thinner, more permeable skin absorbs at higher rates than adults.

Children who wear stain-resistant clothing for school or play are in daily skin contact with PFAS-treated fabric during the hours they're most physically active and sweating, which increases skin permeability and PFAS absorption.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int identified multiple pathways for childhood PFAS exposure and found that clothing and fabric contact were measurable contributors to children's blood PFAS levels. Researchers confirmed that skin absorption from PFAS-treated textiles is a real exposure route that adds to dietary PFAS from cookware and water.

For children's clothing, choose plain, untreated cotton, wool, or linen. Wash stain-resistant items several times before first use (some surface PFAS comes off in washing, but the fiber treatment remains). Better yet, skip stain-resistant garments entirely for everyday wear. Stains wash out; PFAS in your child's blood does not.