Jennifer, thank you! for telling us REAL information.

I wonder if mother of pearl buttons will fail? They feel like glass instead of having a shiny coating on top of a plastic button.

maggieb!
~~~~
Never wrestle with a pig. The pig will like it and you will both get dirty.

Yes thanks Jennifer!

and sorry to jump on your thread re XRF analyzer test results, but I wanted to let everyone know I tried those LeadCheck swabs that Betty mentioned on four of my items - I know they are not at all the same as the XRF analyzer, but the website stated that they sensitive to 1ug on solid surfaces/2ppm in liquid and one of the recommended uses was on lunchboxes(!) so I thought it would help me decide how to "manage my risk" as Wendy so aptly put it

I tried them on the bright pink boots that Gap released this past fall (with Preppy Prints etc), Gymboree's red Holland Days clogs, the gumball machine hair clips from Gymboree's Lots of Dots line (not the chihuahua though), and the apple charm on the Prep School plaid tote - if you are familiar with any of these items you know they are very bright red or pink and I picked them because I figured out of 100 items I have those would be in the top 5 most likely for lead - I didn't have any positive results, not one of the swabs turned red WHERE I SWABBED...

...and that was the biggest problem using the swabs - for example, I swabbed the Gap boots on the vinyl near the zip, but not the zip itself or the sole, interior etc - and you can not use them on/near fabric - the swabs mix a powder and clear liquid which then turns dark yellow and will stain any fabric - but if those Holland Days clogs didn't give me a positive I don't know what would (joke!)

I want to STRESS that this is just me using a home testing kit, not a professional/regular tester, as I am a home-based RESELLER of USED items - at minimum these "tests" should be replicated, and I'm interested in what you, Jennifer, think of the sensitivity and even possible legality of these home kits for resellers - just wanted to pass along my experience with the swabs to anyone who was interested...I plan to try some rain boots too, and a tiara I have with rhinestones but need to get more swabs (they have them at Lowes for 2swabs/4 tests for $6 but I saw some on here cheaper...)

I am wondering too if places like Gymboree/Gap have been doing the XRF testing like Jennifer has been doing for other(?) manufacturers on recent past lines and intend to post recalls - could be a big loss of $ if they did, or maybe not in the long run? just wondering...

I am most curious about children's books. Have you ever tested any?

That was sarcasm for those incapable of discerning such things. -- *funkybaby*

thank you!

Of the zippers that failed were any just plain metal zippers (like jeans) or were they all painted zippers? Thanks!

Interesting information. Thanks!

Put this together with the information that we got from Wendy (Seattle) about the raincoats, we might be able to put together a list someday.

It would be nice to know to avoid say, Gymboree XXX line shirt and Gap XXX clogs.

Part Deux we don't pull posts or punches.

I would like to point out that just because an item fails, does not mean that all like items will fail. Gymboree could have the same item manufactured in 12 different places, all of components obtained from 43 different places.

Seriously, there is no way that anyone will be able to comply with this law unless each and every garment is tested.

Keep walking. Nothing to see here.