Never buy dryer sheets or fabric softener again.
These laundry products are not only costly, but they are incredibly harmful to your health as well. You would be surprised at some of the chemicals that are in these products as well as the warnings to go with them. Dryer sheets are not safe to use and can even be harmful. People with allergies are especially susceptible to the dangers of dryer sheets and fabric softeners. These people can break out in rashes and experience itching if exposed to the chemicals in dryer sheets. I’m no expert, but if it causes trauma to a sensitive person, it can’t be all that good for the rest of us. It is recommended that baby clothes do not get washed with fabric softeners or dryer sheets as it can be harmful or even fatal for developing babies. There a number of cases of SIDS associated with the use of fabric softeners and dryer sheets. You are also contributing to pollution and ozone depletion whenever you pop a dryer sheet in your dryer. Various toxic chemicals are being emitted into the air through you dryer vent.
What Do They Do?
Fabric softeners leave an oil coating on clothes, which doesn’t really leave them softer or fluffy. This oil builds up on the fibers and takes the absorbency out (oil repels water). In the dryer, fabric softener leaves a sticky residue on all the components like the moisture sensors and drum of the dryer. This residue is very flammable, which is why on the back of some fabric softeners it tells you not to use on towels, terrycloth or fleece. The number one cause of house fires is the dryer. Fabric softeners even take the fire retardant out of baby’s clothes.
How Can They Harm You?
Some symptoms caused by fabric softener fumes are: tiredness that is not cured by resting, difficulty breathing, nervousness for no known reason, difficulty concentrating and remembering, dizziness, headaches, sick stomach, feeling faint, itching, rashes and/or difficulty controlling body movements.
A Better Option
So…Stop Buying Dryer Sheets and try some dryer balls. They are completely non-toxic and chemical free, and they soften fabrics just as well as the toxic stuff does. You can use them over and over again in order to soften fabrics naturally without the need for liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets. These two little balls will take the place other fabric softeners in order to eliminate toxic chemicals, which makes them perfect for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies. Our dryer balls are hypoallergenic and come with a lifetime guarantee, but not all of them are created equal. Learn more about how dryer balls work, and why choosing good ones can make a difference. We all want soft and fluffy clothes that are free of lint, but none of us want to intentionally expose ourselves to substances that may harm or cause lasting effects. When you switch to these, you not only limit your exposure to the dangerous stuff, you also make things easier, and save money.
Save hundreds of dollars with Dryer Balls.
For a little more than one fabric softener or dryer sheet purchase, you will have a fabric softening product that will last for years. Imagine the savings of never buying fabric softener or dryer sheets again. Plus with 15%-25% shorter drying times, you will save on energy costs and shorten the amount of time it takes to do laundry.
These innovative dryer balls tumble in the dryer to lift and separate laundry, so your clothes dry faster as hot air flows more efficiently. Save on energy costs! Soft tips massage fabrics to naturally fluff and soften without the use of chemical-laden dryer sheets or liquid softeners.
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Your article is absolutely correct. Fabric softener and dryer sheets are a chemical ‘spill’ that is happening daily in homes. My husband went to a national medical clinc where they could find no reason for his acute fatigue and ‘stumbly’ gait. Many expensive tests were run and only one showed anything conclusive. The doctor had no explanation for the fact that my husband’s cerebellum had shown some atrophy–but it was so. Also, the doctor said that he had some ‘gait’ issues. That was it.
Before we went to the clinic I’d heard that fabric softener was dangerous but had not looked into it because we were concerned that he had a serious illness that it seemed could involve heart and nervous system. Since the first of the year his condition had deteriorated greatly and his blood sugars [that were previously stable] had begun to be quite high which indicated that ‘something’ might be going on that we could not ‘see’. After we came home w/o a diagnosis I began to look on line for a possible solution. I must say that we were very grateful that he did not have a serious illness as we’d thought possible. But, we also did not know what was causing his problem. I entered ‘fabric softener dangers’ into Google and was led to a lengthy list of information. I quickly discovered that fabric softener has an incredible list of possible health hazards, but one of the ingredients was Alpha-Terpineol which causes Central Nervous System disorders which includes ataxia [loss of muscular coordination in the limbs], and ATROPHY OF THE CEREBELLUM. This is incredible because the time frame is also correct. I’d been using fabric softener for approx. 15 years and that is about the length of time he’s had the problem, although it has accelerated over the years and had gotten much worse which is why we sought more thorough medical help.
At present I’m washing all of the bed clothes, including the mattress pad as well as all of his clothes, that clothe from the skin out and then I’m rinsing them in a vinegar rinse. I understand it is very hard to get rid of the residue from the softener so it may take time for us to see any improvement. We may buy some new clothes just to see how well he responds.
My next concern is the chemicals that they put in laundry detergent. Not real pleased with that list either.
I am sorry to hear about your husband. Perhaps your story will help others diagnose problems and be more cautious about what kind of chemicals they are using in their homes. Most people don’t realize just how dangerous thes toxins can be or what everyday products contain them. Who would think that a dryer sheet or some fabric softener could have such a detrimental effect.
As for the chemicals in your laundry detergent. I would reccommend using Quick n Brite. It is an all-purpose cleaner, but it works great as an alternative to laundry soap. It is super concentrated, so a little bit goes a long way. Quick n Brite is completely biodegradable and chemical free. You don’t have to worry about hidden toxins when you clean with it.
Do you know how to clean the residue left on the interior of a dryer drum from dryer sheets? I had been using them and want to change to dryer balls, because I’m going to be using cloth diapers. They say not to dry cloth diapers in a dryer that has previously used dryer sheets because the residue can transfer from the drum to the diapers and decrease absorbency..
You are right to be concerned about this residue. The chemicals in dryer sheets do coat fabrics as well as the inside of the dryer, rendering them less absorbent over time. You are definitely going to want those diapers to be as absorbent as possible, so the best course of action is to thoroughly clean before switching to the dryer balls. A good cleaner to use would be Quick’n Brite. It works great for hundreds of different cleaning jobs, but it would be ideal for this situation because it doesn’t contain any chemicals. You will want to be sure you are not just adding to the problem. Quick’n Brite will remove the unwanted build-up without leaving a residue of its own. Because there are no chemicals, you don’t have to worry about dangerous substances transferring to your baby’s clothes.
thank you very much.
good article.
Is just breathing in the scent of the dryer sheets before putting them in the wash harmful? If so, then I should start drinking loads of tea and pray that the antioxidants and my immune system can combat the toxins.
Where can you buy Quick N Brite ?