Ditch and Switch Those Toxic Dryer Sheets

A topic of conversation with my friends lately has been around toxic home products. One extremely toxic product is fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

Did you know that dryer sheets are probably the most toxic household cleaning product in your home?

Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are filled with chemicals, including a massive dose of synthetic fragrance. These chemicals are particularly difficult to remove because they have been specifically designed to stick to fabric.

Dryer sheets are among the worst offenders for harboring chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, asthma, migraines, gastrointestinal distress, runny nose, and skin issues.

Many dryer sheets contain quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”) and imidazolidinyl, both known to release formaldehyde, a ‘probable human carcinogen’, into the air in your home.

A 2011 study that examined dryer vent emissions, found 7 hazardous air pollutants and 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including acetaldehyde and benzene which are known carcinogens that are not considered safe at any level of exposure (also found in car exhaust). None of the VOCs detected were found on any product labels.

Fragranced products like air fresheners and dryer sheets, contain a ton of unregulated chemicals in very high concentrations. Not only can fragrances trigger skin irritation and asthma, but also they can be endocrine-disrupting and mimic estrogen, stimulating the growth of breast cancer cells.

…I think we can all agree that we need to ditch the dryer sheets ASAP!

Here are some safer options:

Add a ½ cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle for natural brightening and softening. It also helps eliminate static.

Use wool dryer balls with a few drops of essential oils (This is my favorite and works so well with Lavender). Wool balls also cut down on dryer time which saves energy and $$. (Let the EOs soak in for a little while before using, so they don’t get on your clothes).

Hang-dry your clothing (not always practical!).

Shake, shake, shake! Once out of the dryer, giving clothes a good shake can help eliminate static.

Seek out toxin-free dryer sheets- there are a few available.

Once you remove these types of overpowering, toxic fragrances from your home for a little while, your body will start to reject these scents. I now have a very strong aversion to the smells I experience when passing through the laundry aisle in the supermarket. It may sound a little crazy, but when you remember that our bodies are designed for survival and instinctively know what poses a danger, it starts to make perfect scents.* (fragrance pun)