Dinged By Dryer Sheets

You know if you are one of those sensitive to dryer sheets and fabric softeners. (I think this is the No. 2 consumer complaint behind perfume.) You are sad that you don’t like to walk in your neighborhood on Saturday mornings because of the offense smell wafting from neighbors’ dryer vents. If someone uses them in your home you may have a nightmare of burning skin, respiratory irritation, anxiety attacks and irritability. I have one friend who became so sensitive to the fumes that he had to sleep in a chair until he could get new bedding! What is the problem with these laundry products? Plenty.

How I would love to have full disclosure of ingredients in consumer products. Given how many people complain about getting sick from dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener, it is disturbing that there is so little research available for the general public about the ingredients in the products. Dry sheets and fabric softeners actually waterproof your clothes to make them feel softer! I have found information on waterproofing and there are few safe ways to do that.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in untested combinations. Liquid fabric softeners additionally may contain formaldehyde.

Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.
Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.
Ethanol: On the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders.
Limonene: Suspected Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicant, Immunotoxicant,
Kidney Toxicant, Neurotoxicant,
Respiratory Toxicant, and Skin or Sense Organ Toxicant.
A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage.
Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list.
Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.
Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.
Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders.
Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

To hide the chemical smell, companies load dryer sheets full of chemical fragrances, which are potentially carcinogenic.

Dryer sheets are designed to stay on clothing for a long period of time and slowly release their chemicals throughout the day, which leads to prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals.

The toxins in dryer sheets and their chemical fragrances enter the body both through inhalation or are absorbed through the skin.

Some of the symptoms experienced from prolonged exposure to the chemicals in dryer sheets include headaches, nausea, vomiting , dizziness, central nervous system disorders, blood pressure reduction, fatigue, difficulty breathing, skin irritation, difficulty concentrating and remembering, cancer, irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract, and liver damage.

Alternatives point to successfully substituting vinegar in the rinse water of the laundry cycle. We’ve received quite a few comments from our readers finding this approach works well. There are also a number of alternative products on the market. Read our article Fabric Softener: Easy Greening.

Fabric softeners are static cling busters, mostly. One easy way to avoid using them is to use natural fibers.

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dawn B.

8:47AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

I am one of those people who goes for a walk and knows who has clothes in the dryer! I will be sharing this on my facebook page! www.raisingnaturalkids.com thanks!

send a green star

Samantha H.

7:51AM PDT on May 9, 2011

thanks

Sandra W.

12:03PM PST on Jan 22, 2011

Thank you for reminding me of this :)

Gracie G.

11:58AM PST on Jan 22, 2011

We don't use sheets, we use liquid fabric softner. About 2 years ago my Sister became ill and we realized it was fumes from the sheets.

Past Member .

11:57PM PDT on Sep 5, 2010

thank you for posting this. within this last month i just became aware that i was allergic to fabric softeners. it wasn't apparent before until i noticed horrible rashes any place on my body where i perspire the most. it's scary to think about all the toxic garbage they add to these products!

Water Damage Restoration

Trudi G.

7:04AM PDT on Jul 30, 2010

I LIVE IN THE UK, AND AS THE COST OF OUR ELECTRICITY HAS CLIMBED ASTRONOMICALLY SINCE I FIRST BECAME RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING ALL MY OWN HOUSEHOLD BILLS, I SOLD MY TUMBLEDRYER....OK, SO I CAN'T FLUFF MY TOWELS, OR DRY LARGE ITEMS SUCH AS SHEETS QUICKLY, BUT SO WHAT? MY WASHING GETS DRY ON THE CLOTHES LINE IN THE SUMMER, AND ON BLOWY DAYS IN THE SPRING AND AUTUMN, AND A RACK IN FRONT OF A RADIATOR DEALS WITH EVERYTHING AT OTHER TIMES. IMPROVISATION SEEMS TO BE THE NAME OF THE GAME, AND MY ELECTRIC BILLS ARE SMALLER AS A RESULT!

7:03AM PDT on Jul 30, 2010

Sharon C.

12:57PM PDT on May 3, 2010

Since I've been adding plain white vinegar to my rinse water I've had no use at all for fabric softener. Vinegar breaks down any soap residues that are embedded in the fibers. My towels have never been softer or fluffier. Vinegar leaves no residual odor and if I want any of my clothes or bedding to have a scent I put a few drops of essential oils on a piece of cloth and throw it into the drier. I like using lavender for my bedding because it's soothing and induces sleep. :)

Shannon W.

10:28AM PDT on Apr 10, 2010

thank you

Ellinor S.

6:41AM PDT on Mar 14, 2010