Daily Tip: Skip the Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets and fabric softeners are used to reduce static cling, soften fabrics and make our laundry smell good. But when you throw these products into the washer or dryer you’re coating your clothes with chemicals like benzyl acetate, camphor, limonene, and chloroform. Before you do your next load, try a few alternatives and you might find you can do your laundry without the toxins.
Instead of using dryer sheets or fabric softeners you can:
- Add white vinegar to the wash cycle or baking soda to the rinse cycle (but if you use vinegar, don’t also use bleach as this can be a toxic combo).
- Opt out of the dryer and hang dry your garments on clothes lines or drying racks. Or dry your clothes until they are lightly damp, then hang to dry.
- Make your own or purchase lavender sachets to throw in the dryer.
- Buy eco-friendly laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dyer sheets, such as Seventh Generation.
And a note from Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind - don’t use dryer sheets on your pets.
Amy says: I hang dry a lot of my clothes simply because I don’t want them shrinking in the dryer. But for the stuff I do tumble dry, I haven’t been able to give up the dryer sheets so I’ve opted for the eco-friendly version.
More information on dryer sheets and fabric softeners:
Care2 Living - No More Static Cling
News Target.com - Warning: many dryer sheets contain cancer causing chemicals
Global Healing Center - The Toxic Danger of Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets
More laundry tips from GO:
Daily Tip: Clean the Lint Trap on Your Dryer and Save Energy!
Daily Tip: The Solar Dryer - Free
Lighter Footstep: Why You Shouldn’t Use Dryer Sheets to Control Pet Hair
Tags: Daily Tips, dryer, dryer sheets, fabric softener, Home and Garden, laundry, washer
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August 13th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
You can also put a few drops of your favorite scent essential oil on a small cloth and put that in with your clothes in the dryer. Softens and makes them smell good!
August 14th, 2007 at 10:24 am
If you must tumble-dry some clothes, another consideration are dryer balls (example). They’ll allow you to dry clothes without fabric softeners.
I’ve been using them for a few weeks, and they’re going great. Though I’m still looking for good options for those items I hang up on the outdoor washing line or indoor clothes horse…
August 14th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
We also use the dryer balls now and our clothes are softer than before. We also put essential oils either in the wash itself or in the dryer. Makes the clothes come out with a nice smell.
August 16th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
HI!!
What kind of essentials oils have you used for your laundry?
I’ve never tried any of these user suggestions before and found them interesting. I would like to give them a try although I have also never used dryer sheets or fabric softener before either.
Thanks.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Does any natural company really make drier sheets? I can’t find any on the Seventh Generation site. My Mother won’t stop using them even though I have trouble breathing around them. She swears there is too much wrinking and static unless she uses the dryer.
If I have to dry something in the dryer everything comes out smelling like that toxic junk and again I have trouble breathing. I finally convinced her to call Wild Oats store and they acted like she was nuts to even ask for a natural dryer sheet.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:19 am
According to Wikipedia:
Benzyl Acetate (CAS number 140-11-4) is an organic compound with the molecular formula C9H10O2. It is the ester formed by condensation of benzyl alcohol and acetic acid.
Benzyl acetate is found naturally in many flowers. It is the primary constituent of the essential oils from the flowers jasmine, ylang-ylang and tobira. It has pleasant sweet aroma reminiscent of jasmine. Consequently, it is used widely in perfumery and cosmetics for its aroma and in flavorings to impart apple and pear flavors.
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Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), a large evergreen tree found in Asia (particularly in Borneo and Taiwan, hence its alternate name).
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Limonene is a hydrocarbon, classed as a terpene. It is a colourless liquid at room temperatures with an extremely strong smell of oranges. It takes its name from the lemon, as the rind of the lemon, like other citrus fruits, contains considerable amounts of this chemical compound, which is responsible for much of their smell.
Sound the all clear. Another hyper over-reaction averted.
It’s funny how hystaria is so easily started when people are conditioned to believe it without doing their own research.