Green Options

Did you realize that while you’re trying to make your family’s clothes snuggly-soft and static-free you may be doing more harm than good?

It’s true:  many commercial dryer sheets are loaded with chemicals and fragrances that can be absorbed into the skin and have nasty side effects.

You won’t find a list of ‘ingredients’ on the package of most dryer sheets; but, according to SixWise.com, here are some chemicals that have been found in dryer sheets and mainstream fabric softeners:

• Benzyl Acetate:  Linked to pancreatic cancer
• Benzly Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
• Ethanol: Can cause central nervous system damage
• A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems 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: Narcotic that casues central nervous system disorders
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

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

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