Dryer sheet might look innocent, but it is in my top 3 list of toxic products to remove from your home. One of the biggest concerns about dryer sheets is how toxic they are to us and to our environment. They are full chemicals from their fragrance to their fabric-softening aspects with several being carcinogenic.
Believe it or not some people get a scratchy throat and have skin irritations after doing their laundry. This is often due to the formaldehyde that is in the dryer sheets themselves. This is a common ingredient in many household cleaners even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states it can “make you sick”. Formaldehyde can do more than “make you sick” and has been linked to severe skin, nose, eye and throat irritation, as well as vascular collapse and pneumonia.
Dryer sheets can also cause asthma. The ingredients known as quaternary ammonium or “quats” is used to soften fabric and prevent static is found to be significant and linked to asthma.
Dryer sheets often disrupt our hormones as well and disrupt our endocrine system. Many brands of dryer sheets contain phthalates. Disrupting our endocrine system with these chemicals can result in infertility, premature ovarian failure and non-reproductive disorders.
Studies have shown that dichlorobenzene, a chemical used in dryer sheets to reduce static, can cause kidney and liver tumors as well. The Environmental Protection Agency also labels this chemical as a possible human carcinogen. Benzyl acetate is also used in dryer sheets, and it appears to increase significant incidence of carcinoma especially after prolonged use.
Not only do dryer sheets affect us, they also affect our environment by the exhaust from our dryers putting these hazardous air pollutants into the air and can eventually seep into lakes and rivers around us.
The good news is we can offer simple solutions to keep your clothes soft and smelling good as well!
My favorite recommendation is wool dryer balls. You can easily purchase these on Amazon. https://amzn.to/3OmYZ3h
Wool Dryer Balls contain no toxins. They help dry clothes faster; they keep static at bay and they are fragrance free.
If you want your clothes to have a scent you can use essential oils on them such as lavender or a citrus scent This is my favorite https://gethealthy.shop/products/lavendar-essential-oil, just put a few drops on the balls before you start your dryer and your clothes will smell amazing!
