Q:
What is fabric softener made of and is it harmful? I personally don’t use it; I
quite enjoy stiff jeans and crispy towels. But my neighbors do. And it seems
many (most?) people do use it from the way everyone smells.
A: Although they may make your clothes feel soft, be
static-free and smell “fresh,” fabric softeners and dryer sheets will also make
them toxic. Health problems can range from headache, lightheadedness and fatigue
to serious organ and central nervous system damage, and even cancer.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), there is a mind-boggling
list of dangerous petrochemicals in these products, many of them used in
untested combinations. They include:
-
Benzyl Acetate: Is linked to pancreatic cancer and its vapors
can be irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, creating coughing. Can be
absorbed through the skin.
-
Benzyl Alcohol: This upper respiratory tract irritant can cause
central nervous system (CNS) disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness
and dramatic drops in blood pressure.
-
Ethyl Acetate: This narcotic is on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste
list. Irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract, it may cause headache
and narcosis, anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys.
-
Limonene: A known carcinogen, as well as an eye and skin
irritant and sensitizer.
-
A-Terpineol: Causes CNS disorders and is highly irritating
to mucous membranes. Aspiration into the lungs can produce respiratory
depression, pneumonia or even fatal edema.
-
Camphor: Causes CNS disorders and is on the EPA’s Hazardous
Waste list. Is easily absorbed through body tissues, causing irritation of
eyes, nose and throat. Also dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles
and convulsions.
-
Linalool: A narcotic that causes CNS disorders and
respiratory disturbances, which, in animal testing, have led to death.
-
Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic and on
the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Inhalation of vapors may cause headache,
nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and
loss of consciousness. Aggravates disorders of the kidney, liver, heart and
skin disorders. Especially a problem when subjected to heat.
-
Phthalates: Notorious for being used in children's plastic
toys and other baby products, phthalates are also used in scented products
to help the scent last longer. They have been implicated in breast cancer,
allergies, reproductive system problems.
The effects of most of these chemicals are more acute when
heated in clothes dryers, making dryer sheets worse than liquid softeners. And,
of course, dryers exhaust the toxic fumes into neighborhood air.
Because fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing, the
chemicals are slowly released, either into the air for you to inhale or onto
your skin for you to absorb. You may have noticed that using fabric softener
sheets results in less-absorbent towels; that’s because of the residue that is
left in the towels.
That residue can clog up the dryer’s vents, causing some dryer
manufacturers to include a warning in their user manuals not to use fabric
softener sheets, or a clause stating that use of chemical-based dryer sheets
will void the dryer’s warranty.
Babies, children, older people and those who are already sick
are especially at risk from these chemicals. Damage can be permanent, causing
lifelong illness.
Babies often react with rashes, frequent crying and/or diarrhea.
Some researchers have even suggested the need for research into a possible
connection between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the use of these
products for washing baby clothes and bedding. They say that in at least some
cases of SIDS, an anaphylactic reaction is responsible, so fabric softener, with
its many chemical components, shouldn’t be ruled out as a possible cause.
To make problem worse, most fabric softeners have fragrance
added to them in order to cover up the chemical smells. For many reasons, this
is one type of product to avoid.
Keep Your Clothes Soft and Cling-Free, Naturally
There’s no reason to expose yourself to these risky chemicals
when natural alternatives exist. Not only are they safer for you, your family
and the environment, but they’re often much more economical too.
-
Add a quarter cup of baking soda to wash cycle to soften
clothes
-
Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to wash or rinse cycle to
soften clothes (don’t use bleach at the same time)
-
Dry your clothes outside on a clothesline to eliminate
static cling
-
A piece of wadded up aluminum foil placed in the dryer with
clothes will cut down on static cling
-
Use less laundry detergent for softer clothes
-
Install a water softener
-
If you really feel that you need to use a commercial
product, check out your local health food store for a natural fabric
softener or reusable cloth dryer sheets that use a natural base like soy
instead of chemicals.
Wendy Priesnitz is
the Editor of Natural Life Magazine and a journalist with over 35 years of
experience. She has
also authored nine
books.
Visit her
website.
