|
Sponsor
|
|
Are dryer sheets part of your laundry routine?
Should they be? Are there alternatives?
Why do you care?
- To help keep clothes static-free, soft and fluffy and to
reduce wrinkles, mainstream dryer sheets use chemicals, such
as: Benzyl Acetate - linked to pancreatic cancer, Limonene
- a known carcinogen and Chloroform - neurotoxin and carcinogen.1
- Dryer sheets also contain artificial fragrances, which have
known negative effects
on our body when inhaled or absorb through skin. See e-bulletins
- Get
a Whiff of this and The
Nose Knows.
- Exactly which chemicals are in the available products is
hard to determine, as manufacturers do not need to disclose
ingredients to consumers.
- Many of these chemicals become more dangerous when heated
(like in the dryer?); creating toxic fumes that are released
into the air. The chemicals are also made to stay on your
clothes, slowly releasing in the air and skin.
- The residue from dryer sheets can clog your dryer's vents;
some dryer manufacturers include a warning that if you use
chemical-based dryer sheets your warranty is void.
The Know How
- There are several safe alternatives, such as static eliminator
cloths and dryer balls - look for products that state chemical
and fragrance free.
- Here are a few tips to life without dryer sheets:
- Don't dry synthetic and cotton fabrics together, this
increase static cling. Better yet hang synthetics to dry
as they dry fairly quickly.
- If possible air dry clothes - indoors or outdoors.
- For more laundry tips take a look at our Laundry
Basket.
- If you have a tip please add it to our blog.
- Now if you have a stack of dryer sheets at home and you
hate to waste them you can use them to repel mosquitoes and
ants. Now that makes you wonder.
Know and Tell
- A neighbour of Patti and Tamey's mentioned upon hearing
this months "Home" topic, that she never has used
dryer sheets and wondered why you need something to get rid
of static cling. She suggests just pulling the clothes apart.
- Tamey was a dryer sheet user for years, as unlike her neighbour
Tamey hates the feel of static clothes on her hands. However
she has not used dryer sheets for the last year and it happy
to report there isn't much static in the chemical free world!
See product reviews.
- Patti never really used dryer sheets, but after trying a
few alternatives for this e-bulletin, she is sold on a little
scented sachet that gives a hint of natural scent to her sheets
and towels and works on the static too.
1 Natural Life Magazine, Are
Soft Clothes Really Worth It?
|
