Although they may make your clothes feel soft, be static-free and smell “fresh,” fabric softeners and dryer sheets are some of the top most toxic things we willingly bring into our homes. They cause health problems that 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 are linked to pancreatic cancer, create upper respiratory irritation, which creates coughing. They are absorbed through the skin, can cause central nervous system disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dramatic drops in blood pressure. They may cause narcosis, anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys, convulsions. I mean the list goes on and on!

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 air for everyone else to breathe.

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 the problem worse, most fabric softeners have fragrance added to them in order to cover up the chemical smells. Read my other blogs about fragrance and laundry soap to learn more on that unnecessary toxin.

You guys, there is no reason to expose yourself to these nasty chemicals when natural alternatives exist. Not only are they safer for you, your family and the environment, but they’re much more economical too.

I don’t want to pay good money to add harmful chemicals to my laundry, so making my own laundry crystals was the best option for a fabric softener and scent boost. If you feel the same way, use wool dryer balls with 5-10 drops of essential oils on them, and you can make a jar of scent booster/fabric softener for yourself and easily customize the scents to your preference while still getting soft, wonderful smelling clothes.

In a mason jar combine

1/2 cup Epsom Salt (vehicle for essential oils to be absorbed)

1/2 kosher table salt (softening agent)

1 cup Baking or Washing Soda (softening agent and odor neutralizer)

20 drops essential oil. (odor neutralizer and scent boost)

mix and let sit overnight so the oils incorporate throughout the salt.

To use: Just sprinkle about 2 Tbsp over clothing in the wash tub. I re-use a scoop from the Balance Complete™ or Pure Protein™ powders.

Purification™ essential oil blend is my favorite scent for a fresh, clean scent, but you can substitute any of your favorite essential oils. I like lavender for washing bedding and lemon for bright whites.

Oh and guys, using a cheap product labeled as "essential oil" is still putting harmful chemicals in your clothes that will be absorbed by your skin because those "things" (because whatever they are, they are not plant-based, unadulterated, true and PURE essential oil) those things are just as harmful to your health as any other type of fragrance because they are laced with contaminants of chemical solvents, agricultural pesticides and such, and fillers. Stick with Seed-to-Seal® quality oils even though you are just using them to scent your laundry. You are either investing in your health or contributing to your UN-health. The choice is yours.

Being savvy means making smarter-than-average choices.

BE SAVVY! 

If you're looking for a natural laundry detergent that works really well too, check out my blog on Thieves™ Laundry Soap. It works great with the scent booster recipe!

If you like more savvy alternatives for better, savvy living like this, jump in my free Facebook group Swap It Savvy Community. 

Be Well my friend!