Are Dryer Sheets And Fabric Softeners Harming Your Health?
Detoxification is the cornerstone of colon hydrotherapy, but it has its limits when combatting environmental toxins. Being aware of how we contribute to the toxicity of our planet and making simple changes can have an enormous impact on our health, the health of our planet and all who inhabit it.
Have you ever walked by someone in public, and noticed a strong, perfumy smell wafting off that person? Or, have you found yourself, when wanting to enjoy a lovely, warm day of sunshine and fresh air being forced to go inside your home and close all your windows in order to avoid the unnatural smell of fake perfume permeating the air and lungs which is coming from a neighbor’s dryer vent? Are you aware that this odor is extremely toxic? These odors are toxic to the air we breathe, to our water, to our skin and to landfills; which get filled with plastic bottles and throw away dryer sheets that do not break down for decades and sometimes hundreds of years.
According to research done by health and wellness experts, there are many types of harmful and carcinogenic chemicals in fabric softeners and dryer sheets. Some of the most harmful chemicals include:
- Benzyl acetate – linked to pancreatic cancer
- Benzyl alcohol – linked to upper respiratory tract irritation
- Ethanol – linked to central nervous system disorders
- Limonene – a known carcinogen
- Chloroform – a neurotoxin and carcinogen
- Fragrances and dyes – can cause skin irritation as well as allergic reactions
- Glutaraldehyde – can cause respiratory issues and skin irritations
- Hexylene Glycol – associated with eye, skin and respiratory irritation. May effect liver, kidneys and nervous system
- Hydrochloric Acid – can cause severe burns and skin damage and is toxic when inhaled.
- Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Di-C14-18) – a chemical that can cause serious eye damage or skin irritation.
What makes these chemicals even more toxic is that they stay in your clothes for long periods of time, which is what allows fabrics to stay soft and static-free. Softeners soak into your clothes and then into your skin, causing irritation. Dryer sheets release chemicals and fragrances that stick to your clothes when they heat up. Some of these chemicals react with the air to create formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen, which gets into the lungs. Other common pollutants from dryer sheets are acetaldehyde and benzene, which are also commonly found in vehicle exhaust. Dryer sheets have been linked to respiratory illnesses including asthma, and in some cases, cancer. They also have been shown to be endocrine and hormone disrupters. Do you want this on your skin or in the air you breathe, or worse yet, on your baby’s? It is very easy to remove from yours (and your neighbor’s) environment. Stop using them and look for alternative sources. Listed here are some such alternatives.
Seven Green Ways to Ditch Static Cling Without Resorting to Toxic Dryer Sheets According to diyNatural.
- Hang Dry
- Dry Synthetic Fabrics Separately
- Reduce Drying Time
- Use Distilled Vinegar as a Fabric Softener
- Use Wool or Aluminum Foil Dryer Balls
- Use Soap Nuts
- Use Distilled Vinegar in the Dryer
Educating ourselves is the first line of defense when it comes to our health, then taking the steps to make simple and easy changes.
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