If there is one easy way to start your journey to a chemical-free life, it’s getting rid of your fabric softener. As a matter of fact, it’s probably the most harmful thing you are coming into contact with on a daily basis in your house. I know, I know. I’ve made some of you incredibly sad, and perhaps even defensive. I know some of you are obsessed with your fabric softeners. If you’re like me, you probably use liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets (this used to be my norm!). It makes everything smell soooooo good! I have a friend from college that used to say she would make a perfume out of Downy if she could (you know who you are!). And you know what? I always laughed when she said this, but I agreed! It smells so good! And come on…that little lamby Snuggle bear with the adorable little voice? He’s the cutest thing that ever bounced on a pile of clean laundry! But he might as well be saying to us, “Hey guys, come dive into a pile of toxic chemicals with me, and let’s get some rashes, asthma and infertility together!” I know…I’ve tainted the good bear’s name. I still love him. I just wish he weren’t the poster child for something that can potentially make us so sick.
Look at this commercial! SO cute! Oy.
If you use fabric softener, these toxic chemicals coat your towels, sheets and clothing so that you absorb toxins through your skin, the largest organ of the body. When you wear chemically “softened” clothes, you inhale these chemicals with every breath. Even if you do not use fabric softener, you can ingest these chemicals through dryer exhaust sending them into the air or simply by working with someone whose clothes have been chemically treated in this way. Fabric softeners are designed to remain in fabric for a long period of time, slowly releasing into the air.
And yes, you can find conflicting studies on the effects of fabric softeners on the human body. Some studies will say that the toxicity levels in certain products are too low to make an impact. Others will say that every problematic respiratory symptom you have is likely due to the toxins in your laundry room products. But wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry? Wouldn’t you rather give your loved ones products that have NO potential to harm them? I don’t want my kids asking this question when they are older, “Is it the products with known toxins that I used over my lifetime that caused this?” No! I want to give them a different future, without the need for those questions. Especially since there are SO many healthy alternatives! And no…they are not more expensive. And no…they are not time consuming. But guys…if you are knowingly trading health for cost and convenience, then it’s likely that nothing I say here will change your mind.
I know the constant flow of new information coming out about what’s healthy or not healthy can be quite frustrating. One day we are avoiding eggs because they cause high in cholesterol, and the next we are making our omelettes because now they are a great source of protein and omega-3s and B vitamins. But let’s not let new and changing studies taint the good sense that God gave us. Let’s not let scientific spats get in the way of us doing what’s best for our families. And if nothing else, let’s remember that old saying, “Everything in moderation.”
“But I’ve never gotten sick before!” you may be saying. Yes, this may be true. And this is how most of us operate. If we don’t see an immediate health risk, or physical evidence of a risk, then we assume we are one of the immune ones…we are the ones who won’t be affected by these chemicals. Maybe that’s true, but maybe you should stop and think about the long-term effects. I know that most of us tend to be in-the-moment thinkers, but for those few of you who are patient and believe that what we do over the next 50 years will have an effect on our bodies at the end of those 50 years…I think you may just be on the right path and your reward will be great. With all that said, for those of you that say you never get sick, have you ever sat down and taken a good long look at your everyday health? How often do you get headaches? Do you have a lot of allergy issues? What about stomach aches? Do you ever get rashes on your skin? Does anyone in your family suffer from respiratory issues or asthma? Sometimes we get used to certain ailments in our lives. They become normal, and we don’t even think of them as sickness because we are so used to them. But perhaps those very things are the things caused by certain harmful chemicals that we ingest or put on our bodies every day. I really don’t want to have to even ask that question any more.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE CHEMICALS KNOWN TO BE IN MANY FABRIC SOFTENERS ON THE MARKET TODAY:
- Alpha Terpineol: can cause central nervous damage and respiratory problems, has been linked to loss of muscle control, depression, and headaches
- Camphor: causes central nervous disorders, is easily absorbed through skin
- Chloroform: a carcinogenic neurotoxin listed on the EPA’s site as hazardous waste
- Benzyl Acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer
- Benzyl Alcohol: respiratory tract irritant and also linked to headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, depression, as well as disorders of the brain and nervous system (depending on the percentage)
- Ethanol: on the EPA’s “hazardous waste” list, can cause central nervous system disorders
- Ethyl Acetate: a narcotic on the EPA’s “hazardous waste” list and is known to cause headaches
- Limonene: a known carcinogen that irritates eyes and skin
- Linalool: can cause central nervous system disorders, depression and depress heart activity
- Pentane: known to cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, and depression
THE ALTERNATIVES
We have been using some of the worst fabric softeners out there, for a VERY long time. I mean…years…upon years. Kirkland Ultra Soft fabric softener is the last one we used before we went chemical-free with our cleaners and softeners. The Environmental Working Group gave this brand an F. And just in case you aren’t sure, an F is the WORST grade you can get when it comes to potentially harmful products. EWG classifies an F in the category of “Highest Concern”, which means that a product graded as an F poses “potentially significant hazards to health or the environment or poor ingredient disclosure”.
But there’s hope! We have found a solution that best suits our family’s needs. We use organic wool dryer balls. These are the ones we purchased, but if you look up wool dryer balls, you will find many options. But $10 is a hell of a lot cheaper than the money we spend on dryer sheets and liquid softener each year. You can also make your own if you feel so inclined. And to give your laundry some of that scent that you love from your old fabric softeners, you can drop a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil on each dryer ball. Now keep in mind, not all essential oils are created the same, and MANY essential oil companies that claim to be 100% pure from the plant are not (the FDA doesn’t have super strict guidelines on regulating purity of essential oils). So do your research and make sure you know where the company’s oils come from. If one company’s oils are much cheaper than the others, there’s probably a reason (usually because they have synthetic fillers in their oils). And you don’t want to negate what you are trying to do (go chemical free) by putting essential oils on your laundry that have chemicals in them! We use Young Living because we have done loads of research and LOVE their mission and the way they care for the people that are a part of the company…and they have their Seed to Seal guarantee, which is basically like farm to table but for essential oils.
HOW TO USE YOUR DRYER BALLS:
- Put all 6 dryer balls in the dryer
- Don’t overstuff your dryer. Two medium-sized loads will likely dry more quickly than one large load.
- If you’re dealing with static electricity after using the dryer balls, it’s likely not due to the balls but due to over-drying. Synthetic fabrics can also cause static, so try separating them out from the rest of the laundry if static is a problem.
- Try spraying your dryer balls with some water if you are still dealing with static. This will up the humidity in your dryer.
- Put two to three drops of your favorite, chemical-free (this is important!) essential oils, on each dryer ball. I like lavender and purification, which both come in Young Living’s premium starter kit. Your laundry will not be flooded with scent like before with your old fabric softener, but it will have a nice soft scent that won’t hurt you or your children (for those of you that have jumped on the parent train).
PERKS OF USING DRYER BALLS INSTEAD OF FABRIC SOFTENER:
- No more chemicals on your skin, or outgassing in your closet until you put them on your skin.
- COST! This is a MUCH cheaper alternative to buying softeners.
- They last a looooong time. Some people use one set of dryer balls for 2-5 years (depending on how much laundry you use).
- The dry time on your laundry is shorter!
- Most people report that their clothes are softer after using dryer balls.
- Did we mention NO chemicals?
And if you don’t want to wait for those dryer balls to arrive from your Amazon Prime order (if you don’t have Amazon Prime, you should look into it. Two words: WORTH IT), you can also add a cup of distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle for softer clothes.
p.s. I have only spoken of the effects these products can potentially have on our bodies. I haven’t even begun to talk about the effects these products can potentially have on the environment (our soils, waters, and wildlife etc.). But that’s another post for another time. And if you’re eager to learn more in that department, I encourage you to start your research now.
*Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and/or information are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with your healthcare provider. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition or are taking any medication, please consult your physician. Nothing you read here should be relied upon to determine dietary changes, a medical diagnosis or courses of treatment.*
