Ditch Your Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softeners! Go Sustainable
The traditional dryer sheet and fabric softeners are known to have many health and environmental impacts. These are not essential to any laundry. And if you do your laundry eco-friendly way, you do not need them at all. Most people just continue to use them out of habit. The companies have done an excellent job of convincing the customers that these are essentials!
The most sustainable alternative to dryer sheets and fabric softeners? Don’t use them.
Why do you Need Fabric Softeners or Dryer Sheets?
The use of fabric softener started in the USA in the 1960s when washing detergents and machines were not advanced. It left the clothes coming out of the washing machine stiff and scratchy.
Fabric softeners – when added to the final rinse, made the cloth come out softer. It reduced the static and wrinkles.
Dryer sheets were invented even later. Someone had to keep watch and add the fabric softener in the last wash cycle. To get around this problem, Dryer sheets were created and finally commercially released in 1975.
The current washing machine and detergents are much advanced. One would not really feel the difference if either of the above are not used.
How does Fabric softener work?
The fabric softener liquid gets added in the final rinse cycle. The chemicals from the softener mix with the water and are used when clothes are washed. The scented chemical makes your clothes come out smelling nice.
It is also known to reduce static, wrinkles. Clothes come out relatively softer. Some fabric softener can protect your clothes from stretching, fading.
What do Dryer Sheets Do?
Dryer sheets do most of the work as the fabric softener but in a relatively cheaper way.
The dryer sheets are thrown inside the dryer while adding the clothes. While drying, the chemicals released from the sheet get added to the clothes.
This softens the fabric, fights static, adds scents of your choice. Some dryer sheets are known to reduce wrinkles.
How are dryer sheets and Fabric softeners harmful?
Eco-warriors and health bloggers have been cautioning for many years about the adverse effect of these. Let us check how are they harmful.
Health Impact
Both Fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain toxic chemicals. A study found out more than 25 VOCs were emitted from dryer vents. Some of them are classified as carcinogenic.
Unfortunately, manufacturers are not needed to list the ingredients for these products. So they get away by using vague terms.
Skin problems, asthma attacks are more common occurrences with adults using scented laundry products. For years, individuals have experienced rashes and breathing troubles that went away after stopping the usage of the product.
Environmental Impact
Traditional dryer sheets are made of nonwoven polyester material. Once used, the material goes back to the landfill. The toxic chemicals emitted from the dryer pollute the environment.
Danger to Marine Life
The chemicals get washed away from the laundry. These finally end up in the ocean along with wastewater. Glutaral is one of the most common preservatives. This toxic chemical is proven to be harmful to marine life.
Natural ways to soften your clothes
Given the harmful effects of these products, it is only smart to look for natural and eco-friendly alternatives. Here are a few natural ways to soften your clothes.
Add White Vinegar or Baking Soda to the fabric softener dispenser of the washing machine. Your clothes will come out as much softer, if not more.
There are also many DIY options and eco-friendly alternatives available in the market today.[link]
Alternatives to Dryer sheets
Check out these alternatives to your traditional dryer balls.[link]
Woolen dryer balls are reusable for up to many years. They are also made from natural fibers. Toss a few in the dryer while loading the wet clothes.
Crunch up aluminum foil and make a small ball. This one is really not a very eco-friendly option though, as disposing of aluminum foil is challenging[link]. But still, this is truly the lesser of two evils.
Bottom Line
Here is a choice you need to make. Go sustainable and help make the earth green,