Warning

Platinum Member Joined: May 16 2005 Posts: 6262

Q: What is fabric softener made of and is it harmful? I personally don�t use it; I quite enjoy stiff jeans and crispy towels. But my neighbors do. And it seems many (most?) people do use it from the way everyone smells.

A: Although they may make your clothes feel soft, be static-free and smell �fresh,� fabric softeners and dryer sheets will also make them toxic. Health problems 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 include:

Benzyl Acetate: Is linked to pancreatic cancer and its vapors can be irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, creating coughing. Can be absorbed through the skin.

Benzyl Alcohol: This upper respiratory tract irritant can cause central nervous system (CNS) disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dramatic drops in blood pressure.

Ethyl Acetate: This narcotic is on the EPA�s Hazardous Waste list. Irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract, it may cause headache and narcosis, anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys.

Limonene: A known carcinogen, as well as an eye and skin irritant and sensitizer.

A-Terpineol: Causes CNS disorders and is highly irritating to mucous membranes. Aspiration into the lungs can produce respiratory depression, pneumonia or even fatal edema.

Camphor: Causes CNS disorders and is on the EPA�s Hazardous Waste list. Is easily absorbed through body tissues, causing irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Also dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions.

Linalool: A narcotic that causes CNS disorders and respiratory disturbances, which, in animal testing, have led to death.

Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic and on the EPA�s Hazardous Waste list. Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of consciousness. Aggravates disorders of the kidney, liver, heart and skin disorders. Especially a problem when subjected to heat.

That is true for most of these chemicals, which are more dangerous when heated in clothes dryers, making dryer sheets worse than liquid softeners. And, of course, dryers exhaust the toxic fumes into neighborhood air.

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 problem worse, most fabric softeners have fragrance added to them in order to cover up the chemical smells. For many reasons, this is one type of product to avoid.

Keep Your Clothes Soft and Cling-Free, Naturally

There�s no reason to expose yourself to these risky chemicals when natural alternatives exist. Not only are they safer for you, your family and the environment, but they�re often much more economical too.

Add a quarter cup of baking soda to wash cycle to soften clothes

Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to wash or rinse cycle to soften clothes (don�t use bleach at the same time)

Dry your clothes outside on a clothesline to eliminate static cling

A piece of wadded up aluminum foil placed in the dryer with clothes will cut down on static cling

Use less laundry detergent for softer clothes

Install a water softener

If you really feel that you need to use a commercial product, check out your local health food store for a natural fabric softener or reusable cloth dryer sheets that use a natural base like soy instead of chemicals.

Gold Member Joined: Mar 28 2005 Posts: 1069

scary!! who made this study?

Posted: Wed, Nov 15 2006, 9:19 pm Post subject: re: warning

wow, this is quiet disturbing. Thank you for posting this info.

Posted: Wed, Nov 15 2006, 10:13 pm Post subject: re: warning

Thank-You I will not use them again. It's cheaper and perhaps safer too 8)

Posted: Thu, Nov 16 2006, 11:13 am Post subject: re: warning

I stopped using fabric softener two years ago and still have a mega bottle of Downy sitting around Razz

You know what? I don't even miss the soft, comfy feeling it gives the clothes. I found I really can do without it Wink

BTW, where did you find this study?
_________________
I have bursts of being a lady, but it doesn't last long.
(Shelley Winters)

Platinum Member Joined: May 16 2005 Posts: 6262

I went to a health awareness event and there were so many things I learned.

a few of the were:

we shouldnt use styrfoam for hot things
dont put anything plastic in the microwave
not to use air refreshener
and not to use non presperant deodarant

threre were many more ingredients to check in products and antioxodents we can eat and things we can do to stay healthy. this doctor was saying how we should do these things to help prevent cancer (chv) and other side effects..... so wehn I got home it make me start thinking about other things that have some ingredients we spoke about that are toxic. in my search I realized that fabric softener does and I should stop using it.... I though it might be helpful to others too Smile

Posted: Thu, Nov 16 2006, 12:25 pm Post subject:

well, I never used fabric softener, so I won't start now.

Platinum Member Joined: May 16 2005 Posts: 6262

is there anything u use to make the clothes soft? or are they fine just with plain detergant?

Posted: Thu, Nov 16 2006, 12:39 pm Post subject:

what is wrong with putting plastic in the microwave - I do this alot at work (don't have a microwave at home) to quickly warm up my lunch or nuke some veggie patties.

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 11 2004 Posts: 19241

I never used fabric softener or dryer sheets. I just use any detergent with some oxiclean if the clothing is stained and a bit of baking soda because I read that it strengthens the cleaning power of the detergent (and other soaps too).

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 11 2004 Posts: 19241

Platinum Member Joined: May 16 2005 Posts: 6262

the plastic goes into the food, and then u eat poisen.