Is fabric softener dangerous? Should I try making my own homemade fabric softener? One of the first things I got rid of when I was going green was our fabric softener. Fabric softeners are kind of the worst of the worst when it comes to toxic chemicals in household products. You see, fabric softener and dryer sheets work by leaving a thin layer of toxic chemicals on your clothes. Yuck! So they have long lasting effects unlike other toxic household products. For me it was a no brainer, I didn’t want to absorb toxic chemicals through my skin and I definitely didn’t want the stuff anywhere near my baby.
So, why worry about fabric softener or dryer sheets? Good Question.
According to the health and wellness website Sixwise.com, some of the most harmful ingredients in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener alike include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), limonene (a known carcinogen) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), among others.
Since fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothes for extended periods of time, such chemicals can seep out gradually and be inhaled or absorbed directly through the skin. Liquid fabric softeners are slightly preferable to dryer sheets, as the chemicals in dryer sheets get released into the air when they are heated up in the dryer and can pose a respiratory health risk to those both inside and outside the home (source:scientificamerican.com).
The good news is that there are simple, inexpensive alternatives that will not only soften your clothes but leave them smelling clean and fresh. Try your own homemade fabric softener!
Here is what you need to make your own homemade fabric softener:
Recipe #1
This is the recipe we use it’s simple, cheap and only requires a little bit of effort.
Use 1/4 cup baking soda or 1/4 cup vinegar in your load this should give you the softness you are looking for and if it’s static cling you are worried about use the vinegar.
Recipe #2
Ingredients:
- 3 cups vinegar
- 2 cups organic hair conditioner
- 6 cups distilled water
Directions:
Mix and store in a large container. Use just like you would normally use store bought softener.
Recipe #3
Ingredients:
1 gallon vinega
30-40 drops of essential oil
Directions:
Mix vinegar and essential oil store in large container. Use ¼ cup per load.
That’s it. Very simple inexpensive recipes to keep your laundry soft, clean and chemical free!
