It makes sense to use fabric softeners. With minimal stretching, fading, and pilling, these well-liked washing products guarantee soft, fragrant clothing that is wrinkle- and static-free. However, in-wash fabric softeners and heat-activated dryer sheets may contain a potent cocktail of chemicals that can be hazardous to your health, the environment, and the air both inside and outside of your house.
That soft feeling you get from fabric softeners can be harming your health. Quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, give clothing a soft, wearable feel shortly after washing, however some have been linked to asthma attacks and some have been shown to be hazardous to the reproductive system.Avoid these substances by checking labels and product websites for them: distearyldimonium chloride and substances with “monium chloride” as a final component, as well as ambiguous words like “cationic surfactant” and “biodegradable fabric softening agent.”
Dangers of Fragrance
Phthalates, which spread aroma, synthetic musks like galaxolide, which build up in the body, and other ingredients may be present in your fabric softener.Allergies, skin irritations including dermatitis, respiratory problems, and possible reproductive harm can all be brought on by fragrance mixtures. According to research, scents can be harmful to your health when they are released outside, especially if you have asthma or are chemically sensitive.
A research study called the “International Prevalence of Fragrance Sensitivity” found the following facts. “Fragrance sensitivity” is a health condition characterized by adverse health effects from exposure to fragranced consumer products (Caress and Steinemann 2009). A “fragranced consumer product” (or “fragranced product”) is a product that contains an added fragrance or that is largely comprised of fragrance (Steinemann 2016). Fragranced products can include air fresheners, deodorizers, cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, essential oils, scented candles, soaps, personal care products, colognes, and hand sanitizers, to name a few out of numerous everyday items. A single “fragrance” in a product is typically a complex mixture of dozens of compounds, many derived from petrochemicals (Sell 2006), among nearly 4000 documented fragrance ingredients (IFRA 2016).
Health effects were categorized as follows: (a) migraine headaches; (b) asthma attacks; (c) neurological problems (e.g., dizziness, seizures, head pain, fainting, loss of coordination); (d) respiratory problems (e.g., difficulty breathing, coughing, shortness of breath); (e) skin problems (e.g., rashes, hives, red skin, tingling skin, dermatitis); (f) cognitive problems (e.g., difficulties thinking, concentrating, or remembering); (g) mucosal symptoms (e.g., watery or red eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing); (h) immune system problems (e.g., swollen lymph glands, fever, fatigue); (i) gastrointestinal problems (e.g., nausea, bloating, cramping, diarrhea); (j) cardiovascular problems (e.g., fast or irregular heartbeat, jitteriness, chest discomfort); (k) musculoskeletal problems (e.g., muscle or joint pain, cramps, weakness). Source:
Dyes and Preservatives
Phthalates, which spread aroma, synthetic musks like galaxolide, which build up in the body, and other ingredients may be present in your fabric softener.The liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system can be harmed by phthalates, a family of industrial chemicals used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and as solvents in cosmetics and other consumer goods.
Allergies, skin irritations including dermatitis, respiratory problems, and possible reproductive harm can all be brought on by fragrance mixtures. According to research, scents can be harmful to your health when they are released outside, especially if you have asthma or are chemically sensitive.
The best thing to do is to look for eco- friendly fabric softeners.
The use of natural, organic components is one of the key qualities to seek for in an eco-friendly fabric softener. There should be no plastic, synthetic dyes, or colorants in the final product. You’ll undoubtedly find substances like “Triethanolamine Dialkylester Methosulphate” on the ingredients list that sound frightening. Yet, these are merely the scientific names for chemicals that come from plants (this particular one softens fabrics.
Using a fabric softener that is 100% free of animal cruelty should be at the top of your list because many cleaning products are tested on animals. The environmental impact of products that are recyclable or totally compostable is significantly reduced, especially if the products’ packaging is recyclable and constructed of recycled materials.
One great products sold at Walmart are the Dropps Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent Pods, Lavender Eucalyptus, 32 Count.
Wool Dryer Balls Organic XL 6-Pack by Ecoigy- Sold at Walmart
Mongdies Eco-Friendly Fabric Softener- Mild Softner of Vegetable Flexible Ingredients and Natural oils with 3 X high-concentration – 1000ml- Sold at Walmart
