Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Are you ready for a really bold statement? In my honest opinion, and one that I strongly believe is backed by all the data and all the science, your dryer sheets and fabric softeners are most likely the most toxic product in your entire home.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Not only are they full of toxins, but they also have multiple exposure pathways. They’re polluting the air in your home while also soaking your clothing in toxins.

We’ve become really accustomed to having “soft” clothing with no static. But fabric softener and dryer sheets are relatively new additions to our laundry routines. And I promise, it’s possible to have clean, soft laundry without the use of these products.

So, I’m arming you with all of the knowledge you need to swap toxic dryer sheets for more holistic alternatives.

Check out the other episodes in this series:

Episode 12: Spring Cleaning: Why you Should Detox Your Laundry Detergent

Episode 14: Spring Cleaning: Is Your Household Cleaner Greenwashed?

In this Episode, I Cover:

• The history behind dryer sheets and fabric softeners invention
• Why your clothes might feel soft after using these products, but they’re actually not
• One of the most toxic ingredients – quats. How to spot them and why they should be avoided.
• “Clean” alternatives that are greenwashing their fabric softener and dryer sheets
• My suggestions for toxin-free alternatives

How do fabric softeners and dryer sheets work?

When you put clothing in your dryer, a static charge builds up when you have two dissimilar materials together. And in a mixed load of laundry, you have a lot of different fabrics together – wools, cottons, synthetics, etc. The friction between these fabrics allows electrons to be transferred from one material to another, creating a positive or negative charge. They attract one another, resulting in static cling.

Static cling gets worse once clothes are dry because the more rubbing, the more electrons move and the larger the static charge builds up.

The purpose of the ingredients in dryer sheets is to put a waxy chemical mixture that contains positively charged chemicals all over your clothing so they don’t stick together. The heat from the dryer melts this deposit and it leaves the residue all over your clothing and your dryer, which clogs the vents. The waxy film on your clothes feels soft, but the clothes themselves aren’t soft. You’re just feeling that waxy chemical residue.

Sometimes, this backfires. When you use toxic dryer sheets and fabric softeners on certain things, such as microfibers commonly found in towels or athletic clothing, they will coat them and make them unabsorbant. They will repel moisture and no longer absorb water in the washing machine.

Fabric Softeners vs. Dryer Sheets

Fabric softeners contain softening and scent agents. It’s designed to penetrate clothing down to the fibers.

Dryer sheets are infused with surfactants and other chemicals that coat clean fabric with a thin film. The heat activates it, it disperses, and it sits on top of your clothing.

A lot of times, the ingredients cross over. Depending on the brand, they both use fragrances and other common toxins. Download my free Tossing the Toxins Guide for all the ingredients I recommend avoiding.

The Main Ingredient Causing Issues

One of the most toxic ingredients in fabric softeners and dryer sheets are quats. They are a broad class of 700+ compounds. The molecules positive charge helps it stick to a negatively charged surface, like bacteria and viruses. They are found in thousands of household products around the world.

Quats are well recognized as a cause of asthma.

They are known for their antimicrobial properties, which may sound like a good thing, clean clothes don’t need to be washed in more chemicals to keep them germ-free.

Quats are contributing to the development of super-bugs, like MRSA. We already have an over-sanitizing problem causing health issues – you don’t need to add them to your routine.

Scientists have now linked quats to reproductive and developmental problems in animals. And yes, I realize these studies are done on animals, but the problem is that we don’t have any data or studies about the effect on human reproductive processes. And yet, millions of Americans are being exposed to quats on a daily basis.

Ditch the Toxic Dryer Sheets

If you still have dryer sheets or fabric softener in your home, walk out to the garage and throw them away. I know that sounds dramatic, but as one of the most toxic household products in my opinion, it’s worth just tossing and getting something cleaner. Not to mention, more sustainable!

I want this Spring Cleaning series to be as comprehensive as possible, so download my Green Cleaning Guide below for a clear breakdown that will make shopping so easy.

And shop all my toxin-free recommendations below in my shopping guide.

Related Episodes

• Episode 1: What the F*ck is an Endocrine Disruptor, Anyway?
• Episode 112: How Truly Free Is Revolutionizing Laundry and Online Shopping with CEO Stephen Ezell
• Episode 124: How to Find a Toxin Free Laundry Detergent that ACTUALLY WORKS?!

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WEEK’S EPISODE, PLEASE:

• Leave a positive review or rating wherever you listen
• Shop toxin-free products on my Toxin Free Shopping Guide
• Download your free Tossing the Toxins Guide
• Post a screenshot, what you loved, and tag me on Instagram @wendy_toxinfreeish
• Want to ask me a question to get answered on the podcast? Leave me a voice message here.