I can’t remember the last time I used fabric softener, but it’s safe to say it happened more than a decade ago.
I also can’t remember why I stopped. It might have been because the overpowering fragrances of my laundry detergent and fabric softener seemed to clash. It might have been because my washing machine didn’t have a fabric softener receptacle and I never cared for dryer sheets. Or, I just might have been trying to save a little money on my grocery bills.
Whatever the reason, I never missed it. And I haven’t noticed much of a difference in my clothes throughout the years.
I’m sharing all of this just to let you know that I’m not personally affected by the safety of fabric softeners. But I bet a lot of you are.
Failing grades
Last week I shared about the disappointing ratings many laundry products have received from the Environmental Working Group.
If you take a closer look at the ratings, only one fabric softener tested received an A (it’s the Lavender Mint version of Green Shield Organic Fabric Softener). Five received B’s and twelve received C’s. One-hundred forty-one fabric softeners received D’s and F’s.
What is in fabric softeners?
So what are some of the ingredients that make the products so dangerous?
- One ingredient of concern is “fabric softeners.” The real fabric softening chemical is didecyldimethylammonium chloride. It aggravates allergies and is harmful if swallowed.
- Cationic fabric softeners also are used and actually are the chemical Methyl bis-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (C14-18). These fabric softeners also aggravate allergies.
- Colors found in fabric softeners also are concerning. For instant, C.I. Solvent Yellow 14 is suspected to cause cancer and genetic defects. It also harms aquatic life.
What’s next?
Never fear – I do have some good news. Tomorrow I’ll share one natural, safe and crafty alternative to fabric softeners.
Talk back
Do you regularly use fabric softeners? Are you pleased with the products? Would you be interested in a safer choice?
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'Becca says
My mom never used fabric softeners because they make my dad sneeze and break out in a rash. He’s not sensitive to fragrances in general, so it must be one of the other chemicals in fabric softener. We did have a lot of trouble with static cling, though–I remember amusing myself after bedtime by putting my head under the covers and pulling the sheet away from my PJs to watch the sparks! :-)
As a teenager I started line-drying laundry and never looked back! No more static cling, and it saves money and energy, too!
PK says
I haven’t used fabric softeners since I was pregnant with my first child and haven’t missed them. I had been a huge fan of http://www.ewg.org/skindeep , but for some reason, they no longer list some specific products that haven’t been updated and even no longer mention complete companies which had previously shown their products to be high on their toxic scale e.g. Mary Kay cosmetics which seems rather suspicious as I know how much power big companies yield and that would look bad for Mary Kay and their gazillion consultants. They also no longer list: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent Pacs 50 ct as a great detergent to use according to their scale. I have no clue why. According to the mnf, nothing has changed with it. Anyway, that is the detergent I have been using and I LOVE IT! So nice to know it’s safe for kids, affordable, accessible (best price I’ve found is Target.com) and it works great. Just had to share that detergent. It’s so hard to find safe detergent that you can even find let alone afford.