Wednesday, May 12, 2010

THE TOXIC DANGERS OF FABRIC SOFTENERS AND LAUNDRY DRYER SHEETS

Hi, I wonder if any of you have thought about the dangers of products some of you use everyday.

The Proliferation Of Chemicals In Everyday Use 

Fabric softeners and laundry dryer sheets contain many toxic chemicals.  These chemicals cling to and embed into the fabric.  When you wear the clothes with these chemicals on and in them they get onto and into your skin.  Remember skin in penetrable.  If you doubt that, think of the medicinal skin patches doctors use to deliver a drug into the body.

The commercials for these products really annoy me, because they try to make it seem like these chemical sheets add freshness and cleanness to clothes, when all they add are fake chemicals and chemical smells. Many of these smells appeal to people, because they have been created with chemicals to deliberately appeal to people.

It is also upsetting, because all of these chemicals end up in our drinking water.  Remember the cycle of water?  What goes down the drains is recycled and eventually ends up in our drinking water. If you are using these products, not only are you absorbing these chemicals, as well as your family, and they are especially harmful to children, but you are adding to the pollution of our water, soil and air.  Everything we do effects many others.  Think Butterfly Effect.

Some Of The Chemicals Used In Dryer Sheets And Fabric Softeners

Here is a list of some of the chemicals used in dryer sheets and fabric softeners.  There can be many more that are not listed.

1.    Alpha-Terpineol: This can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage.

2.   Benzyl acetate: This is linked to pancreatic cancer.

3.   Benzyl Alcohol: This is irritating to the upper respiratory tract,
and causes central nervous system disorders, and in severe cases
even causes death due to respiratory failure.

4.   Camphor: This one causes central nervous system disorders.

5.   Chloroform: A neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.

6.   Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list.

7.   Ethanol: This is on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders.

8.    Limonene: A known carcinogen.

9.    Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders,
and respiratory disturbances.

10.   Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

Safer And Cheaper Alternatives That Really Work 

Many people say that they can't stand static cling, but I think you should be saying I can't stand putting dangerous chemical on, and in my, and my children's bodies.  Besides, there are many safer, cheaper alternatives that you can use to reduce static cling.

One of the best is about 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the final rinse.  The smell goes away once the clothes are dry, and it disinfects the clothes, and softens the clothes, and helps reduce static cling.  As an added benefit is helps remove some of the residual soap that always remains at the end of the wash.
If the vinegar isn't quite to your liking you can try adding baking soda, about 1/2 cup, to the final rinse.

Dryer balls are another alternative, and while they are made up of a chemical rubber type substance, they are much safer and work well.  At least they don't add any more chemical down the drain, and they are much cheaper since you can get them for a couple of dollars. 

You could also use a couple of balls of aluminum foil that you make by shaping aluminum sheets into balls, which works much the same way that the rubber dryer balls work.  If you miss having an added fragrance go with the natural essential oils, and added them to the final rinse or put a few drops on a wash cloth and throw in the dryer.

Please do the research for yourself, you don't have to take my word for it.  But please don't fall into the trap of thinking that "they" wouldn't allow anything into everyday products if they really caused any  harm.  Remind yourself of the chemicals added into cigarettes for decades, the lead added to paint and gasoline for years, and asbestos used in many products even to this day, just to name a few.

Take care and be well.

Good Health and Wealth,

Jeanne

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