Toxicity of Fabric Softeners

Do you use fabric softener or dryer sheets and want to avoid 'greenwashing'?

If so, have you considered what value they are providing to the textiles or to you? Laundering our personal and interior fabrics is a repetitive task that most of us perform without thinking what products we are using and why we are using them.

I recently presented a seminar at a healthcare medical conference, EcoCare 2010 in London, Ontario. In my topic “Greening of Healthcare Fabrics”, we discussed the toxicity of fabric softener use for hospital fabrics for patients, staff and hospital visitors, and what alternatives to consider instead.

Fabrics should not always require fabric softeners, and should be especially avoided for polyester or ‘microfibre’ fabrics because they interfere with the natural wicking abilities of the fibre which draws moisture away from the body and makes us comfortable.[1] Fabric softeners work as surfactants by reducing the surface tension and allow the spreading of their antibacterial and antifungal properties by leaving a residue on fabrics that does not easily wash off. [2] Fabric softeners are added either to the final rinse cycle of machine washing or in the form of softener-impregnated dryer sheets.

Most fabric softeners contain quaternary ammonium compounds. Called ‘quats’, they may cause skin irritation in the form of contact dermatitis due to their corrosive nature and they may cause bronchoconstriction in those prone to asthma.[3] Quats release formaldehyde and this is enhanced with heat from hot wash water, the dryer or ironing.[4] Formaldehyde is an indoor air pollutant that is carcinogenic (may cause cancer) to humans (Group 1 according to the Center for Disease Control).[5] It is also a neurotoxin (may damage nerves),[6] and formaldehyde is on Environment Canada’s List of Toxic Substances.[7]

Pthalates are added to make the scent in some fabric softeners last longer. They are typically used to enhance fragrances.[8] There are conflicting reports of pthalates linked to lower testosterone levels, testicular atrophy and estrogenic activity.[9]

When I mentioned in the EcoCare seminar that someone suggested using dryer sheets pinned to their trouser legs to keep black fliers away, and asked the audience, “what does that tell us?” One physician in the audience remarked, “black flies are smarter than we are!”

Try avoiding fabric softeners with toxic ingredients and see if static is really a problem. Also select the ‘less dry’ setting if the dryer has one, as static may appear as the fabric becomes drier. An alternative to consider is adding ¼ cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle of washing. Another alternative, is to use Pur_Eco_Sheet. These chemical-free cloths are left in the dryer and periodically laundered themselves.

A neighbour and I were casually discussing toxic chemicals. His eyes glazed over and he said it was better not to know what chemicals are in products. I suggested that he try just one thing. Avoid using fabric softeners with toxic ingredients. It might save him money and limit some of the many chemicals to which he is routinely exposed. He called out to me as I walked the dogs a couple of weeks later. “Dayle, I quit using fabric softener and my clothes are fine!”

To arrange a conscious consumer seminar in your area, please contact the office at info@daylelaing.com .