We Have To Talk About Laundry Detergent And Dryer Sheets

I’ve been using laundry detergent and dryer sheets based on smell for almost as long as I’ve been doing laundry. 

I mean, Snuggle dryer sheets are literally the smell of my childhood. 

So, when I learned that laundry detergent and dryer sheets emit 25 VOCs (volatile organic compounds, aka gasses) per load. I was shook. 

Many of the VOCs emitted are classified as hazardous air pollutants, with bleach being one of the biggest offending ingredients.

Further, the fragrance in dryer sheets can cause irritation to the eyes and your airways, prompt an allergic skin reaction, and exacerbate asthma and migraines. 

Before I knew better, I immediately switched to “natural fragrance” options, THEN I learned that natural fragrance releases just as many hazardous chemicals as the synthetic ones do. *face palm*

QACS are largely to blame (quaternary ammonium compounds). They have been linked to asthma, reproductive issues and cancer. 

Not only that, but the residue from dryer sheets will build up in fabric over time (it’s designed that way).

Like, can I get a win?!

Try wool dryer balls. They help your clothes avoid clumping while tumbling around in your dryer. In the process they retain heat & help along with the whole drying time. They are also said to agitate the fabrics of clothing while bouncing around & this promotes the softening of the fabric. 

Just replace them when they start to unravel!  

Bonus tip: add a few drops of essential oil for smell.

Okay, now… detergent.

Did you know that one of the ingredients in laundry detergent is nonylphenol ethoxylate (an endocrine disruptor) has actually been banned in many countries… just not the US.

Another ingredient is phosphates, otherwise known as toxic fertilizers. These have been known to the increase of algae growth in water ways that then suffocate aquatic life. This happens because of the death of algae and the poison it then releases upon death that goes on to deplete the oxygen levels of water. 

On average 4 cups of detergent (per week) make their way into the water and air. 

Honestly… are we even thinking about what that says about the toxicity in your laundry room? 

Taking it a step further, each piece of clothing you wash has toxic residue on it that gets into the fabric from detergent and then on to your skin. That means you’re rubbing up with endocrine disruptors, fragrance, neurotoxins and potent cancer causing chemicals while you’re working out at the gym, picking up your kids, and snuggling on the couch. 

It’s really no surprise that scientists have recognized a link between the intense rise of degenerative disease in America due to the exposure of chemicals in our homes and at work. Exposure to chemicals in our home are the leading cause of cancer! 

The (very serious) facts are 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women get cancer. 

When it comes to the kiddos, accidents are the number one leading cause of death, and the number 2 in cancer! 

Yes. Read that again. 

So what can we do? 

Watch for titles and descriptions such as “Smell…”, “White…” and “Deep Clean”. They are the biggest hitters when it comes to known harmful ingredients such as:

• Synthetic fragrance

• Natural fragrance

• Unscented (same, just without the scent) 

• Optical brighteners

• Nonylphenol ethoxylates*

• Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)

• Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonates

• Phosphates

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate*

• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

• Dioxane*

• Diethylene Oxide

• Petroleum Distillates

• Phenols

When looking for a safer detergent look for labels that say, “Does Not Contain…”:

• NPE

• Bleach

• SLE

Look for “plant based” detergents. 

Tell me. Do you have any “clean” laundry tips?