Oh yes, even something as innocuous and innocent as Dryer Sheets needs to be questioned and scrutinized.
The easiest solution is just to do away with them entirely and call it a day. But maybe you're really attached to your fluffy clothes smelling a certain way or maybe it's part of your laundry ritual to which you're emotionally tied. Whatever your reason, you don't have to give up dryer sheets entirely. But first, a recap!
Here is a screenshot of a very popular and very common brand of Dryer Sheets with the ingredient list I found online that is identical to the other very popular and very common brand of dryer sheets:
So what is Dipalmethyl Hydroxyethylammoinum Methosulfate?
I had no idea either so I did some research. It's a derivative of palm oil so it can claim to be biodegradable but then there's the entire topic of orangutans on the brink of extinction due to deforestation destroying their natural habitat so people can plant more palm trees for palm oil (this practice also adds to global warming from the emissions it produces and the drastic reduction of oxygen-producing forests).
Dipalmethyl Hydroxyethylammoinum Methosulfate isn't great for your health, either. According to the Environmental Working Group, it's a known human toxicant and/or allergen and was shown to cause developmental and/or reproductive issues in studies with mice. Read more about it here.
The dryer sheets themselves are made out of polyester - polyester is made from petroleum (adding to all of the issues involving extracting oil and global warming) and using them will create more microplastics in the world.
And then there's the issue of synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances contain ingredients that are carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors, and are toxic to our reproductive systems. Migraines, headaches, sinus irritation and other allergic reactions are linked to synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances are not regulated and furthermore, their true ingredients don't have to be listed because according to the FDA website, "the FDA requires the list of ingredients under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). This law is not allowed to be used to force a company to tell “trade secrets.” Fragrance and flavor formulas are complex mixtures of many different natural and synthetic chemical ingredients, and they are the kinds of cosmetic components that are most likely to be “trade secrets.”" Read more about it here.
Further furthermore, the ingredients listed are just the ones the company HAS to list as cleaning product makers don't have to list anything that isn't an active ingredient or known to be hazardous. More about that here.
So instead of conventional Dryer Sheets, consider making your own! Chuck came up with this recipe and we've used it ever since (this is one of two plastic containers in the house btw. It's reusable and it's not used it for food):
1) Cut up an old t-shirt or other cotton fabric ready to be upcycled
2) Pour essential oil of your choosing (we like Lavender) in a container and fill with water
3) Place cloth in container and saturate with the mixture
4) Put a few pieces of the soaked cloth in your dryer with every load
The fragrance is delicate and mild but definitely makes the laundry fresher. You can also use White Vinegar instead of water or half and half if you really want to freshen up your laundry as it will absorb any unpleasant odors (I'm constantly in awe of White Vinegar!).
Added bonus if you throw in wool dryer balls, which help cut down on the amount of time you need to dry your clothes. The balls help keep clothing separated so the hot air can circulate more evenly. Please make sure they are pure wool as there are plastic versions available.
As always, thanks for reading and everything you do.