What Are Fabric Softeners?

Function

• The main function of fabric softeners is to remove static cling from fabric, which can make it soft and fluffy. Fabric softeners coat clothing with positively charged surfactants, which are are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, have lubricant properties and attach themselves to the negatively charged areas of fibers, thereby neutralizing their charge.

Harmful Ingredients

• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and material safety data sheets (MSDS), the chemicals in fabric softeners can be harmful to your health. These chemicals include benzyl acetate, which is linked to pancreatic cancer; benzyl alcohol, which causes central nervous system disorders and limonene, which is a known carcinogen. Other harmful ingredients are ethyl acetate, A-Terpineol, camphor, linalool, chloroform and phthalates. These chemicals' effects are more severe when heated in a dryer, making dryer sheets more dangerous than liquid softeners.

Effects

• According to the EPA and to the National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation, health problems linked to chemicals in fabric softeners, when exposed either from inhalation from the exhaust of dryers or from skin contact with the fabric, include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and respiratory problems, headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Other effects include damage to the liver and kidneys, pneumonia or even fatal edema. Twitching muscles and convulsions, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, cancer, allergies and reproductive system problems are other effects.

Alternatives

• One alternative to using fabric softener is to use natural fabrics because they don't develop static. You can also use reusable, PVC-free dryer balls for soft, fluffy, static-free clothes. Instead of using fabric softener, simply shake out clothes or dry them outside on a clothesline to eliminate static cling. Use "green" fabric softener brands that are made without harmful chemicals. Likewise, you can add a quarter cup of baking soda or white vinegar when you wash your clothes to soften them.