Fabric Softeners are used by many people and most haven’t a clue what toxins lie beneath making your clothes smell scented and feel soft. Here is a list of the chemicals found in fabric softener by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the effects they can have on us:
Alpha-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema not for skin contact, and central nervous system damage
Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer
Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
Camphor: Effects central nervous system
Chloroform: Neurotoxin (a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells), anesthetic and carcinogenic, not supposed to be heated
Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders
Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list
Limonene: Known carcinogen (any substance that is directly involved in the exacerbation of cancer)
Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
Pentane: Chemical known to be harmful if inhaled, Central Nervous System depression
Can you imagine these individual chemicals around your family let alone all of them in one container? If you must use something in your laundry for softening try a 1/2 cup of vinegar or a 1/2 cup of baking soda directly to the rinse cycle. 100% Wool dryer balls are also great for softening and reducing dry time in half. You can get MAKE or BUY them. Happy Laundry!
Print
Digg
StumbleUpon
del.icio.us
Facebook
Yahoo! Buzz
Twitter
Google Bookmarks
email
Google Buzz
LinkedIn
One Comment On This Post
I just recently found this out too! I do like to have nice smelling laundry though so I use Shaklee Get Clean Laundry products. The Soft Fabric Concentrate is nontoxic, natural, concentrated, and no phosphates! Plus it smells really good! Check it out for yourself: http://www.itsyourlife2010.com
This is a great article! Keep up the good work!