Change #3-Dryer Sheets/Fabric Softener

*First of all, a little update on my headache/dry-cleaning experiment*

I am happy to report that I have not had a single headache at work since I stopped sending my labcoats to the cleaners! I talked to my friend and co-worker, M, about it as well. M has also stopped having headaches! She said that she took ibuprofen almost daily at work, but has not had to take any since she started washing her labcoat at home!

So now that I'm reading labels, I looked at my bounce dryer sheet box to see what the sheets were made of. I found a very vague "Bounce contains cationic softeners." I looked up the MSDS for Bounce free and sensitive (sounds harmless, right?), and found the only chemical listed is Stearic Acid. Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that can be derived from plants, like the coconut, or animals, like pigs and cows. Even euthanized dogs and cats from shelters. Ew. I had to wonder, if they won't list something simple like Stearic Acid, what else are they not listing?! Apparently, there aren't many rules that companies have to follow for listing ingredients in things like dryer sheets. And there are even more lenient rules on chemicals used to cover up the smell of other chemicals-such as those that are probably  making my dryer sheets "free and sensitive."  Even more comical to me was the fact that the MSDS for scented Gain fabric softeners, such as Mango Tango and the original Fresh Scent, also listed Stearic Acid as the only chemical. Seriously? Studies commissioned from the EPA that actually tested the chemical gases coming off of different household products found up to 28 different chemicals being emitted from one dryer sheet. And just like the dry cleaning and laundry detergent chemicals, they do not do the body good.

The dryer sheets that smell so good are the worst offenders. Remember, fragrance equals chemicals! (unless you are using something natural like essential oils!)

These are just 5 of the chemicals that were "caught" coming off of the dryer sheets in the EPA study:

Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer

A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage.

Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list.

Limonene: Known carcinogen.

Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.

No thanks!

I have been using reusable dryer sheets for the last 10 loads of my laundry and I love them! They are chemical free and can be used 500 times. Several different types are sold on Amazon. They have done really well with removing static in the dryer! Some people love to used wool dryer balls in place of dryer sheets, and some people use vinegar in their rinse cycle. Try something new! You will "Gain" chemical free laundry, and your budget will start to "Bounce" back!   :)