{"id":19440,"date":"2013-12-03T20:05:14","date_gmt":"2013-12-03T20:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecowatch.com\/?p=314080"},"modified":"2013-12-03T20:05:14","modified_gmt":"2013-12-03T20:05:14","slug":"6-eco-friendly-alternatives-to-toxic-dryer-sheets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leedpoints.com\/green-building-blog\/6-eco-friendly-alternatives-to-toxic-dryer-sheets\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Toxic Dryer Sheets"},"content":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"dryer\"<\/p>\n

By Annie B. Bond<\/a><\/p>\n

There is only one reason why fabric softeners<\/a> and dryer sheets<\/a> are added to the washing machine or dryer: To eliminate static cling.<\/p>\n

Dryer sheets are generally made of a polyester sheet that’s been covered in a fabric softener chemical and, usually, fragrance chemicals. The amount of fragrance used in dryer sheets<\/a> can be significant, representing up to 10 percent of the product’s contents. These chemicals rub off the dryer sheet and coat your clothing in a slimy layer that has the effect of making your clothes feel softer.<\/p>\n[caption id=\"attachment_314086\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"500\"]\"dryer\"<\/a> Photo credit: Shutterstock<\/a>[\/caption]\n

These commercial fabric softeners can make you sick. Many formulas emit chemical fumes like toluene, styrene and phenol that can cause acute respiratory tract inflammation and irritation, says an oft-cited study<\/a> by Anderson Laboratories.<\/p>\n

But what to do when dry winter air makes static-laden skirts scrunch and bunch and pants creep up to your knees?<\/p>\n

Here are six easy, all-natural ways to banish static cling from your laundry:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Add 1\/4 cup (or less) of either vinegar or borax to your laundry wash cycle or add 1\/4 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.<\/li>\n
  2. Switch to a green fabric softener, like those made by Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyer’s, or look for brands made with vegetable-based surfactants, salt and natural scents.<\/li>\n
  3. Choose clothing made from natural fibers, which don’t get static cling as readily.<\/li>\n
  4. Shake out your clothes when you remove them from the dryer.<\/li>\n
  5. For clothes that are already clean, put on the garment. If it is a skirt or dress, reach up underneath the garment and brush the inside of the garment with a metal hanger, top to bottom. If the item is a pair of pants, elongate the hanger by flattening it, then reach up inside each pant leg and brush downward.<\/li>\n
  6. Make your own wool dryer balls<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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