Saying 'no' to fabric softener.As I was enjoying your latest issue, a sentence in the article, "Let It All Hang Out!" (House & Home, September/October 2006) startled star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. me into awareness. In the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a fine discussion about saving energy by avoiding the clothes dryer, I found, "If you don't like to deal with the stiffer, sometimes-wrinkled fabric that results from al fresco drying, add a bit of fabric softener Fabric softener (also called Fabric Conditioner) is used to prevent static cling and make fabric softer. Popular brand names include Lenor, Lenor/Downy, Snuggle, and Comfort. into your wash, throw it into the dryer for five minutes, and presto, the softener is activated." Activated indeed! Consider the following quote from www.jrussellshealth. com/chemsensair.html: "Fabric softeners contain some of the most toxic chemicals (like chloroform chloroform (klôr`əfôrm) or trichloromethane (trī'klôrōmĕth`ān), CHCl3 , benzyl acetate and pentane pen·tane n. Any of three colorless, flammable isomeric hydrocarbons, C5H12, derived from petroleum and used as solvents. ) that are known to cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain and nerves. These chemicals are even more dangerous when heated in a clothes dryer. The toxic fumes fumes odorous gases and other volatile materials; inhalation of irritating fumes causes coughing and, if sufficiently severe, irreversible pulmonary edema. then go into the neighborhood air and everyone for blocks around is forced to breathe them in. Babies, children, older people, and people who are already sick are especially hurt by these chemicals, and the damage can be permanent, causing lifelong illness." If this sounds like a strong statement, be assured that, as the director of an organization educating about toxic chemicals and products in everyday life, I have seen more than enough evidence to support it. There are many less toxic options for avoiding that fabric stiffness which I, too, find unpleasant. From my favorite standbys, baking soda baking soda: see sodium bicarbonate. and vinegar, to products designed for this purpose, softening one's wash need not turn it into a chemical stew! Liberty Goodwin Director, Toxics Information Project Providence, RI www.toxicsinfo.org Starre Vartan replies: You are absolutely right. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are toxic for the reasons you describe and are especially aggravating to people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses. I should have specified nontoxic softeners in the text of the article, since there are plenty out there! Ecover, Seventh Generation, EnviroRite and Natural Value all make nontoxic products, and a half cup of vinegar per load can be used for the softening effects. |
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