Got Cancer? Blame Your Dryer.

This post is actually exhausting for me to think about. My friend was just lamenting about how there are things to be afraid of everywhere and, really, we can only do so much to limit our exposure to stuff that harms our bodies. However, I do think that if you can change this or that and avoid exposure to something bad...? Why not.

Years ago, when we were first taking our DS to the pediatrician, we asked about his eczema. She advised taking out scented products, anything that could irritate his skin. One of her first suggestions was to stop using dryer sheets. At the time, in my naivete, I said, "What will we use instead?" And she just said, "Well, you'll have more static-y clothes. It won't kill you."

She also said she detested dryer sheets and that she never used them.

Let me pause to say that it is absolutely crazy to me that a DOCTOR had such strong feelings about dryer sheets. It was as if she didn't trust them.

So I have heard mutterings again recently about dryer sheets and how bad they can be for us, because of the chemicals that float around in the air as the clothes dry. Today at the grocery store I hesitated between the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day dryer sheets and the Arm & Hammer Essentials ones. The Arm & Hammer ones were half the price for double the loads of laundry.

I have to say that Mrs. Meyer's disclosed all the ingredients in their dryer sheets, which is wholly unique. Every other dryer sheet I checked (which was quite a few, my DS had a cartoon cart, so I had extra time ;) did not list any ingredients whatsoever. Mrs. Meyer's first ingredient was some sort of di-not-pronounceable something something, which made me wonder why it was so expensive if it used chemicals anyway? This is a list of ingredients: Di-(Palm Carboxyethyl) Hydroxyethyl Methlammonium Methyl Sulfate, Palm Fatty Acid, Fragrance*, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Abies Alba (Fir) Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil.

Arm & Hammer promised that their dryer sheets were 'all natural', which I think means absolutely nothing. In any case, price won out this time, but after researching why dryer sheets aren't great, I think I might regret my decision. I can't find their ingredients anywhere, but I might email the company and ask.

Apparently most of the chemicals that are carcinogenic in dryer sheets are coming from the scent, so it seems like an easy fix to buy the 'free & clear' versions of dryer sheets. The study that everyone is referencing was really simple; test dryers were thoroughly cleaned beforehand, the same pre-cleaned towels were dried, and a canister captured the gases that came out of the dryer during the cycle.

Science Daily says that "analysis of the captured gases found more than 25 volatile organic compounds, including seven hazardous air pollutants, coming out of the vents. Of those, two chemicals -- acetaldehyde and benzene -- are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as carcinogens, for which the agency has established no safe exposure level. These products can affect not only personal health, but also public and environmental health. The chemicals can go into the air, down the drain and into water bodies."

Looking online for alternatives to dryer sheets I found that using balls of wool works just as well for some people. I might give that a shot next. The plastic dryer balls are...plastic. In heat. That one seems foolhardy.

Right now, though, I am going to go mourn the loss of the dryer sheet from my life. I love the smell of clean clothes. Time to detox, I guess....