That April Fresh Fabric Softener Could Be Hiding a Toxic Surprise

Yesterday I happened to catch a commercial for a popular fabric softener that actually brags that you can still smell its “fresh scent” a full week after laundry day. Last year this same fabric softener was touting the fact that it contains twice as many softening ingredients as the leading value brand. It’s interesting that the maker of this fabric softener advertises abundant softeners and lingering scents to the American consumer as if they are good things. In reality, many common fabric softener ingredients expose the body to harmful chemicals. And the powerful, won’t-go-away synthetic fragrances are there to cover up the nasty smell created by all those chemical softeners.

Due to “trade secret” laws, companies don’t have to disclose all the ingredients contained in their products on the label or even on the Material Safety Data Sheets that are available online or by request, but independent studies report that fabric softeners found in most homes contain highly toxic chemicals that are transferred to your clothes, sheets and towels.

The last place you want chemicals to end up is in your laundry because you spend all day in your clothes and all night under your sheets. Chemicals that attach themselves to your laundry can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through your skin, and since either your clothes or sheets are literally right under your nose 24/7 (unless you’re a nudist, of course), every breath exposes you to anything they’ve picked up in the wash or dry cycle. Prolonged exposure can cause headaches, nausea, irritability, vomiting, and other symptoms, but even if you have no immediate or perceptible symptoms, long term exposure to some especially dreadful chemicals can lead to severe health problems, including cancer and liver damage.