Top 4 Myths About Fabric Softeners

Fabric softeners, liquid or sheet form, promise softer clothes and reduced static cling. But what about their environmental impact?

Myth #1: Fabric Softeners are Essential for Soft Clothes

Fabric softeners offer a specific feel, but other methods can achieve similar results—and some garments benefit from a stiffer texture. Fabric softeners work by depositing a layer of electrically charged chemical compounds on fabric.

Fabric softener produces a waxy film that does not mix well with down feathers. With fabric softener in the washer, the workout clothes are coated in softener and water can’t get through the actual fibers that need cleaning.  It means stains will set in your laundry quicker and more often. 

Wool is naturally a hefty material. The heftiness of wool is what gives it it’s famous lightness and fluffiness underneath the coarse exterior. But, when you coated with conditioner, the wool flattens and you’ll lose texture and warmth.

Mold in your machine may be causing your linens to retain a smell after the wash, but compensating with fabric softener won’t help matters. Using too much detergent and fabric softener can actually cause buildup in your machine and leave behind a residue that can result in mold.

Myth #2: Liquid Fabric Softeners are More Environmentally Friendly

Both liquid and sheet softeners raise environmental concerns, from their ingredients to packaging and manufacturing processes.

Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Guide to Healthy Cleaning list for fabric softeners shows that 72.1% are ranked as high to highest concern—with just 11.8% ranked as low or lowest concern "hazards to health or the environment,"

EWG recommends that you skip fabric softeners altogether, because they may contain “quats,” that is, “quaternary ammonium compounds known to trigger asthma and may be toxic to our reproductive systems.” There’s a laundry list of other compounds such as “distearyldimonium chloride, diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride, variants of hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methyl sulfate” or stuff with vague names like “biodegradable fabric softening agents” and “cationic surfactant” along with 3,000 other chemicals.

Myth #3: Dryer Sheets Last Longer and Reduce Waste

While dryer sheets offer single-use convenience, their environmental impact can be significant.

Dryer sheets are made from synthetic polyester, and the toxic chemicals contained in dryer sheet fabric softeners are what target the electrostatic charges. Dryer sheets are a sneaky single-use plastic, designed to be used once then tossed out, where they will persist in the environment forever.

Many people report respiratory, dermatological, and neurological problems after being exposed to scented products due to the chemicals used as fragrances, and federal regulatory organizations don't require manufacturers to list all fragrance ingredients on packaging.

Myth #4: There's No Way to Soften Clothes Without Environmental Impact

There are natural, eco-friendly alternatives that can achieve similar results without harming the environment. One often recommended is vinegar - please don’t use this as it will damage the hoses in your washer and dryer.

Static cling: Instead of a dryer sheet or fabric softener, you can try a piece of aluminum foil compressed into a ball. Take a 3- to 4-foot piece of aluminum foil, tightly scrunch it into a smooth ball with no hard edges (you don’t want it to snag on any of your clothes), and toss it into the dryer with your laundry. The aluminum is supposed to discharge static buildup and helps prevents clothes from sticking together and if you use the heavy duty type you can eventually recycle the foil.

Check your water chemistry: If your clothes are coming out of the wash a bit crunchy or stiff, the problem could be hard water. Hard water has a high amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium, which can deposit on your clothes in the wash.

That soft feeling: Wool dryer balls absorb moisture from clothing and shorten drying time 10-25% with a reduced heat setting, cut down on static, reduce wrinkles, and soften clothes, linens, and bedsheets.

Baking soda: To use as a fabric softener, add 1 cup directly to the rinse cycle (you can even add it at the beginning, and it will work fine) and launder as usual.

Essential oil: Add 5-10 drops of your favorite oils. I use lavender since it’s so calming.

Beyond the Myths: Unveiling the Dirty Laundry

Let's analyze the environmental impact of liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets:

Liquid Fabric Softeners

Benefits: Often more concentrated than dryer sheets, allowing for a smaller amount per load, potentially more cost-effective in the long run.

Challenges: Many contain quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) that can contribute to water pollution and harm aquatic life. Can build up on clothes, reducing absorbency. Plastic packaging can generate waste.

Environmental Impact: Potential water pollution from quats, plastic bottle waste, energy used for production and transportation.

Dryer Sheets

Benefits: Convenient single-use format, often contain anti-static properties.

Challenges: Typically contain similar chemicals as liquid softeners (quats), can clog dryer vents, increasing energy use and fire risk. Coated in a waxy substance that can transfer to clothes, reducing absorbency. Disposable, generating landfill waste.

Environmental Impact: Potential water pollution from quats, air pollution from dryer vent clogging, landfill waste from single-use sheets, energy use for production and transportation.

Considering Ingredients, Packaging, and Manufacturing

Ingredients: Look for fabric softeners free of quats and other harmful chemicals. Opt for plant-based or biodegradable alternatives.

Packaging: Choose fabric softeners in recyclable containers or concentrated formulas to minimize plastic waste. Consider reusable dispenser systems.

Manufacturing: Support brands committed to sustainable practices and energy efficiency throughout the production process.

Eco-Friendly Alternatives for a Softer Touch on the Planet

Baking Soda: Add a quarter cup of baking soda to the wash cycle to soften clothes and reduce static cling.

Wool Dryer Balls: These reusable balls bounce around in the dryer, softening clothes naturally and reducing drying time, saving energy. Made of natural material, they will biodegrade after use, do not contain toxic chemicals, and can be re-used for up to 1000 loads. Wool dryer balls replace dryer sheets in function by softening clothes and reducing static cling. They speed up the drying process, which saves money, time, and energy. If you also want to recreate the fresh scent of traditional dryer sheets, apply a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the dryer balls before placing them in the load. Shecology sells dryer balls at Littlest Birds, or they can be ordered online.

Tennis Balls: Clean tennis balls can be tossed in the dryer with clothes to soften them and reduce static. (Avoid using worn-out or brightly colored tennis balls that might stain clothes.)