The advertisement of fabric softener projects the product as something that offers convenience, an item renowned for sparkle and crispness. Unknown to the buyers of these fabric softeners, these items comprise several toxins which gain access to the human body through the skin and breathing creating health disorders, especially for children.
In these sheet or liquid fabric softeners, there is a presence of components that are unsafe for your health, and these elements are as follows:
• Chloroform: which was utilized as a pain inducer in the 1800s till the early part of the 19th century until it was discovered as the cause of the fatal cardiac arrhythmia. When its vapors are inhaled, it could lead to a headache, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, lack of consciousness and could have an adverse impact on the functioning of vital organs of the body which include kidneys, heart, and the liver.
• A-Terpineol: Use of this substance creates problems for the central nervous system. Health disorders connected to the spine and brain are evident with the application of this substance. In this case, the body is exposed to diseases such as ADD, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. It could also lead to strokes, seizures, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Early signs of the problems with the central nervous system are as follows; headaches, loss of memory, numbness in face, neck pain, pain in the spine, aphasia, blurred vision, dizziness, and disorientation. A-Terpineol can exasperate the mucous membranes, and its contact with the lungs will lead to pneumonia and respiratory problems.
• Benzyl Alcohol: It can trigger health ailments in the central nervous system such as dizziness, nausea, headache, and significant plunges in the blood pressure.
• Benzyl Acetate: This substance, if absorbed through the skin can block the respiratory routes, and its vapors can cause pain to the eyes. It has a strong connection with pancreatic cancer.
• Ethanol: Ethanol is also on the list of EPA Hazardous Waste and a significant culprit known for causing central nervous system disorders.
• Pentane: It is a dangerous chemical detrimental to the health if inhaled into the body.
• Ethyl Acetate: It is on the list of the EPA’s Hazardous Waste and has the power to irritate the eyes and the respiratory tract. Inhaling the chemical can cause irreparable damage to the liver and the kidneys and also lead to loss of consciousness and headache.
• Camphor: This substance can irritate your nose, throat, and eyes when absorbed through the body tissues. It has a reputation for creating nausea, dizziness, confusion, convulsions, and shuddering muscles. It is also on the list of the EPA Hazardous Waste.
• Linalool: It is a narcotic that causes Central Nervous system and respiratory problems. Animals exposed to this substance die within a short time.
• Phthalates: This substance is used for the production of most scented products as it enables the impact of the smell to stay for an extended time. Use of phthalates has been confirmed to result in reproductive system disorders and breast cancer.
• Limonene: Use of this substance makes your skin and eyes irritated.
• For vegans, it is important to note that most fabric softener sheets are produced with tallow, a type of animal fat.
You can make your fabric softener with safe materials, as it is a cheaper option. An example of an ingredient you can use is the vinegar. Vinegar has small amounts of sodium and potassium which make hard water soft; it is a non-toxic material that eliminates soap deposit and assists with static lessening during the process of drying. These domestic fabric softener components are mixed with water to create a solution that can be preserved in a vessel and used anytime you want to wash.
If you want to make your natural homemade fabric softener, you will need these ingredients:
One gallon of white vinegar
Thirty drops of essential oils
Stir these ingredients together and transfer into a container for preservation.
How to apply the mixture:
Ensure you mix the vinegar mixture with water before you use it for washing. You can combine ¼ cup of vinegar mixture with ¾ cups of water for normal sizes loads, make sure you dispense the softener into the washer during the final rinsing stage.
One gallon of white vinegar
Thirty drops of essential oils
Stir these ingredients together and transfer into a container for preservation.
How to apply the mixture:
Ensure you mix the vinegar mixture with water before you use it for washing. You can combine ¼ cup of vinegar mixture with ¾ cups of water for normal sizes loads, make sure you dispense the softener into the washer during the final rinsing stage.
