The Scary Truth About Chemicals in Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softeners
Of the 3-10 gallons of toxic household cleaning products in a home, the chemicals in dryer sheets and fabric softeners are considered to be among the most toxic. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are made up of pernicious chemicals combined with a hefty dose of fragrance. The fragrance chemicals are particularly difficult to remove because they have been designed to cling dearly to fabric so the signature scent stays in the clothing. This is called “fragrance substantivity,” which describes how long a fragrance lasts on a particular surface and how it is affected by temperature, humidity, and other conditions.
Lingering chemical residues in the clothes enter the body through the skin, which is tantamount to eating them! Many of these compounds are solvents that directly affect the nervous system and endocrine systemand can contribute to the development of chronic illness. Since the term “fragrance” on a label can mean up to hundreds of synthetic chemicals, the body is provided a cocktail of poison 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of this issue because their constant exposure to these chemicals makes it impossible for them to realize the impact it makes on their health. Not to mention the health of those around them! The non-stop exposure has dulled their sense of smell as a warning mechanism, their ability to perceive the specific fragrance in many cases is lost, or they actually get a high and crave the smell of the clothing.
Of 171 they studied, the Environmental Working Group gives 83.33% of fabric softeners a D or F rating.
The fact that your fabric softener may be under a counter and only used occasionally is bad enough, since the chemicals in the bottles and boxes are off-gassing into your living environment. But the truth is, these chemicals are accompanying you day and night through your skin and your lungs as you wear your clothes and sleep in your sheets. That’s why using fabric softeners, dryer sheets or even laundry detergent with fragrance are such dangerous health offenders. Once you start using them, they seem practically inescapable!
Live Life Clean Tip: if you can smell detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets in the laundry room when you’re not using them, that’s a sign that they’re off-gassing chemicals and degrading your indoor air quality.
12 Reasons to Get Rid of Your Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets
These are just a few of the toxic chemicals in commercial dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners! Note, this list doesn’t include the synthetic fragrances that are added to these products!
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do you have hormonal imbalance?
Could a symptom you’re experiencing be due to a hormonal imbalance?
If you’re wondering how to know if you have a hormonal imbalance, it may help to know some of the most common symptoms associated with hormonal issues, take this super quick quiz I created to help you out.. it's simply a stepping stone.. I am here for you all the way!
My wellness journey began because of toxic burden overload on my body due to birth control- which is sadly all too common. But for others they end up in the same place as me but because of common household products (cleaners, air fresheners, cosmetics). It all adds up in the body the same, I had no clue of this 13 years ago.
I was a bath and body, candle sniffing, MAC wearing 20 year old. I lived carefree and without consequences of what I put ON or IN my body... and then over a matter of a month it all changed.
I was forced into this wellness journey I NEVER wanted or cared about. Wellness to me was calorie counting when I "needed" to drop the "extra 5" and going to the gym while sipping on a Red Bull.
I was training to be a personal trainer because I loved lifting weights, being strong and it came so easy to me. I loved helping people in this aspect of health.
3 months before my wedding, I chose to get on birth control, a decision that can still get me in the gut, if I let it. It was a flippant choice. I didn't recognize or honor my body & all I was giving it to process. On top of that I was unknowingly putting on over 300 chemicals on & in my body before breakfast time. No clue..
Within a month of being on birth control I was a raging, PMSing, soon to be bride. I was becoming depressed, suffering from extreme weight gain, which had never been an issue for me. My cravings were for FOR REAL and with foggy brain, insomnia and extreme fatigue I was miserable to say the least.nI felt completely helpless at the age of 20 in a season that was supposed t be exiting and a new adventure. All I wanted to do was crawl into a hole.
I went through years of doctors, tests, more doctors, diets, cleanses & supplements— you name it, I have done it. The journey began slow, it began in a new doctors office, where he placed me on Wellbutrin (thinking I was depressed which is why I was feeling moody & gaining weight). Needless to say, it didn't work.
I ended up having to be my own advocate because I left most of the doctors scratching their heads... I just wanted to know what the root cause was.
This was the beginning of being forced into my wellness journey. Whole body wellness was not always a passion, I didn't even know this type of wellness existed.
After years of trying everything, wasting so much money and seeing no lasting results I finally have found things that support me better than anything. Praise Jesus.
After years of deep insomnia (melatonin wouldn’t touch it) I took a supplement that actually made me FEEL tired, a feeling I didn’t realize I missed. For so long I would go to bed “wired and tired”.
After using a few things, I wasn’t sure if I saw or felt a difference & I decided to not buy them again to save money— well my body quickly told me it was not happy about that.
Sometimes you don’t notice the slight changes until you stop supporting your body with it.
Needless to say there are certain non negotiable for me and my body support.
I am finally sleeping WELL, feeling tired at night. The extreme weight gain has stopped!! My Pms is now super mild or non existent. I now have more energy to get through the day as a mama of 3. And my cravings are in control!
I am still on a wellness journey, still have weight to loose and stress to let go- but man, I feel 80% better than I did even 5 years ago. I am so thankful & only want to help support other women in their journey. I want to be a shoulder to cry on and an easy button to hit for all things wellness. A place where women can soak up all the years of research & use it for their Benefit!
This blog is going to be a place where I open up a little more about my struggles with living in the world of wellness & yet not looking the part... of still having struggles, & of not “arriving” yet. I feel so unauthentic most times, sharing what I know & how I live when you could easily look at me, and question my knowledge & impact by my weight and appearance. I get it. That was me over a decade ago. I judged & didn't condor their deeper story. I had never struggled with weight, or hormones or anything “off” and so it was a simple equation, "calories in, calories out." I call bullsh*t on that real quick now. I have learned so much, that’s not the truth. Everyone is created so intricately, is different. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa. The Lord never intended that.
My heart beats strong to empower tired and overwhelmed women, who struggle with hormones. my desire is that they can learn how to take control of their health and sanity in a healthy, natural way.
My heart also beats to empower the woman who has yet to struggle with hormones, or have yet to deal with over burdened bodies due to the daily toxins they unknowingly put ON & IN their bodes--there is so much education that can be done!
The “before” me is the young woman who has yet to struggle with hormone imbalance, weight gain or uncontrollable weight gain and toxic body overload. She is one I want to take under my wing and teach alll the things I wished I would have known at 20. All the things I have learned researching over a decade. I want to teach them so that hopefully they can be empowered & equipped to make informed decisions with their health and as they move into a season of being the gatekeeper of their own home. Maybe, they can avoid some of the toxic overload on their bodies.
My heart beats for the “seasoned” woman, where I am now, to support, to be a shoulder to cry on in seasons of frustration & confusion when their body seems to be agains them. To be a source of knowledge to help in the season of “my body seems to be rebelling against me”, like they are a foreigner in an unknown land.
There is so much education I have consumed for myself over the years, as I have had to be my biggest advocate. I want to share that, walk with and encourage as they allow their bodies to heal at its peaceful pace.
That is where my healthy hormone rhythm collective comes in-
I pour my whole heart + education onto the ones that need it:
-join this free group by clicking the button above-...and here’s the thing, EVERY women WILL need this Information I have. So look around.. check out the units section.. if you don’t find the answer to your question, feel free to reach out. I would love to help you find it.
