Household Product Alert--Dryer Sheets

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

05 Aug 2006 05:25 AM

They're powerful enough to eliminate static cling and can leave a load of laundry smelling like a field of fresh lavender or a mountain breeze, but using dryer sheets to keep your baby's clothes cuddly soft, could be a potential hazard.

The majority of children's sleepwear is labeled "Flame Retardant". But ingredients in fabric dryer sheets and other fabric softeners may mask the flame retardancy of 100% polyester sleepwear. For that reason, companies like "Arm and Hammer", caution consumers about the dangers of using their fabric softener products on flame resistant fabrics.

Also, babies are especially sensitive to chemical irritants, and sometimes even the slightest residue from detergents and fabric softeners will lead to irritation. But, it is the dryer sheet that can cause the most harm. Even if you are not using them on your baby's clothes, studies show, that if you use dryer sheets on your own laundry, the sheets leave a residue on the inside of the dryer which can affix itself on the next load of laundry. Which means if you run a load of towels with a dryer sheet, remove the towels and the dryer sheet and immediately put in a load of your baby's laundry, chances are the residue will come off on the baby's clothes. In fact, studies show, the residue can persist for several loads after the dryer sheets are used. The solution: avoid ALL potential irritants; this means that you may have to eliminate using dryer sheets all together.

However, if that is not an option, consider using re-usable dryer sheets. The sheets are made of specially woven cloth. The manufacturer says it's the weave of the cloth that allows re-usable dryer sheets to "conduct" static out of your laundry. They're hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and recommended for infants and people with eczema.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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L Robbins (18930) 05 Aug 2006 08:23 AM

Thanks for the tip about reusable dryer sheets.

Michele Cheplic (38099) 05 Aug 2006 10:37 AM

Thanks Leggs--if you can't find them in the store they are available online!

Bonnie Sayers (1298) 05 Aug 2006 10:40 AM

As someone with eczema I have never used dryer sheets and would not use them for baby clothes considering how rampant eczema is in babies these days. Just another irritant no one needs touching their clothes and skin.

Bonnie Sayers

Michele Cheplic (38099) 05 Aug 2006 11:09 AM

Bonnie--My was diagnosed with eczema when she was 16-months-old, she's 2 now and I wash her clothes seperately from the rest of the house's in a special detergant and do not use dryer sheets. But, the doctor told me since eczema is hereditary that it really wasn't necessary, but I still do it. It seems to be working so I figure why change now???

Jaime Egan (2178) 13 Aug 2006 07:12 AM

I have had eczema my whole life and never knew not to use dryer sheets! I guess I will have to make some changes.