Are There Dangerous Chemicals in Dryer Sheets?

photo by Sean Naber

Are dryer sheets toxic? What exactly are these fragrant, softening, wispy sheets? Should I be putting them in with my drying clothes? There are quite a few chemicals in dryer sheets, which may be harmful to the chemically sensitive and undesirable to anyone trying to live a more natural lifestyle. Dryer sheets are essentially pieces of nonwoven polyester (a petroleum-based synthetic fiber) that are coated with softening agents and fragrances.

Every ingredient that goes into a dryer sheet is not dangerous, for example stearic acid, a fatty acid that comes from rendered animal fat, may be used as a softening agent. It helps to make clothes feel soft by actually making them slippery. Softening agents are also used to reduce static. Other possible softening agents, such as quarternary ammonium salts may sound more threatening, but according to the Environmental Working Group's database, they pose no contamination concerns.

Where there is likely to be the harmful chemicals in dryer sheets is in the synthetic fragrances that are intended to make clothes feel so fresh. Fragrance formulas are protected by intellectual property law, so there is no way to know the exact ingredient list in a fabric softening product, nor the potential health risk. In general, many substances that are used in synthetic fragrances can be irritating to skin or the respiratory tract. There are some serious harsh chemicals that may or may not be used, some that are even known carcinogens, but without the specific set of ingredients in a product there is no way to check for danger or not.

Will you get cancer from a lifetime of using conventional dryer sheets? Probably not, but reducing your chemical exposure as much as possible cannot hurt, and dryer sheets are an easy item to give up to do this. Is it eco-friendly to use dryer sheets and other fabric softeners? Well, no. From the polyester to the actual manufacturing process to the chemical fragrances using conventional dryer sheets is not a green choice.

A great natural alternative to being exposed to the potential chemicals in dryer sheets is to freshen your laundry with essential oils. Naturally anti-bacterial, they add a little extra cleansing and a non-toxic, fresh scent. Add three or four drops to the washer per load of laundry. Try lavender, clary sage or eucalyptus. You can add two or three tablespoons of baking soda to the wash for extra softening. For eco-friendly, chemical-free clothes drying, line drying is your best option. If you do like to use the drying machine, you can also choose natural alternative dryer sheets, such as those made from Seventh Generation, which are made from recycled paper and plant-derived softening agents.

Organic Gardening at Home

photo by Steven De Polo

What is organic gardening? What are the 'rules' that a home gardener has to follow to practice this more eco-friendly version of an already environmentally-friendly past time? What are the benefits of practicing organic home gardening rather then sticking with more conventional methods?

Organic gardening at home is fun, really easy and very rewarding. Where commercial farmers face many challenges in converting to organic, sustainable methods, the home gardener has it easy. With a few simple changes and some patience you can have your own organic garden and organic vegetables, fruits and herbs to enjoy.

Essentially organic gardening is simply growing plants without the use of anything synthetic. Instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, eco-friendly alternatives are used such as homemade compost to nourish and improve the soil and techniques such as companion planting to help manage pests. Everything that is put into the earth or used to encourage growth is natural, beneficial and never poses any risk, such as tainting the soil with chemicals.

The result? Produce is also free of toxins (unless there are still some chemical residues in the soil from previous years or even from nearby pollutants). Fruits, vegetables and herbs are fresh and full of flavor. You don't have to pay extra to have organic produce in your kitchen — the organic home gardener grows it themselves. Also, the soil quality is improved for the future.

Fertilizers such as compost, manure, bone meal and other natural substances add nutrients to the soil and beneficial microbes and improve soil texture. Natural mulches such as organic coir, pine needles, straw and compost also act as a source of nourishment. Techniques such as companion planting and crop rotation serve to encourage optimal growth and maintain nutrient balance and sustainability. Basically, organic home gardening is all about being positive. Everyone wins, the gardener, the soil and the environment. With proper techniques and your own home compost pile there isn't even the need to spend more money to go organic.

While organic gardening is much more than a few simple changes, in fact it is more of a philosophy, to step into the world of eco-friendly gardening practices you really don't need to leap that far.

Growing Cooking Herbs at Home

photo by Lizard

Part of living a greener lifestyle is doing things yourself. An easy, fun eco project is to start growing your own cooking herbs. You can easily grow enough plants in small pots, making it feasible to have fresh herbs growing all year round even if you are limited on space.

Growing herbs yourself you will reduce what you need, reducing the negative effects of processing, packaging and transportation, while increasing your ability to produce for yourself and even share with others. You'll also save a little money and may even be inspired to cook at home more.

Which are the best herbs to grow indoors? How exactly does one start an indoor herb garden? First make sure you have what you need — suitable pots, potting soil and a sunny location in the home such as a windowsill. You can use almost anything for planting containers, although they must be clean (don't use previously used containers that held cleaning products or anything with chemicals) and you need to be able to poke small holes or a hole in the bottom for drainage. Recycle plastic milk jugs or soda bottles if you want. Simply cut off the tops and poke small holes in the bottom. You can always purchase three or four small pots. If you enjoy gardening you will get plenty of use out of them. Size does matter. Usually for herbs smaller pots are suitable, such as a four or six inch container, at least six inches deep.

Fill with potting soil, not dirt from outside, leaving about two inches of space from the top of the soil to the top of the container. If possible use organic potting soil. You can also make your own if you have access to compost. Use 2 parts of compost with 1 part garden soil and 1 part sand.

Which herbs are easy to grow indoors? Try:

• Thyme
• Sage
• Basil
• Chives
• Mint
• Oregano
• Rosemary

Start from seed or visit your local nursery for small plants. How to care for your herbs? Lots of sun and not too much water. The soil shouldn't remain moist. Once you've mastered growing cooking herbs you can start your own indoor vegetable garden.

Eco Advantages of Line Drying Clothes

photo by Tabitha Blue

Most of us toss our laundry in a clothes dryer and add a dryer sheet for that clean, fresh scent. Line drying clothes has become a thing of the past. As more and more people look for easy ways to save money and energy it will probably become a thing of the future.

Using the clothes dryer costs the average household between $2 and $10 dollars per month and accounts for about 12 percent of household electricity use. Unlike many other appliances there are not more eco-friendly, Energy Star versions of the clothes dryer — dryers use a lot of energy no matter what the make and model. Unlike many other appliances the clothes dryer is one of those things that you really can do without, with little or no loss of convenience.

Why not start hanging your clothes to dry? With many inexpensive, easy to set up outdoor and indoor options, there's really no reason not to give up conventional dryer use and evolve into line drying.

What are the benefits? You'll lower your household carbon footprint with less greenhouse gas emissions. You'll save money on your electricity bill each month. You can avoid the toxins found in drier sheets. You will be taking a great step towards eco living with little effort on your part.

When line drying clothes you can of course use an outdoor clothesline or umbrella. For those who don't have outdoor space, you can still line dry indoors. For a good indoor retractable rack you can spend as little as thirty to forty dollars. The rack would pay for itself in a few months with reduced energy costs. If you aren't ready to spend the money but you are ready to give up your dryer, be creative. You can hang clothes over the bathroom shower rod and towel rack. Use hangers and hang drying shirts and pants on chairs and doors. Just make sure your clothes have space and ventilation. An open window will greatly speed up the line drying process.

Removing Mold and Mildew in the Bathroom Naturally

photo by Dr. Cornelius

With safe, non-toxic ingredients, such as baking soda and vinegar, you can kill mold in the bathroom, prevent more mold and mildew from growing and keep your bathroom clean and disinfected, naturally. Mold and mildew thrive in a moist environment, which is why shower walls and bathtub corners are prime areas for the growth of these fungi. Mold is not only unsightly, but it can have an adverse affect on health as well, particularly for sensitive people. Instead of using harsh chemicals which are often more harmful then the mold itself, you can opt for natural cleaning solutions for bathroom mold.

To make a solution for removing mold and mildew in the bathroom use:

• 1 cup of baking soda
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 gallon of warm water

Use this solution to clean all bathroom surfaces — shower walls, sinks, bathtubs, floors and outside of the toilet. It may smell like vinegar while you are cleaning, but you will not be inhaling any toxic fumes. Also, don't worry, the vinegar smell will go away. Try this anti-mold cleaning solution once or twice a month, depending on how much use your bathroom gets.

For more regular care you can simply spray a solution that will help kill bathroom mold. Using a small plastic spray bottle, mix:

• 8 ounces of warm water
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• 2 to 3 drops of an anti-fungal essential oil such as lavender or myrrh

Shake well and mist over mold-prone surfaces.

While routine cleaning is a cornerstone of getting rid of bathroom mold, fresh, dry air is also essential. Keep the bathroom well-ventilated with a fan and/or open windows and always remove any standing water.