smart living

Don’t Get Hung Linalool

A narcotic that can

Out to Dry
impair respiratory
function and Pentane
motor activity. A chemical
that’s known
to be harmful if
Chemicals that May Be Lurking inhaled.
in Your Laundry Room
By Lisa Borden

A-Terpineol
An ingredient
that can cause
Benzyl Acetate
central nervous
A carcinogen linked
system damage
to pancreatic cancer.
and respiratory
problems.

Ethyl Acetate
A narcotic also on Benzyl Alcohol
EPA’s Hazardous An aromatic alcohol that
Waste List that can can be irritating to the
cause damage to upper respiratory tract.
liver and kidneys
and can irritate eyes
and respiratory tract.

Camphor
An ingredient
that’s poisonous
Limonene when ingested and
A known carcinogen, can cause seizures,
and if in contact with confusion, irritabil-
your body or inhaled, ity and neuromus-
can irritate skin. cular hyperactivity.

W
hen we wash our clothes, we
assume that our laundry is
fresh and ready-to-wear, but
how clean is it? Fabric softeners, dryer
sheets, and even dryer balls made from
PVC contain some not-so-snuggly
ingredients that are doing a lot of harm
to our health and our planet. Although
these products are marketed to make us
believe that they are safe and comforting,
we often overlook the fine print
telling us that they contain hazardous
chemicals.
The chemical-laced fabric softeners,
dryer sheets and dryer balls can turn
you off of doing laundry. Some of these
chemicals can stay on and in your
clothes and can be absorbed by your
body. We dry ourselves with the towels,
sleep on the pillowcases, and wear the
undergarments we wash and dry and we
need our laundry to be clean.
If we unwrap our products and
read the small print, we can try to make
better decisions. Even if you don’t feel
the effects of these chemicals today,
constant exposure to them can cause
or contribute to anything from minor
ailments to major health issues.
The good news is that there are
healthy options. Obviously, line drying
is ideal for our clothes (doesn’t get more
gentle than outdoor air!), our world, and
our bank accounts. However, it’s just not
always feasible – especially in Toronto,
climate and lifestyle considered. If you
want something safe and long lasting,
that will soften your clothes and shorten
your drying time, try wool dryer balls -
they make sense and cents!
By not buying toxic products as a
collective group, companies won’t keep
filling our shelves with them – it’s simple
supply and demand. Your vote is in
your wallet – use every dollar well, and
always tumble dry safely. 
Lisa Borden
~ is an eco-advocate whose marketing business,
Borden Communications + Design is a direct reflection
of her commitment to better, more responsible living.
lisa@bordencom.com
tonic | January 2011 | 43