i wash everything in fabric softner, i love the stuff.


just wondering if its safe to use when i wash the babies things... clothes, towels, blankets etc.


i do use the one for sensitive skin so doubt it would give a rash.


what are your thoughts?

I use fabric softner on everything!! i have used the sensitive one for all three of my kids and never had any issues. smile

I use it pretty often but have been told that it is actually bad for your washing machine??? Haven't found any facts to back that up and can't bear to part with it yet!..i use it for DS clothes so I'm sure it's fine.

I use it pretty often but have been told that it is actually bad for your washing machine??? Haven't found any facts to back that up and can't bear to part with it yet!..i use it for DS clothes so I'm sure it's fine.

yeah it is bad for them, after about 2 years our front loader used to leave like this black/brown grease stain on our clothes, it wasnt every wash but fairly often bu i still had to replace the machine. My cousin is the guy who fixes washing machines and he said if you do a hot wash once a fortnight with an empty load it stops the build up of crap so it doesnt happen. I do this with my new machine and havent had the problem yet smile

Shouldn't use it on towels or nappies because it reduces their absorbency. I've also heard it (allegedly) makes clothes less fire resistant. I do love the smell of it, but haven't bought any for ages.

i dont think i can bear to part with it, were going to get a new washing machine once bubs in nearly here because i want a bigger one so will have to try and remember to do the empty wash thing.


thanks for the feedback ladies smile

I use bi carb soda, my baby reacted to fabric softner

Nah, I'd rather smell my baby than some artificial fragrance that's attached to their clothing and blankets! Also from you babes pov, they have very sensitive senses and it must be very overpowering to their little noses when they're constantly surrounded by those fabric softener smells. I usually do a soap-free wash for baby things, just use plain water. Anything that may have a stain I just rub a little sard soap on before washing.
You might also be interested in this article before you decide to pre-wash your baby clothes in fabric softener.

We dont use fabric softner either,The smell is too much.Plus i also heard it can make your colthes less fire resistant.

Nah, I'd rather smell my baby than some artificial fragrance that's attached to their clothing and blankets! Also from you babes pov, they have very sensitive senses and it must be very overpowering to their little noses when they're constantly surrounded by those fabric softener smells. I usually do a soap-free wash for baby things, just use plain water. Anything that may have a stain I just rub a little sard soap on before washing.
You might also be interested in this article before you decide to pre-wash your baby clothes in fabric softener.

Wow thanks for passing that on, i might have to give it up for the whole family

I used to use it but don't anymore. I have become more sensitive to smells, especially fragrance and washing powders/softeners can be extremely strong. I can feel it burning my nose, figure it's better not to have harsh chemicals on the skin that do that smile

I have never used it in my life. Apparently white vinegar is a good alternative.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), there is a mind-boggling list of dangerous petrochemicals in these products, many of them used in untested combinations. They include:

Benzyl Acetate: Is linked to pancreatic cancer and its vapors can be irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, creating coughing. Can be absorbed through the skin.

Benzyl Alcohol: This upper respiratory tract irritant can cause central nervous system (CNS) disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dramatic drops in blood pressure.

Ethyl Acetate: This narcotic is on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract, it may cause headache and narcosis, anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys.

Limonene: A known carcinogen, as well as an eye and skin irritant and sensitizer.

A-Terpineol: Causes CNS disorders and is highly irritating to mucous membranes. Aspiration into the lungs can produce respiratory depression, pneumonia or even fatal edema.

Camphor: Causes CNS disorders and is on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Is easily absorbed through body tissues, causing irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Also dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions.

Linalool: A narcotic that causes CNS disorders and respiratory disturbances, which, in animal testing, have led to death.

Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic and on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of consciousness. Aggravates disorders of the kidney, liver, heart and skin disorders. Especially a problem when subjected to heat.

Phthalates: Notorious for being used in children's plastic toys and other baby products, phthalates are also used in scented products to help the scent last longer. They have been implicated in breast cancer, allergies, reproductive system problems.

The effects of most of these chemicals are more acute when heated in clothes dryers, making dryer sheets worse than liquid softeners. And, of course, dryers exhaust the toxic fumes into neighborhood air.

Because fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing, the chemicals are slowly released, either into the air for you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb. You may have noticed that using fabric softener sheets results in less-absorbent towels; that’s because of the residue that is left in the towels.

That residue can clog up the dryer’s vents, causing some dryer manufacturers to include a warning in their user manuals not to use fabric softener sheets, or a clause stating that use of chemical-based dryer sheets will void the dryer’s warranty.

Babies, children, older people and those who are already sick are especially at risk from these chemicals. Damage can be permanent, causing lifelong illness.

Babies often react with rashes, frequent crying and/or diarrhea. Some researchers have even suggested the need for research into a possible connection between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the use of these products for washing baby clothes and bedding. They say that in at least some cases of SIDS, an anaphylactic reaction is responsible, so fabric softener, with its many chemical components, shouldn’t be ruled out as a possible cause.

To make problem worse, most fabric softeners have fragrance added to them in order to cover up the chemical smells. For many reasons, this is one type of product to avoid.


http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0608/softener.htm