Ready to detox your life? Not sure where to start? Want a little help with the process? I got you!
Follow along with my 7 day “Ditch It” challenge.
If you missed Day 1: Ditching Plastic Cooking Utensils, check it out here.
Each day I will tell you what item to ditch, why you should ditch it, AND what you can replace it with. Sound good?
Detox Your Life: “Ditch It” Day 2
Ditch Your Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are now found in most homes, probably far and wide. Television commercials have persuaded us that we need to have clothing that smells as fresh as a rain cloud sprinkled with joy (whatever the hell that is even supposed to smell like?). Not only that, but the wondrous smell of joy is supposed to linger for not just minutes or hours, but days and even weeks!
Oh, how immensely wonderful! Johnnie’s underpants will smell like a walk through a meadow of wildflowers after a fresh rain on a sunny Thursday morning for an extra week. How did I ever live prior to these fantastic dryer sheets, with my blasted, non-smelling clothing? The mediocrity! oy.
Why You Should Ditch Dryer Sheets
- Dryer sheets contain substances, like benzyl acetate and dichlorobenzene, which are known toxins.
- Benzyl Acetate gives the dryer sheets their pleasant fragrance. The side effects of exposure to the substance include dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, red eyes, dry skin, and even sore throat.
- Dichlorobenzne is the anti-static agent in most dryer sheets. This substance is most often used in pesticides! Pesticides! It can irritate your eyes, nose, skin, and throat; and the long-term exposure impacts your central nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
- Dryer sheets also contain other substances that are known carcinogens. These substances can accumulate in our bodies, causing cancer.
- After drying your clothing with a dryer sheet in the dryer, more health problems arise. Dryer sheets also cause skin irritation, allergies, respiratory problems, and even asthma.
- They may even cause nervous system disorders like irritability, confusion, loss of coordination, and memory loss.
Sources
What To Use Instead
- Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to rinse cycle. Doing this removes detergent residue, reduces stiffness of clothing, and reduces static.
- Also, use wool dryer balls to reduce static and reduce drying time.
- Alternatively, avoid using a dryer altogether and line dry your clothing.
Extra Challenge
- Change up your laundry detergent to a safer brand like 7th generation or make your own!
Awesome job! You’ve made it through Day 2 of my Detox Your Life “Ditch It” Challenge. Join me again on Tuesday for Day 3!! Comment below to let me know that you’ve joined the challenge and how it is going for you so far!
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Happy Homesteading! (:
P.S. have any thoughts or questions? Tell me all the things in the comments! Also, you can contact us if you’d love to collab!
