Dryer Sheets are NOT safe to use in a pet household

Pet hair seems to get anywhere and everywhere these days.

But there is a very well-meaning suggestion floating around that states pet owners should use dryer sheets to repel their pet's fur. When put to the test, this theory certainly seems to work: dryer sheets are designed to cut down and even eliminate static, which is what causes pet hair to stick to fabrics in the first place.

Pet owners, who are deep in the fight against pet dander, even choose to wipe their pets down with a dryer sheet to reduce any static buildup.

However, even though laundry companies are quite happy to encourage this secondary use of their products, how safe are they to use on pets?

Safety concerns

The reason why dryer sheets work so well in repelling static, and smell so good too, is because they contain a variety of chemicals.

Each laundry company has their own specific formula but your favorite fabric softener or dryer sheet may contain any of the following chemicals that are associated with certain health concerns:

*A-Terpineol: Causes respiratory problems, such as fatal edema as well as damage to a pet's central nervous system

* Benzyl Alcohol: Irritates the a pet's upper respiratory tract

* Benzyl Acetate: Associated with pancreatic cancer

* Camphor: Also causes major damage to a pet's central nervous system

* Chloroform: This is considered to be an anesthetic, a carcinogenic and a neurotoxin

* Ethyl Acetate: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed this as a narcotic on its Hazardous Waste list

* Ethanol: Also on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list, this chemical can cause central nervous system disorders

* Linalool: Yet another narcotic that can wreak havoc on a pet's central nervous system

* Pentane: Studies have shown that this chemical can be quite harmful if inhaled

Pet Health Warnings

None of the above-mentioned chemicals are safe for pets, let alone humans! In fact, the Merck Veterinary Manual states that cationic detergents, found in most major fabric softeners and dryer sheets, can trigger a variety of problems for pets that range from minor irritations, such as itching and rashes, to widespread suffering.

To be fair, every laundry company has wording on their packaging that advises pet owners to keep their dryer sheets away from their pets so as to avoid accidental ingestion. But that is not the only way in which dryer sheets, and fabric softeners, can be harmful to your pets.

Interactions

Most laundry and other cleaning products are unregulated simply because the manufacturers do not believe that the chemicals in their products can be absorbed into the body - be it human or animal. The truth though, is that everything that comes into contact with the skin will find its way inside the body and into the bloodstream.

Furthermore, every pet has the tendency to groom themselves by licking their fur, so running a dryer sheet across their fur to repel dander may unnecessarily expose them to health risks. Pets should never be allowed to play with dryer sheets either as there a few reported cases of kidney failure in pets that have ingested dryer sheets accidentally.

Ironically, dryer sheets are the most harmful when they are heated, because while they are spinning around inside your dryer, they are releasing toxic fumes too.

Alternatives

Although more time-consuming, the best and most natural way to keep control of pet dander is to simply brush your pet on a daily basis. Using a lint brush will help to eradicate pet hair on your clothes. Special adapters are available for vacuum cleaners so that you can remove pet hair and dander from your furniture.

There are also alternative solutions to chemically-laden dryer sheets and fabric softeners. A few good companies to investigate are:

Mountain Green

EcoVer

Mrs Meyers

Photo Credit: admiller