Today’s Solutions: March 28, 2024

Fabric softeners may seem like a tempting addition to your laundry machine – they act to smooth your clothes, eliminate static and wrinkles, and on top of all that, they add a pleasant scent to your wardrobe. Yet, all of these apparent benefits come at a cost – for your clothes, your health, and the planet; not to mention your wallet.

As ethical fashion blogger Verena Erin explains in her writeup, adding softeners to our laundry routine introduces a host of harmful chemicals to our bodies. Among such chemicals are Quaternary ammonium compounds, or simply ‘quats’, which are linked to respiratory and skin irritations and harmful to marine environments. Other things that softeners contain are fragrances and phthalates – known endocrine disruptors – as well as preservatives and colors that are linked to skin irritations and even cancer.

What’s more, softeners are not even good for clothing. The layer of lubricating chemicals that they add to your laundry builds up over time, causing yellowing in clothes and reducing the absorbency of fabrics, which may be why your old towels don’t soak up water like they used to.

Fortunately, giving up fabric softener is not that difficult today, with plenty of healthier, natural, and safer alternatives available out there. The source article from Treehugger has some suggestions.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Rowing against the current: Botswana’s women safari guides inspire and empower

In the calm of Botswana's Okavango Delta, where the morning sun creates a golden glow on the water's surface, an amazing metamorphosis is occurring. ...

Read More

The future of healing: 3D printing skin directly onto open wounds

Pennsylvania State University researchers achieved a major medical science breakthrough by being the first team ever to 3D print real human skin tissue directly ...

Read More

These solar-powered barges can scoop up 50 tons of plastic from rivers each day

While removing the plastic waste that currently contaminates the ocean today will be crucial for protecting marine ecosystems, it is arguably more important that ...

Read More

A bold step towards climate action and job creation: The American Climate Corps

The White House announced the creation of the American Climate Corps, a breakthrough program that will transform the climate action landscape. This ambitious project ...

Read More