What the hell are dryer sheets and why do we use them?
November 25, 2024
I've got a bone to pick with dryer sheets. My whole life growing up we used them. I never questioned why. It's just what you put in the dryer, duh! But now that I'm an adult, I realize that it's another thing to buy, so I tried life without it. Everything seems to be turning out fine, so now I just don't use them at all. But, am I actually missing out on something? Is there some compelling reason I need to use these sheets?
Purpose
The first thing we should do is take a look at what the marketing materials say these sheets do:
- Reduce static
- Fight wrinkles
- Soften clothes
- Provide a long-lasting scent
- Repel lint
They're also sure to tell you not to use just one! If you have a large load, you must use 2, of course. And if you have a really large load, you better be ready to dish out 3 of these bad boys. Come on! Don't you want ~soft~ clothes?? They also tell you the sheets will, in fact, reduce fire resistance, a great perk for those that love being on fire and such.
What's in 'em?
What the hell is in these things anyway? Well, thankfully bounce provides their ingredients list Let's take a look:
- Polyester sheet
- Dialkylester dimethyl ammonium methosulfate
- Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsatd.
- Bentonite
- Fragrances
I don't know about you, but I have absolutely no fucking clue what half of these things are, so let's try and break them down, one-by-one.
Polyester
Okay, this one is actually pretty simple. Most people know what polyester is. Or at least, that it's in a shitload of random things. Actually, polyester is fucking plastic. So, great, you're putting plastic in your dryer and heating it up and tumbling it around, probably filling your already plastic-filled clothes with even more plastic. I could complain about excessive plastic in everyday items all day, but let's move on.
Dialkylester dimethyl ammonium methosulfate
God, this is a mouthful. The consumer products ingredients database lists this as being the same as Dipalmitoylyethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, and calls it a quaternary ammonium salt. According to ScienceDirect these are typically used as "antimicrobial agents". So, basically, this is an anti-bacterial. The NOAA also says these can be used as anti-static agents.
For the most part, this chemical seems fairly safe to use, however there is a growing body of evidence linking some quaternary ammonium salts to environmental damage.
Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsatd.
Luckily, the NIH got our backs on this one It states that these can be used as a softener or lubricant. We can surmise that these help to soften the clothes (in theory). They basically seem to just be unsaturated fatty acids. There's no real mention of the source of these fats, so I guess they could theoretically come from plant or animal sources (but probably from plants, 'cause cheaper).
Bentonite
Bentonite is a type of clay. No, really. It's naturally occurring, too. So what's it doing in your dryer sheet? Well, Bounce's ingredient site says it's used to control the thickness of the product. I have no idea why they say this or what the hell that means. As best I can tell, the Bentonite seems to be used for its water absorption capabilities. Bentonite also seems to have a negative charge, meaning it can also be used as an anti-static.
Fragrances
Finally, something easy! We all know what fragrances are. Just some things that smell good. I'm sure this one'll be super simple.
Dear God that's a lot of ingredients for "fragrances". There's even more beyond what's shown in that image. I'm not sure how they're allowed to abbreviate like this, but I sure as shit know I don't care enough to go through and explain what each and every one of these is. The ingredients website is actually pretty helpful on some of these compounds, so feel free to click around if you're curious. For some reason, the easiest ones to guess (like limonene) also have the most detailed descriptions. Others, like ethyl trimethylcyclopentene butenol, are just labeled "fragrance ingredient". Ah, right, these should be self-explanatory!
Uhhh, where was I again?
Kinda got lost in all those damn ingredients back there (so many syllables). Forgot the purpose of this article for a moment.. Ah, right! Do I even need these sons of bitches?
Pretty much, the sheets are intended to remove static on your clothes, and supposedly make them "softer". The "softness" comes from coating your clothes in fatty acids. Like, bro, you're just putting oil on your clothes, what are you doing.
In my view, you're pretty much better off just not buying and using these at all. They provide almost no benefit (who really cares that much about static-y clothes, anyway), and may even gunk up your clothes. I know I skipped over a shitload of chemicals in the fragrances, but that's not to say they don't matter. There's some evidence some of those chemicals are a source of pollution and other negative effects. Basically, save yourself a buck and kick the sheets, they suck.