As a health-conscious consumer, it may be prudent — as well as environmentally responsible — to switch to an alternative, like wool dryer balls or white vinegar, or to choose dryer sheets that are fragrance-free or deemed a “safer choice” by the EPA.

The fruity-come-flower odour can make your bedding extra pungent, and so soft, that you’ll never want to get up.

Products that may contain fragrance ingredients, but are not applied to the body, like dryer sheets, are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Laundry also smells fresh for a long time, plus you can use it alongside other cleaning products that come in the same scent. Vinegar is an excellent substitute for laundry detergent — it’s inexpensive, effective, and earth-friendly. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission doesn’t require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in their products on the label. The groups also note that the highest concentrations of four of the seven hazardous air pollutants were also detected when no laundry products were used, and that benzene (one of the chemicals emitted) is naturally present in food and commonly found in both indoor and outdoor air.

Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. While dryer sheets aren’t likely as toxic and carcinogenic as many health bloggers claim, the fragrances used in dryer sheets and other laundry products are still under investigation.