Are Dryer Sheets Bad for You?

Not dangerous, but a common swap for those cutting synthetic fragrance — here's why.
By Better Human Goods
1 min read

Dryer sheets aren't considered dangerous, but they're a common target for people reducing synthetic fragrance and household chemicals. They work by coating fabric with softening agents and fragrance in the dryer's heat — and that coating then sits on the clothes, towels, and bedding that touch your skin all day. For anyone with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity, that's the main reason to reconsider them.

There's also the waste angle: every sheet is single-use, tossed after one load. None of this makes them hazardous — plenty of people use them without issue — but if you're already cutting synthetic fragrance from soaps, detergents, and cleaners, dryer sheets are an easy, high-contact place to do the same. Wool dryer balls are the usual fragrance-free, reusable swap. More in wool dryer balls vs. dryer sheets.

Try BHG wool dryer balls.