I know a lot of you use your used dryer sheets for foundation piecing or string quilting, this is great. My gyn has advised me not to use dryer sheets in my dryer when doing my "whites". The chemicals in the sheets can irritate your sensitive "private" skin. This can also be said of wash soap or bathroom soap, so I use unscented soaps and tee pee!

This is just an FYI, I don't think you'll find it on Snopes!

Thank you for the info. :thumbup:

You use the dryer sheets AFTER you have used them in the dryer so they really don't have that much left in them. Then if you wash your quilt after you make it there is not too much chance for the average person to have a problem with any chemicals that are left in the dryer sheets-IMHO. I iron the dryer sheets flat, sew them together if I need them bigger, & cut them to size if need be with my rotary cutter.

I am sorry, but I think this is not the case most of the time. There may be people with very sensitive skin who are affected by this, but that is not true for most people. No, you won't find this on snopes - its not an urban legend - its a misstatement of science. Most of the websites that discuss how "toxic" the chemicals in dryer sheets are talk about things like alpha-terpineol (naturally occurring in every lime product you eat), benzyl acetate (naturally occurring in many flowers), camphor (this actually is used in anti-itch creams, is in rosemary you cook with, and has been used for centuries as a medicine), linalool (in coriander, bay leaves, and basil) and ethyl acetate (one of the most common chemical compounds in wine) among others. Yes, these are chemicals (so is food!), yes they can be toxic at very high levels (so can Vitamin A!), and yes, some people will be sensitive to them, but that is not nearly as common as some websites would have you believe. As an educator and a scientist I just have to comment on comments like this that are well meaning, but mostly false.

Well,I been using dryer sheets ever since they came out,and before those,we used hair rinse and water,or the old pink fabric softner (way back when)in a spray bottle to spray the sides of the dryer.Unless I line dry,then no need,but their kinda stiff.I have never had a problem.If I didn't use them,I would have static all over my unmentionables.They say not to use soap in that area either when you wash,but hey,When I shower,everything gets washed.Again,never had one problem.But some people are allergic and sensitive to a lot of things,so organic would be the way to go.

since the dryer sheets are being used after their use- the chemicals are already gone- and i always wash every quilt i make as soon as the binding is done- the (fabric) of the dryer sheet is exactly the same as some sew-in interfacings-
safe to use.

I must have privates of steel...

Mine aren't white and I don't put them in the dryer. They are always hanging in the guest bath where they stay until I need them - I always seem to forget they are there! If we are having company the 1st thing I always do is get the "unners" out of the guest bath LOL

I have to agree. I was having a lot of problems in "the area" I stopped using dryer sheets on my undies and things got better. But I do have sensitive skin too.
I guess it depends on the person. :)

my doc already advised of this long ago too.
lots of uses for those drying fabric softeners. love one in my dyson top.. not good for the seal but the room. nice.

nice to grab the lint from the dryers' lint trap, but makes the dryer lint trap not as successful when used in your laundry.

line my drawers for winter clothes.

did not know about the quilt tips. thanks.