Everyone loves fresh-smelling laundry. So much so that many people's modernistic-day laundry routines at present includes quite a handful of dissimilar products: laundry detergent, fabric softener, whitening booster, stain treatment, dryer sheets, and at present… odor boosters.

These colorful beads might leave your wearing apparel smelling good for a while, simply are laundry scent boosters safe? Are Featherlike Unstopables toxic? Nosotros're going to break down the ingredients then discuss some healthier means to proceed your laundry smelling fresh.

What Are Downy Unstopables?

Downy Unstopables are "odour booster" beads that you lot put in your laundry to brand your clothing smell stronger and last longer compared to using detergent and fabric softener alone.

How to Use Featherlike Unstopables

To use these little odor beads, you lot only shake equally many of them as you want into the cap and throw them into your washer before you turn it on to kickoff the load. Downy says their Unstopables are compatible with all washing machines.

Downy Unstopables aren't lather and they're non meant to replace your detergent and/or cloth softener. They're supposed to be used WITH your detergent. They're simply meant to add together smells, not to make clean anything.

Downy Unstopables Ingredients

Featherlike Unstopables just contain three ingredients:

Polyethylene Glycol
Fragrance
Dyes/Colorants (which differ depending on the scent)

This is really somewhat surprising considering that almost personal care and cleaning products incorporate a long list of (sometimes questionable) ingredients. Just fewer ingredients doesn't e'er mean better. Are Featherlike Unstopables safe? Allow's investigate these iii ingredients to find out.

This post may contain affiliate links, which ways we may earn a small-scale committee if yous choose to make a purchase. We simply make recommendations that are genuine and see our ingredient/material safety standards.

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Are Downy Unstopables Toxic?

Unfortunately, there is not one totally rubber ingredient in Downy Unstopables; all 3 of these ingredients comes with problems. Let's go through each one:

What's the Problem With Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)?

Polyethylene Glycol, likewise known every bit PEG, is used as a "Perfume Dispersant." It's too the active ingredient in MiraLAX. Yes, it'south a laxative that causes water to be retained in the stool to help with occasional constipation. It's likewise commonly institute in things like toothpaste and lotions.

The problem with PEG is not actually nigh the ingredient itself, but how it's processed. Although in that location are multiple routes to the finish product, they all involve using ethylene oxide, which is a very problematic irritant that's known to cause multiple types of cancer and infertility. The PEG terminate products can unfortunately be contaminated with ethylene oxide, making products with PEG potentially toxic.

The second potential contaminant PEG could comprise is called 1,four-dioxane, which is another known carcinogen.

The trouble is that PEG (and therefore Downy Unstopables) could contain both of these toxic chemicals fifty-fifty though they weren't added intentionally, meaning they won't exist listed on the ingredient listing.

Not only that, but PEG is known as a "penetration enhancer," which is something that allows other ingredients to more easily pass through the skin. That means that even if the PEG in your Downy Unstopables does not comprise ethylene oxide or 1,four-dioxane, it can nevertheless decrease your body's ability to protect you from other toxins in your home, personal care products, and environment.

Why is "Fragrance" Toxic?

The second ingredient listed in Featherlike Unstopables is "fragrance." Whenever you lot see the word "fragrance" or "parfum" listed on an ingredient label (and you volition see it a lot), information technology should heighten a large red flag for you. We've written about this problem earlier, as it related to perfume as well every bit candles and plug-in air fresheners. "Fragrances" are And then prevalent that you're likely to find them in about all of your personal care and cleaning products.

In the United States, in that location is a list of almost 4,000 chemicals (some totally safe, and many not) that can be included in products under the umbrella term "fragrance" and companies are not legally required to list those chemicals on the label. (Although, this is starting to change with California's new Ingredient Disclosure law.)

In other words, when you see "fragrance" listed, you have nigh no idea of knowing what that actually means.

Among the toxic chemicals that are allowed under the "fragrance" umbrella are phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors and can cause infertility, as well equally styrene and naphthalene, which are carcinogens.

Dyes & Colorants

Dyes and colorants should be approached with caution because some of them are safe while others are linked to a diversity of different long-term negative health furnishings. And at that place are a TON of unlike synthetic chemical dyes and colorants, so information technology can be very difficult for consumers to sort through them and effigy out what'due south safety and what's non.

Most of the Downy Unstopables scents incorporate colorants from the "Acrid Red" family unit, which have been found to be potentially problematic when used in hair dye. We could really apply some more than data and transparency in this area!

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Downy Unstopables Allergic Reaction Symptoms

Many people have experienced balmy to severe allergic reactions to Downy Unstopables, which could be from the PEG, the fragrance, or the dyes. Symptoms that take been reported are:

  • rash/hives (this is the most ordinarily reported negative reaction)
  • itchy peel
  • eye and sinus irritation and swelling
  • sore pharynx/trouble swallowing
  • itchy nose
  • sneezing and cough
  • pustules on the pare
  • eczema
  • nausea
  • asthma exacerbation

Especially if you or your kids struggle with allergies, have sensitive skin, or have other chemical sensitivities, it would be safer to go with not-toxic laundry products instead of Downy Unstopables (which we'll talk about more in a minute).

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Are Downy Unstopables Toxic to Dogs and Cats?

Many consumers accept reported some of the same symptoms listed above in their pets. If y'all find your dog or true cat experiencing things similar rashes and sneezing, consider taking Downy Unstopables out of your laundry routine for at least a month to see if information technology makes a difference.

If your pet really ingests the beads, take them to the vet. Ingesting these beads could be much more than toxic than smelling them and doing your laundry with them.

Are Featherlike Unstopables Safe for Baby Clothes?

Babies' niggling developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxic substances than adults' are, so we tin't recommend using Downy Unstopables on babe clothes. For the little ones, nosotros recommend simply skipping the scent boosters and using non-toxic detergents similar Dropps Baby Detergent (unscented) or Attitude Infant Detergent (which comes in Soothing Chamomile, Sweetness Lullaby, Pear Nectar, and Fragrance-Free) instead. Your babe's skin smells amazing as information technology is anyway.

What About "Downy Light" Odour Beads—Are They Better?

Nigh six months after this article was originally published, I saw a commercial for "Downy Light" Smell Beads, and then of course I had to wait into this new product to see if it'southward whatsoever improve!

"Want your clothes to smell freshly washed all day without heavy perfumes?" the ad asked. The commercial goes on to advertise the product as having "no heavy perfumes or dyes" and being available in "four naturally-inspired scents." (Did you lot catch that marketing jargon? Pitiful, but "naturally-inspired" is not the same equally "natural.")

But clearly P&G knows that some people practise NOT like the heavy perfumes and constructed chemical scents of their regular products!

Only sadly, this is just some other example of greenwashing… When y'all look at the ingredients in Downy's "Light" Scent Beads, they're almost the same:

  • Polyethylene Glycol
  • Fragrance

They did accept out the dyes and colorants, which is certainly progress. And there's a possibility that there are less toxic constructed chemicals included in the fragrance portion. But we nonetheless can't recommend this product or call it "not-toxic." Instead, we recommend checking out some of the tips and tricks beneath to go along y'all laundry smelling fresh in a safer style.

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Natural & DIY Laundry Scent Boosters

There aren't likewise many natural, pre-fabricated laundry odour boosters, simply nosotros did find this one from Farmhouse Wares, which is made from Epsom salt, baking soda, and pure essential oils.

Only it's really easy to make your ain natural DIY scent booster! Here's a really easy recipe:

  • 2 cups of Kosher salt OR Epsom salt
  • ane cup of blistering soda
  • xxx drops of the essential oil of your choice

Mix everything together in a bricklayer jar and allow it sit for at least thirty minutes earlier using and then that the salt and soda take the opportunity to soak upwards the oils.

Apply 1/4-one/ii cup of the booster per regular-sized load of laundry. You tin add it directly into the washing automobile on summit of your clothes, sheets, or towels.

Make sure yous put a chapeau on the jar when storing it.

What Near Mrs. Meyers and Method Scent Boosters?

Mrs. Meyer'due south and Method are two popular "dark-green" cleaning product companies that can often be plant in big box stores like Target and Walmart.

The trouble with these two companies is that SOME of their products are not-toxic, while others incorporate many of the problematic ingredients that conventional brands practise.

For their laundry scent boosters, both of these companies do disclose their full ingredient listing, including what their fragrance contains. And while we definitely capeesh the transparency, unfortunately, many of those ingredients are on MADESAFE's banned list, so we tin't strongly recommend them.

Other Natural Means to Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresh

Wool Dryer Balls

These dryer balls can take the identify of your dryer sheets by reducing static and wrinkles, while also helping your clothes dry faster. Once a week or so, just put ten drops of the essential oil of your choice onto the dryer balls to requite your laundry a fresh (but non fake) scent.

Dryer Sachets

If essential oils aren't your thing, use a lavander sachet (like this i made from upcycled t-shirts) in your dryer. These little dryer pillows are filled with fragrant organic lavender buds and reusable for up to nine months.

Non-Toxic Dryer Sheets

Conventional dryer sheets are one of the near chemically-laden products in your home. And so if you want to use dryer sheets, go with a safer make like ane of these:

  • Mental attitude Static Eliminator & Softener Dryer Cloths
  • Biokleen
  • Public Goods
  • Catch Green

Vodka!

For when you lot need to freshen up fabrics that you lot don't have fourth dimension to put through the laundry, just use vodka! Yep, putting i-third vodka and two-thirds water in a spray canteen and so spraying your clothes can neutralize whatsoever musty smells. You can fifty-fifty add some essential oils to your spray bottle every bit well if y'all'd like.

This is also a great trick for fabrics that are harder to wash, similar the couch, mattress, pillows, or shoes.

Non-Toxic Cloth Refresher Spray

If vodka in a spray bottle is non your thing, utilise a pre-made fabric refresher spray, similar Grow. Nosotros absolutely beloved Grow's fragrances — they come up in ten different scents and truly give Febreze a run for its money.

non toxic fabric refresher

Other Questions You May Have Virtually Downy Unstopables

Are Featherlike Unstopables a Fabric Softener?

Nope.

Can You Put Downy Unstopables in the Dryer?

No, Downy Unstopables should merely exist put in the washer.

Can You Put Downy Unstopables in a Wax Warmer?

P&Thou (Downy's parent company) carries some other Unstopsable products, including their Febreze Unstopable Wax Melts. These should NOT be confused with Featherlike Unstoppable laundry scent boosters. Y'all should Non put Featherlike olfactory property boosters in a wax warmer.

Can You Make Bootleg Febreze Air Freshener Spray Out of Downy Unstopables?

Even though they do sell Febreze Unstopable spray, some people on the internet like to DIY their own air freshener spray by dissolving the Downy chaplet into warm water and putting the solution into a spray bottle. Instead of spraying this toxic spray into your air, try Grow instead! This not-toxic air freshener spray is establish-based, toxin-free, and smells simply every bit fresh and delightful as P&1000's products.

Are Downy Unstopables Bad for Your Washer?

Nosotros can't find annihilation that says Downy Unstopables can cause any issues for your washing automobile, so yous should be safe in this regard.

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Image credits: Sarah Brown, Picsea, Uby Yanes, Annie Spratt, PNW Production, Rachel Claire