Can laundry detergent and fabric softener impair your child's lung function?

What's actually in it

Laundry detergents and fabric softeners contain surfactants, fragrances, optical brighteners, and preservatives. These chemicals remain in fabric after washing. When children wear freshly laundered clothes or sleep on washed sheets, they breathe in residues that off-gas from the fabric. Fabric softener sheets and liquid softeners leave especially thick chemical coatings.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol examined how laundry washing habits, detergent types, and fabric softener use affected lung function in children with wheezing problems. The study found that certain laundry practices were linked to worse respiratory function in these children.

Children who already wheeze are more sensitive to chemical irritants. The fragrances and surfactants left in clothing can irritate airways and trigger inflammation. Fabric softeners were especially linked to respiratory problems because they coat fibers with a layer of chemicals designed to stay put.

For children with asthma or wheezing, use fragrance-free, dye-free detergent and skip the fabric softener entirely. Run an extra rinse cycle. Dry clothes in the sun when possible instead of using dryer sheets.