The Green Screen Rating

This score is a ranking based on how natural, eco-friendly, and non-toxic a product is, and is rated out of a possible total 5 stars.

STARS: 4 out of 5 stars for naturalness
COMMENTS: Fabric softeners are notorious for containing a number of harmful toxins, and since they are usually added to the rinse cycles, these toxins will remain trapped in your clothes and therefore come into contact with your skin. Additionally, when your washing machine drains, all those toxins are also dumped into our water systems, where they can wreak havoc on delicate ecosystems.

Seventh Generation offers a biodegradable and safe choice for a fabric softener that you can feel good about. There are also a few tricks you can use for added softness, naturally, including adding vinegar to your wash (but DO NOT MIX WITH BLEACH, because vinegar and bleach react to create toxic fumes), adding baking soda, or I've even heard that adding a piece of aluminum foil to the dryer reduces static cling (it's worth a shot....). Read more about the problems with fabric softeners and dryer sheets, as well as some good natural alternatives here:

Natural Alternatives to Fabric Softeners & Dryer Sheets