Toxicity: Risk for toxicity will vary based on the amount ingested. Minimal exposure in young children has a low risk for toxicity, but can be a choking hazard.
Expected symptoms: Minimal exposure typically results in an unpleasant taste, drooling, or gagging.
What to do: Remove the dryer sheet. Wipe out the child’s mouth with a wet cloth or rinse the mouth. Give your child a drink of water to help get the taste out of the mouth. Contact the Missouri Poison Center for additional assistance.
Quick Facts about dryer sheets:
While some laundry products can be a hazard to young children, dryer sheets aren’t typically one of them. Dryer sheets are squares of wispy disposable fabric like polyester that contain fabric softeners and chemicals, which give them a pleasant fragrance, but the amount of these chemicals is low.
Dryer sheets can be a choking hazard if small children put them in their mouth. That’s why it’s important to store dryer sheets and all other laundry products out of children’s reach.
If you notice that your child has tasted or ingested part of a dryer sheet, it is important not to panic. Most children will react to the taste and may cough or gag on the dryer sheet. Take the product away from the child and remove any pieces of the dryer sheet from the mouth. Wipe their mouth out with a soft wet cloth and you may give them some water to drink to get the taste out of their mouth. Do not try to induce vomiting.
After you have removed your child from the situation, immediately call the Missouri Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222. Treatment recommendations are often determined by the amount ingested. The poison center is open all day, every day for poisoning emergencies and questions and our team of medical professionals will help to walk you through the next steps.