Nope. They work by redepositing the waxy film of fabric softener that's on the nonwoven fabric of the softener sheet.

Okay, you're right often enough on subjects like this that I'm reluctant to question you, Betsy. But I've heard confirmation of this from several people, including at least one garment industry professional, so I'm now googling for back up, but you're also faster and better at googling. If you could provide a debunking link, I'd really appreciate it.

Hi, I'm Aimee, The Classic Everyone-Must-Like-Me-and-Show-It Empress of Clinginess. Have we met?

I like you! What's your LJ name?

I like you! What's your LJ name?

aimeejmc

grin

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT YOUR SPEED!

I'm allergic to dryer sheets.

Me too. At least, I stopped getting random rashes wherever the elastic of my clothes hit when I stopped using them, and being around clothes dried with the stronger smelling ones makes me sneezy and teary.

Sean, here's the Materials Sheet for Bounce.

If Bounce were made of fiberglass, they wouldn't be so casual about ingestion. The instructions for what to do if somebody eats one boil down to "Wait till it shows up on the other end."

[link]

I like dryer sheets well enough, but I'm too much of a cheapskate to buy them. Yes, I get cheap over $2.00. Hey, 15 boxes of dryer sheets = a half-way decent bottle of single malt. Gotta have priorities.

Hmmm.... Okay, your link confirms that the sheet deposits softener on the clothes (also confirmed by the clothing professional, who says that deposit of softener can also worsen certain stains), but it's not quite debunking the abraiding-of-fabric effect.

They may well abrade the fabric, but it's not because they're made out of fiberglass. They're made of nonwoven polyester cloth.

I dislike dryer sheets, but on occasion will use half of an unscented one with the laundry.

Never, however, on anything that touches the kid.