I don’t like dryer sheets. They’re covered with chemicals that I don’t feel great about having in long-term contact with skin, and they just seem like such a waste of money.
Since I usually line dry our clothes, I just add white vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften the fabric and reduce static cling. But sometimes, line drying isn’t an option. So here’s how to make your own dryer sheets to save money, including one all-natural recipe.
How To Make Your Own Dryer Sheets With Fabric Softener
Soak an old wash cloth in liquid fabric softener and wring it out, then let it dry completely. Toss it into the dryer with your clothes and it’ll work just as well as the other kind. Bonus: you can re-use the same cloth for 10-12 loads.
How To Make Your Own Dryer Sheets With Non-Toxic Ingredients
Fill a jar with white vinegar and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. (The essential oil is optional, but it gives a nice scent. I like peppermint and orange.) Cut an old sheet or t-shirt in squares and store next to the vinegar. Before drying a load, soak a fabric square in the vinegar and toss it in with the load. Once dry, wash the square to remove any buildup and re-use.
[UPDATE: Lately, I've just been keeping the squares of t-shirt stored in the jar of scented vinegar. It works just as well.]
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I read that commercial dryer sheets also leave a waxy buildup on the lint screen, and that this can be potentially hazardous over time. Not sure if that’s true, but either of your tips are great, especially given the price of Bounce sheets.
I have to wash my lint screen every couple of weeks, even without using dryer sheets. Our washer/dryer set is 10+ years old — and definitely due for replacement — so the screen doesn’t clean as easily as it used to.
This is fantastic! I, like Terry, am always concerned about the residue left on the lint trap. My mom never used dryer sheets for this reason. Handsome Man, on the other hand, can’t imagine NOT using them. I think this is the perfect compromise
My mom’s a dryer sheet addict, despite all of her kids warning her about how bad they are for her laundry machines. Guess what she just had to replace last week, after only 3 years of use?
Yeah and guess what’s in that liquid fabric softener? Those dryer sheets cannot leave that much of residue on our clothes or towels…
Have a great weekend coming your way and wish you both well.
Mariette’s Back to Basics
Sure, liquid fabric softener’s not the best solution. (That’s why I put the all natural one in there, too.)
I haven’t used commercial fabric softener of any kind (liquid or dryer sheet) for a long time.
Many years ago, my washer repair man told me that the liquid fabric softener gunks up your washer, causing the parts to wear out faster. He said it’s one of the worst things you can put in to your washer and that dryer sheets are better.
Well, sheets are better, but they still are not that great.
I make my own ‘fabric softener using hair conditioner (preferably organic), vinegar and a spray bottle.
I mix it together and spray three or four times onto the clothes before they go into the dryer. (You could use an old t-shirt, too) if you don’t want to spray on the clothes.
Works like a charm, my clothes smell great and no build-up on the machines or in my clothes.
Your washer repair man is right, but hair conditioner has many of the same surfactants in it as the dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener. Except the organic kind… and they have their own oils they’re depositing.
Thanks for sharing these tips! I didn’t realize the issues with dryer sheets until today. And I’ll certainly enjoy spending less money!
Blessings,
Carrie
Isn’t it funny how many household products we buy that don’t just waste our money, but actively harm our stuff?
what a smart idea! i love making as much of our household stuff as possible myself, so i’ll definitely have to try this!
I stopped using fabric softener over a year ago and made some dryer balls out of wool yarn instead. They work great and if you want a little fragrance the essential oil and vinegar spritz will work just as well on the dryer ball. I just make sure that I leave them in the dryer when I take out a load and voila! Always ready to go.
Wool dryer balls are amazing things!
I was wondering if the dryer sheet with the vinegar on it will help to reduce static cling.
I don’t use dryer sheets at all, so I wouldn’t know. But the cloth with vinegar on it does cut static considerably.