6 Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Dryer Sheets That Truly Work
So, you like dryer sheets. Agree, they are super convenient to use. And who does not like the smell of freshly dried laundry!
But it is also well known that the chemicals in the traditional fragrant dryer sheets are extremely harmful. The chemicals evaporate in the air and are known to cause respiratory issues. They also pollute the air at home.
Yes, there are a good number of Eco-Friendly alternatives in the market. However, the homemade alternatives also work really well. Try them before buying any from the market. Just finish your current stock of commercial dryer sheets first.
Best Homemade Sustaintable Dryer Sheets Replacements
Vinegar, baking soda, etc are well-known for softening clothes. However, they don’t help much in terms of static. Here are a few things that you can just toss into the dryer while drying your laundry.
And the best part is you can use them with all of your laundries. Unlike traditional dryer sheets, there is no toxic chemical to create layers on your clothes.
So go ahead use them for your athletic clothes, linen, towel, etc. They would not temper with the moisturizer absorbing quality.
1. Wool Dryer Balls
Woolen balls are super convenient, easy to use, and go on for months, if not years. Just throw a few into the dryer along with your wet clothes.
The woolen balls go around while the laundry gets tossed. They suck the moisturizer and help in faster drying.
When clothes dry faster, there is less chance of static. Take these woolen balls out along with your clothes. Stored them in your cupboard. Reuse them during your next laundry.
2. Essential Oil dryer balls:
We get it. One perk of doing the laundry is the nicely scented dry clothes. There is enough evidence to show that artificial fragrances emit harmful volatile organic compounds(VOCs).
You can get the same nice fragrance of your choice using Essential oil. Use a few drops of oil on each of your woolen balls. Let them dry completely. And then throw them into the laundry while drying your clothes.
Do not put the wool balls into the laundry if the Essential oil is not completely dry. Also, purchase only good quality Essential oil.
The fragrance typically lasts for about a month. They are mild and do not cause any headaches etc. You can also experiment with different essential oils and create your own concoction of fragrances.
Check out this video tutorial on how to make woolen dryer balls with essential oil(optional).
3. Tennis ball
Tennis balls are made of wool and are hollow inside. They work quite well as an alternative to dryer sheets. Also, tennis balls last quite a few washes. Making them a much cheaper and eco-friendly alternative than traditional dryer sheets.
4. Aluminium Foil balls
Crunch up aluminum foil and give it the shape of a ball. The size should be as big as a baseball. Toss it into the dryer while doing laundry. It is quite effective in reducing static and drying out clothes faster.
You can reuse the ball till it looks completely worn out. If you are going the sustainability route, make sure to dispose of your Aluminium foil responsively.
5. DIY dryer sheets
Make your own DIY dryer sheets with an old cotton cloth. It should be a good cotton something like T-shirt material.
Cut the cloth in a few sizable square shapes. Put the pieces in an airtight glass container. Add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the container. The clothes should be damp but not soaking wet.
Take them out from the glass jar while trying your clothes. Toss them into the dryer. After each cycle, remoisten them by adding vinegar.
6. Reusable dryer sheets:
If you do not want the hassle of DIY, try reusable dryer sheets. These dryer sheets are made of natural fabric and decompose easily. You can use them for many months.
They are eco-friendly and do not contain any harmful chemicals. You can buy them online or at any nearby sustainable Store.
Bottom Line
Traditional toxic dryer sheets are bad for you and bad for the environment. If you want soft nicely scented laundry in a sustainable way, try one of these eco-friendly options. They do not take any extra time than adding a dryer sheet to your load.