6 Eco-Friendly Dryer Sheet Alternatives

Dryer sheets can add a refreshing smell and softer feel to your clothes, but they can also harm your dryer, your clothes, and the environment. Let's take a look at some eco-friendly dryer sheet alternatives.

Dryer sheets are often used to reduce static and add softness to your load of laundry. They also can add pleasant scents, giving your towels and clothes that “fresh laundry” smell. 

However, these added fragrances come from chemicals that get passed onto your laundry, and the static reduction and additional softness come from a film of fatty acid that is woven into the fibers of the dryer sheet. This film melts when heated and coats, not only your clothes, but also the inside of the dryer.

This coating makes clothes less fire-resistant, less absorbent of water and can ruin sweat-wicking that is built into some workout clothing. With time, this film will cover your lint filter making it hard to remove and the excess lint will end up on your laundry. The air circulation in the dryer itself may also be affected by the coating with time, making your dryer less efficient. 

Luckily, there are several eco-friendly dryer sheet alternatives you can use to achieve similar results. Let’s take a look. 

Household Remedies as Dryer Sheet Alternatives

If the end goal of using dryer sheets is to soften clothes and reduce the static, there are natural household items you can use instead of conventional store-bought dryer sheets. 

• Washing your clothes with vinegar can help soften your clothes and remove the residue built up over time by fabric softeners. To use vinegar as a dryer sheet alternative, simply dampen a wash cloth with apple cider vinegar and toss it in with your load.
• Aluminum foil can be pressed into a ball shape and will help reduce static in the dyer. You can reuse these aluminum drying balls numerous times and, what’s even better: Aluminum’s recyclable! Simply press a bit of foil into a ball shape, and toss them in with your dryer as usual.
• Baking soda can be used as a dryer sheet alternative, but needs to be added to the wash cycle. It works to help balance the water in the wash cycle, which makes the clothes softer and less static once dried. Add ¼ or ½ cup to your rinse cycle.
• Skip dryer sheets altogether. They are actually an unnecessary addition to your drying routines and skipping them altogether not only saves you money but also reduces waste and saves your clothes and dryer in the process. 

Store-Bought Alternatives to Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets aren’t the only way to achieve softer, and nicer smelling clothes. There are other store-bought options that aren’t as taxing on the environment. 

• Dryer balls are an easy alternative to dryer sheets. They naturally soften your clothes, reduce static, and don’t add chemicals or leave lint behind. They are known to speed up drying time by increasing air circulation. Certain dryer balls, like the ones from Life Miracle (available on Amazon**) even allow you to add your favorite essential oil to give your laundry a fresh laundry scent. Simply add them to your dryer with your next load of laundry and dry as usual.
• Reusable dryer sheets work the same way as regular dryer sheets, but are slightly better for the environment since they are reusable and compostable. If you want a dryer sheet alternative that is close to the regular version, these might work for you. There are several brands available, like Grab Green (available on Amazon**). 

Air Dry Clothing

Another great dryer sheet alternative is to skip the dryer altogether and dry laundry naturally. By air-drying clothes, you can save energy and extend the life of your clothing. If you live in an area of the country that has nice weather all year round, you can reap the disinfecting, bleaching, and drying benefits of the sun.

For those who live in areas with harsh winters, you can get an indoor drying rack for when the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor drying. When drying clothes indoors, just be sure to keep an eye on the humidity levels in your house.  

Read on:

• Make Your Own Laundry Detergent in 6 Steps
• Hand Washing Clothes: Tips and Tricks – Utopia
• How to Get Rust Stains Out of Clothes and Carpets: 5 Clever Methods

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Tags: Cleaning Guide Practical Tips