Natural Dryer Sheet Alternatives That Work Amazing

You don’t need toxic dryer sheets to make your laundry soft and static-free. Yup, there are natural ways that work just as well and are 100% toxin-free.

The best natural dryer sheet alternatives are:

• Wool dryer balls
• Vinegar
• Dryer ball/tennis ball
• DIY dryer sheets

Non-Toxic Dryer Sheet Alternatives

Commercial dryer sheets are jam-packed with harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances that can cause all sorts of health issues. There are natural ways to reduce static cling and soften clothing without exposing yourself to toxic chemicals.

Commercial dryer sheets can also:

• Prolong drying time
• Leave a coating on clothing, reducing absorbency and quality
• Leave a residue in your dryer that can clog the lint filter

Wool Dryer Balls

These are reusable balls made of natural wool fibers. They help to fluff and soften clothes while reducing static cling.

Benefits of wool dryer balls:

• All natural & chemical-free
• Hypoallergenic
• Eliminate static cling
• Reduce drying time
• Softens fabric

Wool dryer balls are 100% natural, easy to use, and can last years! Plus, you can add a couple of drops of high-quality essential oils to them before putting them in the dryer with your clothing. This gives your clothing a nice scent without synthetic fragrances.

Where to buy: Molly’s Suds, Amazon

READ: 5 Best Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Brands That Actually Work

Vinegar

Vinegar is an effective and natural alternative to commercial dryer sheets. It provides softness, reduces static cling, and freshens laundry without the use of synthetic chemicals.

Vinegar helps naturally soften clothes by breaking down minerals and residue that can cause fabric stiffness. It also helps to neutralize electrical charges, preventing clothes from clinging together.

Adding a small amount of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help soften clothes and reduce static cling. The vinegar smell completely dissipates during drying, so you don’t have to worry about any unwanted odours.

Another great benefit to using vinegar is its natural antimicrobial properties, which can help freshen and deodorize laundry by killing odour-causing bacteria. A nice extra benefit!

Dryer/tennis ball

Similar to wool dryer balls, but usually made from a silicone material. They help aerate, soften, and reduce static cling in clothing.

Benefits of dryer balls:

• Help aerate clothing
• Reduce drying time
• Reduce static cling
• One-time buy, reusable

Dryer balls, often made from silicone (or tennis balls), help improve drying efficiency, soften fabrics, and reduce static cling without the use of harsh chemicals.

They physically help aerate clothing by tumbling, separating clothing, and preventing your laundry from clumping together. This helps maximize airflow and heat distribution, significantly reducing drying time. Separating your laundry reduces friction between clothing, helping to reduce static cling.

These are also great because they’re inexpensive and significantly reduce waste. They are a one-time purchase and can last for years.

Where to buy: Amazon

DIY Dryer Sheets

Another great natural dryer sheet alternative is to make DIY dryer sheets! These are pretty easy to make, non-toxic and work great.

To make these, you’ll need a couple of fabric squares. You can cut up old T-shirts, towels, or dish towels. Cut about 5×5-inch squares.

How To Make DIY Dryer Sheets:

1. To a large bowl, add 1 cup of white vinegar and 10-20 drops of essential oil (optional). You can adjust the number of drops of essential oil depending on how strong you want the scent to be.
2. Submerge your fabric squares into the vinegar and essential oil mixture. Let them soak for a couple of hours.
3. Wring out your fabric squares and let them air dry flat.
4. Once dry, store them in a glass jar.
5. Toss one into the dryer with your laundry, and that’s it!

The vinegar helps soften your clothes and reduce static cling, while the essential oils add a fresh scent. You can reuse each fabric square for several loads before needing to re-soak in the vinegar mix.

This is a super simple way to make DIY dryer sheets that are completely non-toxic and that work!

READ: How To Get Fragrance Out Of Clothes

Non-Toxic Dryer Sheet Options

If you love your dryer sheets and can’t imagine yourself without them, no worries. There are toxin-free options on the market now. This means they are free of toxic chemicals, synthetic fragrances and irritating ingredients.

1. Truly Free Dryer Angel

These are hand-made reusable fabric “angels” to which you add essential oil pouches. You toss the angels into the dryer with your laundry, and they help reduce static cling, soften clothing, and give your laundry a nice, essential oil scent.

I love that each essential oil pouch refill is reusable and lasts up to 30 laundry loads. The best part is that it is 100% toxin-free and free of synthetic fragrances, making it safe for your health, especially for those with sensitive skin and babies.

Where to buy: Truly Free

2. Molly’s Suds Dryer Sheets

These dryer sheets are made from plant-based ingredients. They are free of harmful ingredients like formaldehyde & 1,4-Dioxane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Optical Brighteners, Synthetic Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Petrochemicals, Phosphates, Chlorine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Phthalates, Parabens, Methylisothiazolinone and synthetic fragrances.

These are a good option when switching to a natural dryer sheet option, but I don’t love that they are still single-use.

Where to buy: Molly’s Suds

tips for Finding toxin-free dryer sheets

When buying dryer sheets, do your research and buy ones that are truly toxin-free. Many companies “green-wash” their products using marketing lingo like green, eco, and clean to make them look less toxic. However, their ingredient list often contains some harmful ingredients.

A common irritant is synthetic fragrance. Although it makes dryer sheets smell great, it can cause skin, respiratory, and allergic reactions. Instead, opt for fragrance-free options or ones that transparently list their essential oils.

It’s also best to avoid dryer sheets that contain dyes, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA), quaternary ammonium compounds, chloroform and dichlorobenzene.

What are your favourite natural dryer sheet alternatives?

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