Eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets?

[LynzM]

Was reading the washer thread and wondering about this... if you haven't already gotten away from using a clothes dryer (as we, shame, have not), do you use dryer sheets? Is there an alternative to using them, other than having your clothes come out all crazy stuck to each other? I know, I probably should just either get used to that or start line drying things. :)

[NMDemDist2]

1. buy cotton clothing?

I don't use dryer sheets, I use the old style fabric softener (the stuff that comes in a gallon jug for about $3) in loads with a lot of synthetics

I still use a "Downey Ball" but I fill it twice as high as the line for Downey


but I own few synthetics these days....

[LynzM]

4. Hrm....

Yeah, it mostly is our synthetic hiking socks that do a lot of the sticking, and a couple long-sleeve synthetic wicking shirts... I'm not sure how to get away from socks like that, though, since I can't wear wool. :(

[sazemisery]

2. Use vinegar in the downy ball

Vinegar is a good fabric softener. Fill to the blue rim on the ball. Vinegar is odorless when it dries. I have a small cotton sack of lavender in my dryer for a pleasant scent.

[LynzM]

3. Hrm....

Does that help keep the stuff from getting really static-y and sticking to itself and each other?

[Warpy]

19. I use vinegar in the Downy ball all the time

because NM water is as hard as the rocks it comes from within. Filling that thing with vinegar seems to get rid of the soap scum that keeps everything so rough and makes my skin break out.

I do use unscented dryer sheets when I'm drying my sheets and towels, though. Everything else seems to do well enough without them.

My rugs, of course, get thrown onto the porch furniture to dry.

[TygrBright]

5. Don't over-dry...

I never use softener or dryer sheets anymore since we moved to a house where the dryer has four levels of dry: Damp, Regular, Very and Extra. I realized that my old dryer had pretty much dried "Extra" all the time, with variations only for drying temperature. Everything would come out of the dryer sticking together and crackling.

"Regular" leaves some of my heavy cotton knits still a little damp, but generally things are quite dry enough to shake out and fold without crackling or clinging. Of course, here in Santa Fe mildew is NOT a problem.

Try setting your dryer for a lower heat and/or shorter cycle, if it's not one of the kind that have a moisture sensor control. Most things will be dry, you can set all the still-slightly-damp things aside and put them all together for an extra five or ten minutes at the end.

Stuff I want extra fluffy (like towels) I throw a couple of silicone dryer balls in with. Seems to work just fine.

You'll save energy and money, too.

Suggestively,
Bright

[LynzM]

9. Mmm...

That's a tough option with our old dryer - you just set it for the number of minutes, no moisture measuring :rofl: Still, I could start setting it lower and pulling stuff out to finish air-drying, I guess. Would save some energy, too!

[Warpy]

6. I got a couple of rubber balls with nubbins coming out of them

that tumble along with the clothing. Unless I'm drying synthetic sweaters, they work just fine. Those damned sweaters require an unscented dryer sheet, and even then they tend to cling to everything else.

[Qanisqineq]

7. Are those rubber balls the same thing as these?

http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/household/laundry/dryer+balls.do

I was thinking about trying them out.

[Warpy]

8. Yes, but you should be able to get a single

set for less money at a bedding supply place.

They work OK and seem to help laundry tumble. Like I said, those synthetic sweaters take a (no smell) dryer sheet.

[JitterbugPerfume]

11. I bought my little spiky rubber balls at Meijers

and I love them . When I have to use fabric softner I use the unscented kind.

[ebayfool]

10. Make your own dryer sheets w/old washrags, t-shirt squares, etc?

I know this is an old thread, but wanted to toss into the mix what we've used for years ...

Splash any liquid fab softener (although I like the Downy best for this - seems less of it works better than twice as much of the generics) onto the washrags/squares & let it dry. Use same as the throwaways, but instead of tossing when the load is dry, you put it in a stash bag/box/whatever for the next load. They will need to be reloaded occasionally, & the older/more reloaded they get - the better they work. With the Downy you get a nice, bright, easily identifiable blue (on white cloths!) so they're easy to separate out when folding the load.

Combined w/the silicone dryer balls, even my 17 yr old grandson's levis come out nicely scented & soft - no small feat for him!

[NMDemDist2]

12. great tip!! n/t

[watrwefitinfor]

13. I threw out all the chemical laden dryer sheets and liquid softeners.

Now I just toss a loose ball of crumpled aluminum foil into the dryer with the load. Doesn't have to be large - mine are usually maybe about 2 inches in diameter. Can use the same foil ball over and over and over. No static, unless you overdry.

A cup of white vinegar in the final rinse keeps clothes soft and smelling nice.

Wat

[demokatgurrl]

14. I have quit using fabric softener years ago

and I think the clothes feel better. Plus, a lot of manufacturers recommend not using them.
The rubber balls work to help soften the clothes, and also shorten drying time a bit.

[Tesha]

15. Ikea makes a nice little dryer...

shaped like an octopus, hangs up in a small space, folds up when you're done, easy to use.... and no more staticy socks!

[WhiteTara]

16. Use phosphate free soap

and you won't need it. I haven't used dryer sheets for several years. At first I was concerned that all my things would stick together, but if I have those kind of synthetics, I put a little of the laundry soap on a wash cloth and throw it into the dryer with the wet clothes. I use seventh generation soap or some other type eco friendly soap. Your clothes will be soft and scent free.

[demokatgurrl]

17. I have not used any type of fabric softener in years

I have those rubber balls that help the fabric to dry faster, and also fluff it a bit. Occasional static, no big deal though. Many of my clothes say not to use fabric softener, and I was happy not to spend the monehy.

[LostinVA]

18. Trader Joe's has lavender "bags"

Resusable and biodegradable.