Can You Dry Clothes Without A Dryer Sheet? In a nutshell, yes! You absolutely don't need to use dryer sheets when you dry your clothes. Fortunately, if you decide to forgo dryer sheets, that doesn't mean you have to live with static cling and stiff clothes.
Aside from leaving fabrics smelling fresh and feeling soft, dryer sheets provide an important safety service. They help eliminate static on clothing. Static can cause dryer fires if a spark ignites debris in the lint trap. (An important reason to keep the lint trap clean.)
If you're still wanting to add fragrance and softening benefits to your load, be sure to only use dryer sheets in moderation to reduce the negative effects to your towels. Dryer sheets can affect the self-extinguishing ability of flame-resistant clothes, like kids' pajamas, potentially causing safety issues.
Most dryer sheets are made from non-recyclable polyester, which means they go straight from your dryer to the landfill. “While some dryer sheets are made from natural or cellulose fibers and can be recycled, most dryer sheets on the market are disposable products,” says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and CEO at Steamery.
The cycle operates using an electronic moisture sensor that is embedded in the dryer drum. Dryer sheets can cause the electronic moisture sensor to become coated with chemical residue. The coating prevents the sensor from working correctly and can cause your clothing to overdry (and increase your utility costs).
The idea is, apparently, dryer sheets absorb static, which also helps them pick up dust. As useful as these sheets are in the laundry and around the house, I couldn't stop thinking about the waste aspect — it's like using a single paper towel once and throwing it away afterward.
Check out some of the safe alternatives to dryer sheets such as wool dryer balls, aluminum foil balls, reusable lavender dryer bags, soap nuts, vinegar, and baking soda.
For static-free loads of laundry, two or three inch-thick balls of aluminum foil should do the trick. Rip off a few sheets of foil, crumple them up tightly and toss them in your dryer. Your clothes will come out sans static, all due to an exchange of electrons. Here's how it works.
But dryer sheets can be costly, and some even leave a “slimy” layer on clothing that can damage the fabric and the color. Instead, try aluminum foil. Roll up a sheet of aluminum foil into a ball and throw it in the dryer. This helps to reduce static electricity and keep clothes crisp.
Both of these are good options for drying your laundry for different reasons. If you prefer fragrant, soft clothes, dryer sheets are an ideal choice. For an eco-friendly, less energy-using, and reusable option, dryer balls are the best. Despite their boon and bane, both drying products are easy to use and affordable.
The belief is that tennis balls can soften items in the dryer as well as speed up the amount of time it takes to fully dry. Luckily, the trick does seem to work, so rather than resorting to a chemical-based fabric softener, you can simply toss in a few tennis balls (as long as they're clean!).
They help prevent laundry from clumping together in the dryer by tumbling between layers and separating fabric. This action allows warm air to circulate better which can even help reduce drying time. The movement of the dryer balls against fabrics can also help fight wrinkles, prevent static and soften clothes.
Dryer balls can dramatically reduce your drying times (sometimes even by 25%!!), they soften clothes, and, if used correctly, they reduce static in your laundry.
Try lavender water.
Add lavender water to a spray bottle and give your laundry a quick spritz before throwing it into the washer. Just enough scent will remain after drying to keep it smelling fresh for a long time. Don't love lavender? Try your favorite essential oil.
For those of you wondering what dryer balls do, they decrease drying time, reduce static and make your fabrics softer.
Most dryer sheets contain the ingredient linalool, which can be found in plants like lavender, basil, and coriander, all of which naturally repel common garden pests. Similar studies found that this ingredient is also useful for repelling bugs like mites, weevils, beetles, and German cockroaches.
The EWG's highest recommendations for dryer sheets are Grab Green Wet Dryer Sheets, Unscented; Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day (in various scents); and Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Dryer Sheets, Unscented.
Because dryer sheets contain detergent, they're also perfect for cleaning soap scum, and grime off of shower doors, walls, and fixtures. Moisten the dryer sheet, rub the soap scum to remove it, and then rinse your shower with clean, warm water to remove any residue.
Like fabric softener, dryer sheets contain oils that can coat towel fibers and destroy their absorbency. So, don't use them when drying your towels. Instead, create three-inch balls from aluminum foil and toss them in the dryer with your towels.
No, you can't. In contrast to toilet paper, things like tissues and kitchen towels are designed to retain their strength as much as possible, especially when wet. Flush a tissue or paper towel down the toilet and it won't break down, at least not readily, so it's a prime candidate to clog your pipes.