A few years ago, I stopped using dryer sheets (and fabric softener) because I was worried they were irritating my skin, and I just didn’t like the way they smelled. Plus, after years of wasting my hard-earned money on them, I didn’t want to spend the money anymore. I eventually switched to using homemade lavender sachets, which I love, but they can also be expensive, especially since they only last through a few uses before the scent starts to fade.
It seemed like there had to be a better way to make my clothes smell fresh while avoiding all the harsh chemicals and fake scents.
Solution? Make my own reusable dryer sheets from all-natural ingredients and reap the benefits of saving money and having fresh-smelling laundry. Win-win!
How To Make Your Own Reusable Dryer Sheets
Like most of our homemade laundry solutions, these are simple and made with two ingredients you probably already have on hand: distilled vinegar and essential oils (seriously, why didn’t anyone tell me about these earlier??).
Here’s how easy the reusable dryer sheets are to make:
Reusable Dryer Sheets
- Gather your supplies: cloth (I use old wash cloths and tee shirts, but you can easily find reusable cloths for cheap at places like Walmart or The Dollar Store), scissors, essential oils, white vinegar, mixing container, and airtight storage container.
- Cut the cloths into the desired size. I like using regular sized washcloths and cutting them in half. If using something larger, cut them down to about 4″ x 4″.
- Combine the vinegar and essential oils in a container. Place the lid on and give it a good shake to mix it all together.
- Fold you cloths and place them in the solution. Let them soak it all up, then squeeze to remove excess solution
- Move the sheets to a clean, dry container. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
- To use, pull one out and add to the dryer along with wet clothes and select the desired setting.
After they have been used (and dried) the cloths can simply dipped into the vinegar solution again and the process repeated. The cloths can be periodically washed, if needed. SO easy and inexpensive! They don’t prevent static cling, but they do help soften the clothes, and the oils help them smell extra fresh and clean without being overpowering. (For static cling, I’ve heard aluminum foil balls really do the trick.)
Since these contain water, they will eventually start to mold despite all the antibacterial agents. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or until you start to mold or bacterial growth or any kind.
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