The Best Alternatives To Dryer Sheets
Looking for less toxic alternative to dryer sheets? Dryer sheets reduce the static in your laundry, while depositing scents and helping laundry feel soft. However, many moms are now choosing to avoid dryer sheets. The concoction of chemicals used to make one of these little squares can have profound impacts on your family’s health. They are highly toxic and can make a curious child or pet extremely ill. Some of the side effects include respiratory and nervous system damage. The less extreme side effect is typically severe allergic reaction, caused by these chemicals hiding on our clean clothes and then on our skin. It’s often hard to know exactly what’s causing these reactions.
Dryer sheets are convenient and easy to use. Many people do not want to give up soft, nice smelling clothes in favor of clingy and scratchy clothes. Luckily, there are workarounds that are safer for your family and the environment, too.
Alternatives To Remove Static
There is nothing more annoying than static and clinging clothes. Although it is a signal of clean laundered clothes, peeling them apart before you fold is no fun. Two of the best alternatives to dryer sheets are wool dryer balls and tinfoil. Wool balls can be made with any variety of natural roving commonly used in felting. Already felted balls can be bought in the laundry section of any supermarket. As a bonus, they are absorbent, allowing a scent or softener to soak in and then be distributed during the drying cycle.
More commonly available in everyone’s kitchen is tinfoil. Simply tear off a strip and crumple it up. Toss into the dryer, and the tinfoil will do a remarkable job stopping static. While they don’t have a smell or softener added, they are resilient. Load after load – reuse the same ball of tinfoil in your laundry for one to two months.
Safer Ways To Scent Clothes
These alternatives are safe for you and the environment, but you may miss that fresh laundry scent. Arguably the best reason to even use dryer sheets is for the warm and pleasant floral aromas that drift out of the dryer during folding. An easy fix is to spritz a touch of natural linen spray before or after the cycle. Wool balls can be dampened with natural scents and throw in. However, these are short-term solutions. Adding scented dresser liners to your dresser drawers not only protects your furniture, but also infuses clothes with a long-lasting, pleasant smell.
Alternatives To Soften Clothes
Like the feel that fabric softener brings to your clothes? Baking soda and vinegar are a great choice – all natural without harsh chemicals. Adding baking soda directly to your wash will not harm your clothes or the machine. Instead, it helps make clothes soft and fluffy, while absorbing bad odors. Likewise, vinegar can also be added. Used to clean and de-odor around the house, it will do the same for your laundry.
