DRYER SHEETS
My husband is quite particular when it comes to laundering his clothing and the products he uses to do so. I love him dearly, but one thing we struggled with when moving in together was the dispute of buying or DIYing laundry detergent and dryer sheets. I think his hesitation in switching to something homemade stemmed from the comfort and familiarity he had with the commercially produced products that had been staples in his laundry routine for years. I completely understood his reluctant mindset (we have all been there), but asked if he would consider giving my natural dryer sheets a whirl.
Although I acknowledge we all must compromise in relationships, I honestly could not stand the overwhelming artificial fresh scent that radiated from the dryer every time he did laundry. Once you begin using essential oils for their natural aromas, you become rather sensitive to synthetic fragrances. After some convincing, my wonderful husband agreed to try the homemade dryer sheets, and three years later, we are still using them.
If you are interested in swapping out some of your store-bought laundry products for alternative cleaning items made in your own home, I highly suggest these DIY dryer sheets. They are simple to make, using only distilled white vinegar and fabric scraps. You can also add essential oils to the vinegar for aromatic purposes, but if you do not have essential oils, vinegar does the job on its own.
MAKING DRYER SHEETS
Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into a sterilized container with an airtight seal. Add 40 to 50 drops of 100% pure organic essential oil to the vinegar. Place the lid on the container and gently shake to thoroughly combine. Allow the solution to sit while preparing your fabric.
Roll each fabric scrap individually, then re-open the container and place one piece of fabric in the jar at a time to thoroughly saturate each cloth. Seal the lid and label your dryer sheets with the contents and date of creation.
UNDERSTANDING THE INGREDIENTS
DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR
Vinegar truly is a multi-purpose ingredient that can be used to clean many spaces and surfaces around the house, but it really does thrive in the laundry room. Add distilled white vinegar to your washing machine during the rinse cycle for a natural liquid fabric softener that prevents lint accumulation or add it to your dryer to create natural dryer sheets that assists in fighting odors and softening your garments.
ESSENTIAL OILS
The addition of essential oils in this recipe adds a pleasant aroma to your natural dryer sheets. If adding essential oils to the recipe, I recommend evaluating the contraindications and precautions of the essential oils of your choosing to confirm they are right for you and your family. I personally add lavender, lemon, and tea tree essential oils to my dryer sheets recipe.
ORGANIC FABRIC
In terms of the dryer sheet itself, I personally find it important to utilize organic fabrics any chance I get, but almost any cotton textile will work (organic or not). You can even transform old washcloths or cotton t-shirts into dryer sheets; simply cut them down to your preferred size. I have several fabric squares in a birdseye weave measuring 8” x 8” that are great for their absorbability, durability, and washability.
DIY DRYER SHEETS
Ingredients
2 cups distilled white vinegar
40-50 drops organic essential oil
Materials
organic cotton fabric
airtight container
Instructions
Pour distilled white vinegar into a sterilized glass container.
Add in essential oils.
Place the lid on the jar and gently shake to thoroughly combine.
Roll each fabric scrap individually, then place in the container, thoroughly saturating the cloth.
Seal the lid and label your dryer sheets.
How to Use
Place one or two dryer sheets into your dryer along with your clothing. Once the dryer cycle is complete, return the dryer sheet to the labeled container for reuse.
