I am not a huge fan of store bought dryer sheets for a number of reasons. I think they are seriously a waste of money and create a huge amount of unnecessary trash. Not to mention the very fake smell left behind on my clothes, as well as the questionable chemicals involved. Natural News discusses several health problems associated with dryer sheets if you want to learn more about this particular issue. I found a ton of recipes online for homemade dryer sheets but a large number of them use store bought fabric softener. I have the same issues with most fabric softeners as I do with dryer sheets. They contain nasty chemicals, fake smells and are a waste of money. So I started researching some natural dryer sheet alternatives and came up with a very simple solution that involves vinegar and essential oils. Easy enough to make so I thought I would give them a try. Here is my recipe and instructions for making natural dryer sheets if you would like to make your own.
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DIY Natural Dryer Sheets
Materials you will need:
Large Mason Jar
Scraps of cloth like old flannel sheets, t shirts or baby blankets
scissors
white vinegar
Tee Tree oil
Essential oil of your choice
Directions:
1. Cut material into pieces about the size of a baby wipe or regular dryer sheet
2. Pour approximately 2 cups of white vinegar into the mason jar
3. Add 10 drops of Tee Tree oil to the vinegar
4. Add 30 to 40 drops of essential oil of your choice to the vinegar or enough to achieve a nice scent (it doesn’t have to be strong, the heat of the dryer will amplify it and dissipate the vinegar smell)
5. Close the lid of the mason jar and shake vigorously
6. Open the mason jar and stuff the material pieces in one at a time
7. Once all the material is in the jar, close the lid and give it a shake. Store tightly closed and use one sheet per load of laundry in your dryer.
8. You can reuse your scraps of material….just put them back into more vinegar/oil solution.
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician with two teens, one husband and more pets than she will admit to. She has a BS in Microbiology but left her career in science to become a stay at home mom. Years of playing with LEGO and coloring with crayons had her craving a more grown up purpose to her life and she began blogging full time. She currently deals with emotional teens, suburban politics, and middle aged metabolism while sharing her opinions in an honest and down to earth fashion on her blog.
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