Learning how to make homemade dryer sheets is a safe and effective way to save money on laundry. These reusable dryer sheets use budget friendly ingredients that are safe for the whole family!
There is not much about cleaning house that I like. To be honest, it is one of my least favorite things and I am sure I’m not the only one. So, when I am cleaning, I like things that make my job as easy as possible. Laundry is one of my least favorite chores. Second only to dishes, my hate for laundry would honestly have me buying new clothes instead of doing a load of laundry.
If I could afford to do that, that is.
That’s why, when I began making things at home instead of buying them, I started making and using these homemade dryer sheets and I have been using them since. They’re honestly pretty amazing and make my laundry routine so much simpler. I am sure once you make your own dryer sheets , you will agree!
Store Bought Dryer Sheets Alternative
Regular dryer sheets are full of artificial fragrances and other things that may cause people with sensitive skin to react. If you’re allergic to a lot like I am, what most people have no issue with becomes dangerous chemicals against your skin. For me, regular dryer sheets can cause me to break out, my skin to dry out and in some cases, even to have trouble breathing.
However, these natural dryer sheets are made only with natural ingredients that won’t irritate your skin and make doing your loads of laundry a snap!
What are These Homemade Dryer Sheets Made With?
To keep these DIY dryer sheets as natural as possible, they are made without harmful chemicals. Because of this they are made with a mixture of white vinegar, a few drops of your favorite essential oil and water. Once they’re made, store them in an airtight container in your laundry room so you’ll have them the next time you do laundry.
The homemade fabric softener sheets themselves are made from extra cloth you have lying around the house. This could be old tee shirts, an old towel, old wash cloths, or even just fabric scraps you have hanging around. You can even use an old sheet if you prefer. In fact, this is one of my favorite ways to use old sheets! Cotton cloth is preferred but any pieces of fabric will work.
A Word About Essential Oils
You can use any brand of essential oils that you prefer, however, they should be 100% pure essential oils. If they are not, you risk them being cut with something that may be harmful. Personally, I prefer to use Simply Earth Essential Oils. Not only are they pure, but they are also very affordable.
As a Six Dollar Family reader, Simply Earth is offering you a FREE $40 gift card when you order your first box AND a FREE Bonus box with over $40 in freebies. In addition, you’ll also receive free access to their Essential Oil Hero course and more! All for the low price of $39!
To get this deal:
- Visit the Simply Earth website site HERE
- Add the monthly box to your cart and head to checkout.
- Continue to checkout and use the coupon code 6DOLLARFAMFREE
- Pay $39 for your box and get the monthly box, the free $40 bonus box and a free $40 gift card!
For these dryer sheets, you may use any scent you would like. However, lavender, lemon, orange or geranium all work incredibly well to make your laundry smell amazing.
How Well Do These DIY Dryer Sheets Work?
They work amazingly! The vinegar works to both soften your clothes and to reduce static cling in your clothes while the few drops of essential oil you use gives your clothes a fresh scent. There is zero vinegar smell because any smell evaporates in the dryer. Whatever may be left is covered by the scent of the oils and that is a very good thing.
These DIY dryer sheets are also easier on your dryer vent. Commercial fabric softener leaves a film of toxic chemicals on your vent that when combined with static electricity can actually cause your dryer to catch fire. My making your own DIY dryer sheets, you won’t have that film making your wash cycle much safer.
Liquid Fabric Softener vs. Dryer Sheets
If you prefer liquid fabric softener vs dryer sheets, that is perfectly okay. You can use the liquid mixture in this recipe as a liquid fabric softener. The only difference is you will only be making enough for four loads vs a reusable dryer sheet that can be used over and over again. To use the mixture as a liquid softener, add 1/4 cup of the vinegar solution to the fabric softener dispenser during the rinse cycle of your wash.
Do These Dryer Sheets Work Well with Homemade Laundry Detergent?
Yes! These homemade dryer sheets are natural alternatives to what you buy in the store which means they work amazingly alongside of homemade laundry soap! They also work well with natural laundry products such as what you find at Grove.co.
If you are looking to make your own laundry detergent, we have several different recipes that may work for you. Each one is amazing and will give you clean clothes that smell amazing.
- Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent
- Homemade Castile Soap Liquid Laundry Detergent
- DIY Laundry Detergent Pods
How to Store Homemade Dryer Sheets
Once you have made your DIY dryer sheets with essential oils, storing them is as simple as keeping them in a glass container with a tight fighting lid or some other air-tight container. Because these contain your favorite essential oils, it is best to use a glass jar.
Oils can break down plastic containers causing them to leech chemicals from the plastic into your natural products. If stored correctly, your dryer sheets will last a long time. Because the recipe allows for excess liquid in the bottom of the jar, they will stay wet for as long as that liquid remains.
The bottom line is this; if you have not already tried a natural detergent with a natural fabric softener, you’re missing out! These homemade dryer sheets are a better way to tackle static cling, bad laundry smells and to live renewed. Since they are made from such a simple recipe, they are a very easy way to bring a little green into your laundry room!
Homemade Dryer Sheets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 XL T-Shirt, Towel or Sheet
- 1 quart Mason Jar
- ¾ c. Cleaning Vinegar
- ¼ c. Water
- 5-8 Drops Essential Oil
Instructions
- Cut shirt or sheet into 16 6'x6' pieces.1 XL T-Shirt, Towel or Sheet
- Add cleaning vinegar, water and essential oils in a quart sized mason jar. Shake well to combine. Add as many fabric pieces as possible to the jar.1 quart Mason Jar, 3/4 c. Cleaning Vinegar, 1/4 c. Water, 5-8 Drops Essential Oil
- Add lid to jar and shake well to help the fabric soak up the cleaning solution. Use 1 sheet for each load of laundry. When all sheets are used, repeat the process to reuse your homemade dryer sheets.
