We Ditched Dryer Sheets

We ditched dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are one of the biggest culprits of chemically filled products in our homes and when you consider that they touch your clothes which touch your skin all day. In fact, dryer sheets contain alpha-terpineol, benzyl alcohol, and synthetic camphor (this is important because natural camphor has a large list of benefits where synthetic camphor can be a huge detriment), which are all toxic ingredients that cause central nervous system disorders, loss of muscular coordination, central nervous system depression, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. So, when I got serious about ditching toxins in our life dryer sheets was something I wanted to get rid of ASAP. Fabric softener is another culprit but we never have used that. 

So, we switched to dryer balls. 

I’m not going to sit here and tell you it was an easy transition. I was gleefully all for it but Ryan needed some convincing. In his defense, our clothes had an issue with static in the in the beginning and that is one of his biggest pet peeves. *Insert temporary point of contention in our home here.* Ha! 

I felt very passionately about getting dryer sheets out of our home and those chemicals away from our bodies. Ever since becoming a mom that’s been my major thing – creating the purest environment for our kids. Knowing what I did about dryer sheets those or something that had to go. The static problem was something I was determined to fix and we did. 

The Benefits of Dryer Balls

For me, the absolute biggest benefit to dryer balls is that the chemicals from dryer sheets aren’t touching my family. Everything that touches our skin is eventually absorbed. That means that the chemicals are slowly absorbing into my family which can affect a wide gamut of things including mental, emotional, and hormonal levels. Chemicals are everywhere on our planet and we encounter them all the time… So, anything that I can get rid of in my own home is a win.

Reduced dry time is another big one. With the dryer balls, they help absorb moisture and reduce the dry time which is better for my energy bill in the planet. Another excellent win.

“Fragrance” Control. Smell is another factor that I account for with the dryer balls. I don’t have to depend on the synthetic fragrance used in dryer sheets. Since I use wool dryer balls and I am able to drop a couple drops of essential oils on my dryer balls. Sometimes it’s purification, other times it’s lavender, I have control over the pure oils going into my laundry and come into contact with my family. 

Reducing Static Naturally

Remember how I said above that we had static when we began to just use our dryer balls? I am not kidding when I told you it was a point of contention in our home. In fact, one evening Ryan even rewashed his own clothes just so he could use a dryer sheet and get rid of the static. Lo and behold, I did fix the issue (confession: there’s been days it’s not fixed like when I put the dryer on the wrong setting or two non-compatible items end up together) and it’s no longer a point of contention!

Here’s my steps to less static:

• Add Vinegar in the wash.
  Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, so I add distilled vinegar into my washing machine with every load. I fill up the fabric softener portion with vinegar until it’s full. It’s roughly a 1/2 cup.
• Use setting Less dry.
  On my dryer there is a setting for less dry and it reduces the dry time and uses lower heat. When the dryer dings I pull out all of the clothes that are completely dry, or that will possibly become full of static with another round. This is important for my husband’s work clothes. If they are just barely damp still I will pull them out and let them air dry the rest of the way. Sometimes they are still wet and they need a little bit extra so I give it another cycle and I still have no static. 
• Wash like fabrics with like fabrics with like fabrics.
  I wash my cottons and my jeans together and when I can I keep out my synthetics (silky, spandex or nylon fabrics) for a separate load if I can help it. If I can’t keep them separate due to load sizes, I pull out my synthetics after my dryer goes off after the first round of “less dry” and run my cottons another round to complete their dry time. 

How to Get Started with Dryer Balls.

I got my dryer balls from a Young Living promotion and only occasionally do they offer them.  I have a seen a lot of great options on Amazon. Here’s a whole variety of options and these have an excellent rating. Worried about missing then fragrance of your clothes? We use Young Living Essential Oils to freshen up our laundry without the toxins!

Stay tuned:  Tomorrow I’ll be back with a DIY for making your own wool dryer balls! 

YOUR challenge today? Toss out those dryer sheets!