DIY Dryer Sheets To Help You Save Money and the Planet

While there are many great inventions we can thank modern technology for, none are quite as comforting as a dryer sheet. These versatile wonders turn an ordinary load of laundry into a soft pile of floof that simply begs to be worn. It removes soap scum and keeps bugs at bay, but what they didn't tell you is that dryer sheets aren't all that good for the environment. Plus, let's face it, they are pricey too. 

Does that mean you have to go back to stiff towels and electrified sweaters? Nope! We've got you covered with our DIY dryer sheets. 

What do dryer sheets do? 

Dryer sheets are to laundry what pickles are to a Quarter Pounder. It just takes your laundry to the next level. It removes all that nasty static when you take your clothes out of the dryer, it adds a delicate fragrance to the laundry, and there's that softness. 

How to make dryer sheets: three easy methods 

There are two reasons why you're going to hop on the DIY-dryer-sheet bus, and those are the environment and your budget. So let's get started. 

First, you'll need an actual sheet. Fret not, that holy old t-shirt and tatty jeans can finally have new purpose again. Simply cut them up into squares and save them for a laundry day. Next is to choose your favorite essential oil to spruce up your laundry. 

1. Vinegar – While vinegar might not seem like a good choice for fresh-smelling socks, it's a fantastic addition to most cleaning tasks you may have at home and your DIY dryer sheet is included. You will need a container, preferably glass or plastic. Then, add some essential oil. While it may not smell like your favorite dryer sheet just yet, trust us, the vinegar smell doesn't last. Once the cloths are soaked through, hang them out to dry and then store them in an airtight container. Add a dryer sheet to your load and when the load is dry, you'll have soft, fragrant, and static-free clothes and linens.
2. Fabric Softener – If you're not convinced by the vinegar-works-for-everything sales pitch just yet, fabric softener should be a bit more up your alley. After all, fabric softener is already 75% of the way there thanks to its wonderful smell and ability to floof-ify literally everything. As with the vinegar, you'll need to soak a few scraps of cloth in softener and then let them dry out too. Add a sheet to your load and thank us later.
3. Hair Conditioner – Yes this came as a shocker to us too until we realized that conditioner is basically just softener for your hair. So there's no reason why these DIY dryer sheets wouldn't work. As with the other two, you'll soak and dry before popping it into your load.

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