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Velvet Digest

What can I use if I don't have dryer sheets?

Author

Emma Martin

Updated on April 27, 2026

Use Vinegar Instead If you're out of dryer sheets, use vinegar on a wash cloth instead: lightly dampen a wash cloth with apple cider vinegar and throw it in the dryer with your clothes. The vinegar prevents static cling and make your clothes softer.

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Accordingly, what can I use instead of dryer sheets?

Substitutes For Dryer Sheets

  • Try Using Vinegar Instead. If you're out of dryer sheets, use vinegar on a washcloth instead.
  • Use Baking Soda During the Wash Cycle. Another great home alternative for fabric softener if you usually add it into your washing machine is baking soda.
  • Wool Dryer Balls.
  • Aluminum Foil!
  • Make Your Own Dryer Sheets.

Subsequently, question is, do you really need dryer sheets? Chemicals from dryer sheets can build up and clog your dryer's lint screen, making your dryer a lot less efficient. And, dryer sheets are totally unnecessary for actually making our clothes cleaner—we don't really need them, and so they're an easily-preventable source of exposure to toxic chemicals.

Also know, what happens if you don't use dryer sheets?

Of course it's okay to dry your clothes without a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets are completely optional. People like them for the added fragrance and the reduced static. Liquid fabric softener, used in the rinse cycle of the wash, can be used instead.

What can I use instead of fabric conditioner?

For these reasons, many homeowners are looking for the best alternatives to fabric softeners that can offer the same benefits but without the harmful effects.

  • Wool Dryer Balls.
  • Baking Soda.
  • Vinegar.
  • Epsom Salt with Baking Soda.
  • Essential Oils.
  • Softener Crystals.
  • Hair Conditioner.
  • Tennis Ball.
Related Question Answers

Why you shouldn't use dryer sheets?

Some people love the scent, but unfortunately, dryer sheets can contain harmful chemicals that adhere to clothes, vent into the air, and rub off on your skin. These chemicals can cause health problems because they can mimic estrogen and trigger asthma.

Are there any safe dryer sheets?

If you still wish to use a dryer sheet, opt for scent-free dryer sheets that meet the requirements for the EPA's “safer choice” label. Keep in mind that even fragranced dryer sheets and laundry products that are labeled “green,” “eco-friendly, “all-natural,” or “organic” can release hazardous compounds.

Is fabric softener necessary?

The fact is: fabric softeners and dryer sheets do indeed make your clothes feel softer and smell better. And they reduce wrinkles too — especially when you air dry your clothes. So, if you're like most Americans, you've probably been using them for years without thinking twice.

Can you use aluminum foil instead of dryer sheets?

I've been using the same aluminum foil ball for over 6 months. You can also use sheets of aluminum foil to safely iron delicate fabrics. If you're not dealing with static, but trying to cut down on drying time you can make a natural dryer ball out of yarn or use a tennis ball.

What can u use instead of dryer sheets?

Substitutes For Dryer Sheets
  • Try Using Vinegar Instead. If you're out of dryer sheets, use vinegar on a washcloth instead.
  • Use Baking Soda During the Wash Cycle. Another great home alternative for fabric softener if you usually add it into your washing machine is baking soda.
  • Wool Dryer Balls.
  • Aluminum Foil!
  • Make Your Own Dryer Sheets.

Should you use dryer sheets on towels?

Like fabric softener, dryer sheets contain oils that can coat towel fibers and destroy their absorbency. So, don't use them when drying your towels. They'll reduce static electricity and help soften your towels—and they're more effective than dryer balls that you can buy.

What can you not use fabric softener on?

Here are a few ways not to use it.
  • Don't (always) use fabric softener when you wash your towels.
  • Avoid using fabric softener on certain fabrics.
  • Skip the fabric softener on baby items.
  • Don't pour fabric softener directly on your clothes.
  • Don't use fabric softener at all if you prefer something more natural.

Do dryer sheets expire?

Dispose of any excessively lumpy fabric softener that can clog dispensers and leave residue on clothes. Dry dryer sheets do not ever expire or go bad. Premoistened dryer sheets can mildew or dry out. If they are mildewed, dispose of them.

Do aluminum foil balls work in the dryer?

As clothes tumble around and rub against one another in the dryer, they exchange electrons. Throwing a few balls of aluminum in the dryer will fight this. The foil balls both discharge any static buildup that the clothes may experience and help keep the clothes separated, which should speed up the drying process.

Do dryer sheets work?

Dryer sheets have a very thin layer of fabric softener or lubricant, which is electronically conductive. After running a drying cycle with a dryer sheet in either an electric or gas dryer, your clothes come out feeling softer and with reduced static electricity, compared to a drying cycle without the dryer sheet.

Should you use fabric softener on jeans?

Never use fabric softener or dryer sheets That snuggly touch fabric gets from fabric softeners is great for your skin, but not so much for your denim. To give jeans that soft feel, fabric softeners coat the surface of the denim with a thin layer of chemicals, which, albeit mildly, abrade the fibers.

Can you put dryer sheets in washing machine?

Not all dryer sheets should go in the washer. Some dryer sheets will not be effective unless exposed to heat, such as that in a dryer. These sheets act as both detergent and dryer sheet by both washing clothes and preventing static cling and softening fabric.

Why is fabric softener bad for you?

Softeners contain fragrances and phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors, as well as preservatives and colors that are linked to skin irritations and cancer. Organic Authority published a list of toxins commonly found in fabric softeners (found here), many of which are known carcinogens.

How can I make my washing smell nice?

Here's the trick:
  1. Fill your washing machine with the hottest water your clothes will tolerate.
  2. Add 1 cup of vinegar to water.
  3. Let your clothes (or towels) soak in there for 10 minutes.
  4. Rewash your load as usual with detergent, adding 1 cup of baking soda.
  5. If you wish, use good smelling fabric softener to add scent.

How can I soften my towels without a dryer?

Adding vinegar to your washing machine helps soften your towels without a dryer.
  1. Add 1/4-cup of white vinegar to your washing machine when you do a load of towels to make them softer.
  2. Use less laundry detergent when you wash your towels.

Can I use fabric softener as hair conditioner?

Fabric softener won't work as well as conditioner Fabric softeners are formulated to soften fabric where as hair conditioners are designed to detangle, smooth, and increase shine. However in the case of your hair, repeated frequent use of fabric softer could result in horrific buildup.

How do you make towels soft and fluffy?

We've put together some tips to get your towels as good as new.
  1. Cut back on detergent. Towels feel stiff because they start to build up soapy residue.
  2. Wash in warm water.
  3. Replace fabric softeners with vinegar.
  4. Use baking soda.
  5. Lighten your load.
  6. Toss in a tennis ball or dryer ball.
  7. Go easy on the tumble drying.

Can you make homemade fabric softener?

Natural Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe Combine white vinegar, water and glycerin in a glass jar. (To make liquid fabric softener mix together in a vinegar jug, it's easy to pour into the machine.) Add essential oils, if desired, and stir or shake to combine.

How do you make fabric softener spray?

Get a large spray bottle and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ¼ cup of fabric softener. Fill up the rest of the bottle with hot, clean, filtered water or hot distilled water. Shake the bottle until all of the ingredients are well blended. (Shake gently before each use).