These DIY dryer sheets are simple, natural, and safe for sensitive skin. Ditch the store-bought dryer sheets for good!
I’ve been wanting to make my own natural reusable dryer sheets for a long time, simply because I like making my own products. It wasn’t until last week that I finally tried them out after reading a few articles about how God-awful store-bought dryer sheets are.
I mean, it’s no surprise really. Anything that smells that dang good can’t be natural, right?
I didn’t want to part with the wonderful fresh linen scent. But articles like this convinced me that my family’s health is more important than laundry that smells like it was cleaned and folded by angels.
My DIY dryer sheets do smell good. But I won’t lie to you – it’s not Snuggle. It doesn’t really come close to Snuggle. But, I can rest easy knowing that I’ve cut out one more harmful product in my home. It gives my clothes a fresh and clean scent, but it’s faint. It’s not nearly as strong as I’m used to, but it’s worth it. It’s a first world problem if I’ve ever heard one.
DIY Dryer Sheets
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Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 1 large jar (I reused a pickle jar, but anything with a sealed lid will work, as long as it has a wide mouth)
- 2.5 cups of water
- 2.5 cups of white vinegar
- 3-4 tbsps vegetable glycerine
- Cotton quilting squares or wash cloths
- 12 drops of orange essential oil
- 12 drops of lemon essential oil
- 12 drops of lavender essential oil
- 7 drops of peppermint essential oil
Vegetable glycerin gently softens your clothes. I’ve never used it in a beauty product before, but I hear it’s great for your skin as well.
I really liked the cotton squares I ordered from Amazon. They came in a variety of fun, floral patterns, and they’ve held up well so far. When I first opened them, there were a few threads coming off of the sides, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem yet. I’m not sure how long they will last, but with a pack of 50, I’m not too worried.
You can also use wash cloths or even cut up an old t-shirt. I didn’t have any extra clothes or wash rags right now, and to be honest, I wanted pretty patterns. If I’m going to give up my Snuggle dryer sheets, I want to look at something pretty.
How To Make DIY Dryer Sheets:
1. Add water, white vinegar, and vegetable glycerine to your large jar.
2. Close the lid and shake vigorously.
3. Add your essential oils. Close the lid and shake again.
4. Add your cloth scraps.
Done! Easy peasy!
Make sure you shake the jar and wring out the fabric squares before adding them to your load of laundry. Essential oils last longer in dark glass containers. Since I used a clear pickle jar, I’ll have to store my dryer sheets in a dark place to extend the life of them.
Check out my Homemade Organic Lavender Baby Wash
Even if store-bought dryer sheets aren’t as bad as everyone says, I’ll still continue making our own. For us, it’s just another way we can live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Health is important, but more than anything, I want to live a simple, frugal life with less trips to the store. These dryer sheets are ridiculously cheap. And the more I make my own products, the happier and more fulfilled I feel.
What homemade products do you love? Comment below! I’m always looking for new ideas. I think the next small adjustment for my family will be using homemade laundry detergent. If you have any tips or ideas, let me know! I’d love to hear from you.
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These sound great! I use (and love!) wool dryer balls, but I didn’t want to put essential oils right in them because I don’t use the oils with baby’s clothes. Recently I’ve just been using a damp washcloth with a combination of essential oils, and it’s been great.
Does the vinegar smell come through on your clothes at all? I use vinegar to clean with and my husband really does not like the smell.
Ooo thatās super smart! Yeah I donāt like to use essential oils on Marshall too much either š¤ The vinegar smell does come through, but I would imagine if you just added a splash of it to what youāre already using, it shouldnāt be too strong!
Do you have to use that many different types of essential oils?
Absolutely not! š you can use whichever ones you like. That just created a smell that I liked.
I love the fun patterns! Did you mix all of those scents together or did you make 4/5 different batches?
Thank you so much! š I mixed them all together! I like the way they smell combined. Of course you can use whichever essential oils you like ššš»
Love this! I may have to give up using no dryer sheets to try this out. Love your pretty patterned scraps.
Thank you so much Kristyna š You should definitely try them! Iāve noticed the longer I use them, the more vinegary it smells, so Ive added a little more essential oils here and there since posting. It may be because I made such a large batch. Maybe itās time to make a fresh jar š
Do these keep out the static?
So far, they have for me. If Iām not mistaken the vegetable glycerin is what helps with static while simultaneously softening your clothes a bit. š
To be fair though, itās Summer! Weāll see how static-y my clothes are in the Winter š Hopefully it holds up!
Thank you
Youāre welcome, Kim š
Any update on static from the winter months?
Hi Hannah! Sorry, this comment got pushed down and I missed it. I did use this recipe throughout the colder months this year, and it definitely worked for the static for me š I added a little extra vegetable glycerin though. I also started lightly infusing the vinegar with lavender before adding it to the jar. But only enough to give it a little extra smell-good boost! I didnāt want it to stain anything š Iām pregnant now, so the vinegar smell has been getting to me, and this helped a lot.