A Solution for Toxin-Free Clothes Drying

Did you know that dryer sheets are one of the most toxic items you probably have in your house right now?

No, really.

Dryer sheets are terrible for you. They have nasty chemicals in them that have been known to cause all kinds of cancer. Having your clothes smell “Downy Fresh” is just not worth the risk.

For the last year or so, I have been on a mission to get toxins out of our lives – from personal care products to cleaning products, and everything in between. One item that has been on the more difficult side to replicate with a natural product is dryer sheets.

For some time, I used the Seventh Generation dryer sheets, and they were pretty good, and compostable to boot. But, I wasn’t sold that they were totally “good for you.”

Then, I discovered something completely natural: Wool dryer balls.

It sounds odd.

It is kind of odd.

But, these balls made of wool do a great job as a fabric softener, and, amazingly, speed up drying times a bit. They are not as good as a chemical dryer sheet at removing static cling, but they are equally as good, if not better than the Seventh Generation sheets at both softening and static cling management.

If you want a bit of natural scent to go with them, you can add a wet washcloth with a few drops of your favorite essential oil on it to the load when you put it in the dryer.

The literature on these dryer balls says that they last for years, so they are pretty darn economical.

What do you think? Would you try wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets?