Your fabric softener and dryer sheets are unnecessary, damaging your clothes and slowly destroying your dryer!

Lemme explain. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets were originally developed to combat the effects of commercial detergents used in the early 20th century, which had much harsher chemicals than most detergents do now.  Essentially, to combat what our detergents were doing to our fabrics we were adding more chemicals to the process. As we have become more eco-conscious in the laundry washing soaps we use, these products are not only less necessary but too damaging to be beneficial. The waxy coating that they leave on clothes can reduce the effectiveness of flame-retardant fabrics used in children’s clothing and counteract the breathability of activewear designed to keep you dry. Softeners and dryer sheets can even reduce how well your towels and microfibre clothes absorb water over time. And, beyond clothing, the residue will build up in your dryer, resulting in higher energy use and longer drying times. 

Thankfully there is a safe, natural and environmentally friendly way to reduce static and soften clothing in the dryer – wool dryer balls. And the best part about them – they actually cut down drying time as well. These wool balls bounce around in the dryer, adding more separation and air to your clothing as it turns. This quickens up drying, reduces static and softens the clothing naturally. And for those who, like my partner, insist on “needing” dryer sheets for the fragrance, adding a few drops of essential oils like lavender, lemon or rosemary works like a charm. Just drop directly onto the wool balls and allow them to absorb a minute before throwing them into the dryer. 

Our shop favorite dryer balls are from Friendsheep, a small woman-owned company with a wonderful mission to provide zero waste alternatives to the plastic and toxic chemicals found in many household products. Their items are produced for fair wages by underprivileged women and people with disabilities in Kathmandu, Nepal. (You can see how artisans make the dryer balls here!) Their wool is sourced from family-owned farms in New Zealand, where sheep are ethically treated (no mulesing) and no chemicals or hormones are used.

We have a fun selection at fibre space right now — including adorable sloths, sheep, and baby seals, vibrant rainbows and hearts, or dryer “stones.” They are all are organic and plastic free, with packaging that is also plastic free and recyclable. Grab a three-pack for smaller dryers or six for family sized dryers. They will last up to five years! Have I convinced you yet?

SEE ALSO: Caring For Your Winter Knits