Laundry is a task everyone must face.
Some can get by with facing it only one time per week. While other households must do it frequently because of the amount of laundry.
Either way, purchasing what you need for laundry can kill your budget. Which is why it’s a great idea to make your own laundry detergent, fabric softener, and DIY dryer sheets.
There are many ideas on the internet for making your own dryer sheets. I came across one the other day (it was through social media, and I have no idea who developed this idea), but I decided I was going to give it a try.
It allows you to use homemade products to make DIY dryer sheets and uses items you probably already have. Here’s how I’ve begun to make my DIY dryer sheets and you can too:
You’ll need:
- DIY fabric softener
- Coffee filters
- Cookie sheet
To Make Fabric Softener
I’ve shared previously how you can easily make fabric softener. As a quick recap, boil three cups of water.
Add one cup of hair conditioner and 1½ cups of apple cider vinegar. Whisk it into the water. Pour into a mason jar for storing.
Use as much or little as desired.
The Make DIY Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are important to me because they help keep our clothes smelling fresh and avoid extra unnecessary static.
Here’s how you can make your own:
1. Pour the Fabric Softener
You must have fabric softener on hand before making these dryer sheets because they require it. I prefer to use DIY fabric softener because it’s less expensive, I know what’s in it, and I can make it when needed.
However, if you have a favorite fabric softener, you could purchase it, and use it in this situation to make your DIY dryer sheets.
Whatever fabric softener you decide to use, pour it into a bowl big enough for coffee filters to fit inside of it.
2. Dip the Coffee Filters
Once the fabric softener is in the bowl, fold the coffee filters in half. Press the coffee filters into the mixture. You want them to be fully covered to give them the opportunity to absorb the fabric softener.
Leave them in long enough to where they are wet but don’t leave them in the softener to the point where they begin to fall apart.
When you feel confident that the coffee filters have an adequate amount of fabric softener in them, pull them out of the fabric softener.
I went about this two different ways in the process of making my dryer sheets. The first attempt, I tossed the coffee filters in the bowl of fabric softener and left a group of them in the mixture until I felt confident they had absorbed enough fabric softener.
This proved to be messy when I tried to move to the next step.
My next attempt, I used kitchen tongs to place a coffee filter in the mixture. I allowed the coffee filter to absorb the mixture on one side and used the tongs to turn it over the opposite side to further absorb the fabric softener.
3. Spread Them Out
When removing the coffee filters from the fabric softener, place them on an old cookie sheet. They should be spread out enough to where air can flow in between them.
To have the coffee filters touching is fine, but you don’t want them extremely piled on top of one another and not dry.
After the coffee filters are spread out, leave them overnight on the cookie sheet to dry.
Again, tongs seemed to help contain the chaos of placing the coffee filters on the cookie sheet.
4. Let Them Dry
It’s important to allow your DIY dryer sheets to dry out before use. Which is what I love this idea. I’ve seen other ideas where you use sponges as dryer sheets.
Though that is a great thought because they can be used over and over again, I love this idea because it’s similar to the original product most of us are familiar with from our local grocery store.
The coffee filters should dry in approximately 24 hours. If they require less time (which could be the case depending upon the air flow and warmth in your home), wonderful!
If they need a little longer, it’s okay. The idea is for the coffee filters to have enough time to absorb more of the fabric softener and dry out.
Some people have used fully dried dryer sheets. In my case, my dryer sheets were still quite damp in the center, but they work fine in my laundry.
5. Store and Use
When the coffee filters have been left to dry over the 24 hour period, it’s time to use them and store them properly. You can store them in an old baby wipes container which has been dried out, in a sealed storage bag, or in any container with a lid.
When doing your laundry, pull out one or more dryer sheets and toss into the dryer with the laundry.
Everyone’s preference is different when doing laundry. If you only want one dryer sheet, it should be sufficient.
I’m one of those people who enjoy the fresh fragrance, and I also have hair which go crazy with any bit of static. Therefore, I use two or more dryer sheets at certain times of the year.
After the dryer is finished, toss the dryer sheet, and you’re done. I wouldn’t recommend composting the dryer sheet because of the use of hair conditioner.
Be sure to check the label if you do decide to compost to make sure you aren’t adding anything you wouldn’t want in your soil.
Well, you now have a simple and inexpensive way to make your own DIY dryer sheets. It could help you save money on your grocery budget and also help you have a better understanding of what’s in the products you use on a regular basis.
I think you’ll enjoy these as much as I have and continue to use them for years to come. Having fresh, static free laundry can make a huge difference in your day. Knowing you made them yourself for only pennies can too!
