How can I reuse or recycle used dryer sheets?
Wearing our Compost This hat, we had an email from Beth Schreiber asking whether tumble dryer sheets can be composted.
I might be wrong but I believe the sheets are usually synthetic – but whether they are or not, I’d still be dubious about composting them because of the various chemicals they contain to do all the softening and scenting stuff.
But if composting is out, what else can be done with them?
I realise that tumble drying has its own implications for the environment but assuming it’s the only option, there is no point the sheets going to waste too. Beth’s interested in hearing alternatives to sheets too if anyone knows of any.
(For those that don’t know, the sheets are usually made of a thin material, about 20cm (8″) square and coated in chemicals to reduce static cling in the tumble dryer and to “freshen” the clothes.)
(Photo by solobirch)
I use Method (wet) dryer sheets- when they come out of the dryer they are great for cleaning up spills (they absorb unlike the traditional thin dryer sheet) and dusting with!
Loads of uses at Stretcher.com.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site%3Awww.stretcher.com+dryer+sheet&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t
How about not using them at all, and getting a long-lasting tumble dryer ball from naturalcollection.com or any “green” retailer. You don’t get the “perfume” of course, but I’d call that an advantage, those commercial perfumes are usually repellent as well as being toxic. I don’t mean to sound rude, it’s just that when these dryer sheets started being produced, they struck me as one of the more unneccesary refinements of our over-civilised lives. What’s wrong with Ecover conditioner in the wash?
How about not using them at all, and getting a long-lasting tumble dryer ball from naturalcollection.com or any “green” retailer. You don’t get the “perfume” of course, but I’d call that an advantage, those commercial perfumes are usually repellent as well as being toxic. I don’t mean to sound rude – it’s just that when these dryer sheets started being produced, they struck me as one of the more unnecessary refinements of our over-civilised lives. What’s wrong with Ecover conditioner in the wash?
Use them to clean your Silver/brass etc. or Windows or polish shoes or dusters etc…….
I use old dryer sheets for ‘mulberry paper’ in my art work.I use food coloring or ink to color sheets whatever shade I need.Tearing the edges off give it the feathery appearance.Great for rubberstampers and scrapbook artists.
I’ve never used them in my life and my machine-dried clothes are just fine. Maybe rethink whether they are actually necessary at all? Isn’t the most important of the 3 R’s “reduce”?
In the summer, I don’t use the dryer..it conserves energy and my pocket..i use a clothes line for my clothes when its not raining and they smell just like they came from the dryer..i just use fabric softner when i was them.
Used dryer sheets can be rubbed on panty hose to keep clingy skirts from static clinging.
I use used dryer sheets on my hair to prevent flyaway hair.
Works very well as a dry duster on glass surfaces – the dust doesn’t come back as quickly.
If they still have smell put them in your sock or undies drawers to keep them smelling fresher.
Moths don’t like them so put them with your sweaters.
That’s all I can think of right now.
There’s a brand of dryer sheets by Shaklee that can be used and then thrown into the recycling bin. They’re also really good to use in the laundry because they caintain no bad chemicals that could bother your skin.
Another option is to not use them at all. I never liked the smell or the idea that I’m throwing more chemicals into my laundry that I will have to wear and breathe. Until I found the Shaklee dryer sheets, I never used them. My husband perfers to use them, so we compromised with the Shaklee Get Clean Dryer Sheets.
If you want more info about these and other earth friendly cleaning products go to Shaklee.com.
Hi Kathy,
In case people are looking where they can buy the Shaklee dryer sheets, please send them to http://www.naturalgreenandclean.com
We are a group of Shaklee distributors all looking to spread the word about the Get Clean product line recently seen on Oprah.
Thanks for your support.
Nicole
I am a scrapbooking artist, and I use Dryer Sheets when I’m embossing one of my pieces. Simply rub over your work, then emboss..and you won’t have all that embedded powder around your object.It’s great.
I read an article that you can also use them to wipe your pets ears and remove the excess hair they shed. If you collect enough, maybe you can stuff them into a pillowcase and make a cozy pillow for a pet…I can’t think of anything else to do with them other then not using them.
Place in the bottom of gallon size flower pots to keep potting soil from leaking out of pot.
According to my mother-in-law, used dryer sheets are excellent for cleaning spectacles.
Dryer sheets are excellent for cleaning bathroom sinks. They cut right through caked on soap from bar soap.
I just saw where the crafter used baby wipes to create a baby book. don’t know why this wouldn’t work w/ dryer sheets.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_fabric_other/article/0,1789,HGTV_3250_4357386,00.html
I use dryer sheets in my shoes to keep my arch support insoles from squeaking when I walk.
I heard that dryer sheets shine metal quite well. Especially chrome.
Commercial drier sheets – Shaklee excepted – are one of the most toxic things people bring into their homes. Besides not being used in the first place, they should not be employed in any manner that would put them directly in contact with anything living, even after being used (they are still rife with chemicals) – soil will leach the toxins into plants, animal fur will suck it up and hold it, a quantity of them as stuffing puts your respiratory tract in dangerous proximity to known respiratory irritants. Art possibilities I can’t dispute, as artists come into contact with many dangerous substances on a regular basis. As the dryer sheets’ only practical purpose is static cling removal, this can be dealt with by adding 1/4 cup borax or vinegar to the wash, or 1/4 cup vinegar to the rinse – there won’t be any smell; use a ‘green’ fabric softener; clothing made of natural fibers is more resistant to static; dampened hands on already-donned apparel works well. As for the scent the sheets impart (yack!), this can be wonderfully imitated by using a thin pouch – preferably zippered-shut – full of fragrant herbs and flower buds, like lavender, in the dryer: you can generally get a few loads out of one pouch-ful, then refill it with a new batch and toss the spent leaves in the compost.
(I apologize if I sound like I’m harping – one of the motivations for reusing/recycling things is reducing the devastating impact these items are having on our ecosystems, and to me directly eliminating sources of destruction plays the biggest role in accomplishing this. Our ‘conveniences’ are killing us.)
I read the warning on the dryer sheets i bought from poundland and it says Warning avoid prolonged contact with skin.If contact occurs wash with soap and water. If eye contact occurs wash thoroughly. If irritation persists seek medical advice. I think these are really scary warnings for something to just make my clothes smell nice in the dryer.
Using an allergy/dye/perfume free type is the compromise my partner and i have come to on dryer sheets, which i don’t believe in using, and he insists upon. Thank you all for the wonderful insight and debate.
you can also use used dryer sheets for cleaning