I used to love the smell of dryer sheets and thought they made my clothes and sheets smell soooooo good and made them sooooooo soft! Then as I started to go more "green" and I started to eliminate chemicals and earth unfriendly products my store bought dryer sheets became a thing of the past. I started upcycling several years ago, which started my business and I love my DIY dryer sheets. The scent is not as strong as Bounce or Downy but I can chose my own scents and I save money in the process because I already have everything I need to make them and you probably do too!!
I use t-shirt scraps for mine. Since I make t-shirt quilts and pillows I always have piles upon piles of scraps laying around. The larger scraps I usually turn into yarn for rugs, baskets or dog chew toys or I use them in my Flax Pax but the sleeves and smaller scraps work great as dryer sheets and my upcycled facial rounds. I've been reusing the same ones for probably 5 or 6 years now and I have a few jars of them of different scents. They make a great gift too! T-shirts scraps work great too because you don't have to surge or sew the edges, there's no fraying and they'll last forever! You can also use cotton squares (leftover quilting cotton), terry cloth (old towels and wash rags), flannel, etc. but you will have to surge or sew the edges to help with fraying.
So let's get started. This is as easy of a project that you'll probably ever do & if you pick the right materials there is no sewing or skill involved whatsoever! So here's what you'll need:
Cloth. This will be the dryer sheet. I prefer a squarish shape. 5x5, 6x6, etc. A square isn't required, this just makes it easier for me to store and to see. A few no no's on the materials. If using t-shirt don't use something with an iron on or something that'll bleed color. So if you went out and bought a brand new t-shirt for this you're not only wasteful but silly as well. Go grab your ex's fave t-shirt that you "accidentally" acquired in the break-up and tear that shit up for this project. If using cotton, flannel or terry cloth also make sure it won't fade and fray. If it is a fray able material sew or surge the edges...or just use t-shirts...
White Vinegar. Yep, plain old white vinegar
A glass jar with a sealable lid. I have dryer sheets of different scents in an old pickle jar and another one in an old glass candle jar. Since I try to only buy food items in glass jars I always have an endless supply of glass jars on hand. I'd recommend a wide glass jar and also one that you won't be reusing for food or drinks (like a mason jar). Unless your omitting the essential oils.
Water. Yep just plain 'ole water.
Essential oils. This is optional of course but it not only helps mask the vinegar smell but it'll leave a faint smell on your laundry as well. Make sure you chose your essential oils with safety in mind remembering your children, pets, sensitive skin users, etc that may come in contact with whatever you're washing!
Vegetable Glycerin. This is also optional and I use it sometimes but mostly I don't. It will make your clothes softer but so does the vinegar. If you don't have any on hand don't sweat it, try this "recipe" without it and see how it goes.
So now for the super difficult, terribly hard instructions. Gather up all your coordination for this one folks!
Cut your material to size. I use a rotary cutter and mat but you can use plain old scissors. I cut in a square and not always perfect and I cut a shit ton at once. I like a square because it'll wind up curling itself into a little cylinder and that is super easy to store in my jar. If your jar is 6 inches tall you probably don't wanna cut a 9" x 9" square. Mine also aren't all the same size. I grab a scrap, see what I can cut out of it and cut it. So some may be 5.25" x 5.25" and others may be 4" x 4" and some will be more rectangle~ish. I try to minimize the amount the waste as much as I can and I am not concerned with how they look so mine aren't all the same size, color or shape. Cut a bunch!
Take your jar and add equal parts water and white vinegar. Now if vinegar assaults your nostrils you can add a little less vinegar but you'll eventually get used to the smell. The vinegar softens your clothes so that's what we want. Now DO NOT FILL THE JAR ALL THE WAY UP! We have to leave room for the "sheets". Add your essential oils and glycerin (if you're using them) and shake the piss out of the jar. Add in your sheets and VOILA! You're done!
I usually throw several in the dryer at once. If you added ALOT of essential oils be careful touching the dryer sheets because it can have adverse effects. I usually wring mine out over the jar, throw a handful in the dryer with a few dryer balls and every couple of washes cycle them out. Depending on how strong you will make them will depend on how often you swap them out. When they lose their smell I just grab a new handful, wring them out, throw the fresh ones in the dryer and put the old ones back in the jar to soak up the mixture. One jar will last me for months but I only do laundry for just one. I make a few different scents and will change them up. I like the lemony, citrus and woodsy smells for towels and stuff. Lavender, eucalyptus and other soothing smells for my sheets and blankets and whatever I feel like for my clothes but flowery is usually a go to of mine for my clothes.
Toss a few in your dryer with your clothes. When they lose their scent throw them back in the jar and shake them up! If they fall on the floor or whatever just toss in the wash, dry them and put back in the jar. Experiment with different scents and gift them to your friends and family!
Try it and let me know if you like them in the comments below!
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