DIY OF THE WEEK: DIY DRYER SHEETS

September 19, 2016

Dryer sheets on the market have a bad reputation, and for very good reasons. There are countless toxic chemicals found in dryer sheets that can seriously damage your central nervous system. With effects like loss of muscular coordination, nausea, narcosis, dizziness, and even death, do you really want to keep that toxin-filled fabric around you?

Probably not. But you’ll still want your clothes to smell fresh and clean. We’ve got the perfect solution for you: DIY dryer sheets. Not only will you know what’s going into your dryer sheet, you’ll have an eco-friendly, reusable, and customizable sheet catered to your favourite scents.

Make your own eco-friendly dryer sheets at home!

What you need:

1/2 cup of white vinegar

8 to 10 drops essential oil

Airtight jar

Old, clean cotton shirts or cloth baby wipes

How to prepare:

1. Cut the old cotton cloth into smaller sections and place them in the jar.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the vinegar with the essential oil of your choice. (I like to use lavender essential oils. They smell great and help repel mosquitoes!)

3. Pour the mixture into the airtight jar.

4. For use, simply squeeze out any excess liquid back into the jar. You want the cloth to be damp, but not drenched.

The smell of vinegar evaporates during the drying process. You’ll only be able to smell the fresh scent of the essential oil. Vinegar also helps to soften the fabric. Just make sure to use white vinegar as the others may stain your clothes.

Did I mention that it’s reusable? Dampen the cloth again in the jar with vinegar and essential oil mixture after each use.

Try this health-friendly, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly tip, and tell us what you think! Do you have any DIY holy grails for us to try?

Daniel Huang

Daniel is a Digital Marketing and Content Strategist at SPUD. He graduated from UBC with a degree in English and International Relations with a focus on environmental topics. A wordsmith by day and a bookman by night, he's a self-proclaimed gastronomic snob, a buck-a-shuck addict, a sub-par skier, and a devoted kingsguard of the oxford comma. He also frequents the dog park with a schnauzer named Duke. | Instagram: @dannnyellow