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In recent years, more and more eco-conscious consumers have been seeking alternatives to traditional dryer sheets. Conventional dryer sheets often contain a cocktail of synthetic fragrances, petroleum-derived chemicals, and other harmful substances. These chemicals not only pose risks to our health, but they can also leave behind a big environmental footprint.
Fortunately, there’s a safer alternative: non-toxic dryer sheets.
Non-toxic dryer sheets can still get the job done (and done well), softening up your laundry without harming the planet or exposing us to unnecessary toxins. Through the power of plant-based softeners, organic materials, and essential oils, eco-friendly dryer sheets offer a refreshing departure from the chemical-laden status quo.
Read on for a closer look at the dangerous chemicals lurking in conventional dryer sheets, along with our recommendations for the best non-toxic dryer sheets for clean, soft, wrinkle-free laundry.
What’s in Conventional Dryer Sheets?
So, what’s the problem with conventional dryer sheets? Well, they often contain a whole bunch of chemicals that can be harmful to both our health and Mother Nature. Some of these concerning ingredients include:
- Fragrances: Dryer sheets are often scented to give laundry a nice smell. However, the fragrances used in these sheets are usually synthetic and can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when heated. Some of these VOCs can contribute to indoor air pollution and may even cause respiratory irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. This is especially concerning if you have young kids.
- Phthalates: Phthalates are chemicals used to make fragrances last a long time. However, they’ve been linked to hormone disruption and adverse reproductive effects in animal studies. While their use is regulated in some products, they’re still found in quite a few conventional dryer sheets.
- Benzyl acetate: This chemical is often used in dryer sheets and has been identified as a potential carcinogen by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
- Alpha-terpineol: Another chemical found in some dryer sheets, alpha-terpineol can irritate the respiratory system and has been associated with central nervous system issues.
- Ethanolamine compounds (MEA, DEA, TEA): These chemicals can react with other ingredients in dryer sheets to form nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens.
- Artificial dyes: Colorful dryer sheets can contain artificial dyes, some of which are derived from petroleum and can be harmful to the environment.
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats): Some dryer sheets use quats as fabric softeners, which can be toxic to aquatic life and may cause skin and respiratory irritation. They have even been linked to reproductive health problems.
- Optical brighteners: These chemicals are designed to make clothes appear whiter and brighter, but they can cause skin irritation and be harmful to aquatic organisms when washed out of fabrics and into our water systems.
Not only can these chemicals mess with our bodies, but they’re also bad for the planet. Many are not easily biodegradable and can accumulate in waterways and soil, causing harm to wildlife and our planet’s delicate ecosystems. Non-toxic dryer sheets, wool dryer balls, or simply letting clothes air dry are some eco-friendly alternatives to chemical-filled dryer sheets.
5 Best Non-Toxic Dryer Sheets and Other Alternatives
Now that you know about the bad stuff lurking in many dryer sheets, let’s take a closer look at some safer options. Here are my favorite non-toxic dryer sheets and dryer sheet alternatives. These dryer sheets and alternatives avoid harmful chemicals and still do a great job of softening up your laundry.
1. Hand Made Wool Dryer Balls – Most Eco-Friendly Option
Ecoigy’s 100% Wool Dryer Balls are a fantastic eco-friendly alternative to traditional dryer sheets. With a set of six generously-sized 70mm balls made entirely of wool from New Zealand sheep, they are designed to soften your clothes without the harmful and toxic chemicals found in most fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
I most appreciate that you can reuse these dryer balls for over 1,000 loads. They also biodegrade when you’re done with them and speed up drying time, which can reduce your dryer’s electrical consumption.
Wool has natural anti-static properties, which can help reduce wrinkles, static cling, and even lint in your clothing. These eco-friendly and non-toxic dryer sheet alternatives come in a cute gift bag, as well.
In short, these wool dryer balls are an awesome way to avoid conventional dryer sheets altogether!
2. Molly’s Suds All Natural Dryer Sheets
Molly’s Suds dryer sheets offer another great natural and eco-friendly solution for softer, static-free clothes. These non-toxic dryer sheets are infused with plant-based fabric softeners and pure essential oils. They’re also compostable. Molly’s Suds dryer sheets are free from harsh fragrances, dyes, waxes, and animal derivatives.
The directions for these sheets is to toss a full sheet in with your wet clothes, or a half sheet if you’re drying a smaller load. They will make your laundry smell delightful if you choose a scented option (they come in lavender, peppermint, and unscented).
These dryer sheets do a great job of softening clothes, and I especially love the lavender scent. Certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and made in the USA, these vegan dryer sheets leave your clothes feeling baby soft and lightly scented.
3. Seventh Generation Fabric Softener Sheets
Seventh Generation’s non-toxic fabric softener sheets are another great option for drying your laundry, especially for those of us with sensitive skin. These sheets are made using 97% plant-based ingredients instead of tallow or animal-derived products you often find in conventional dryer sheets. They’re also fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and tested by dermatologists to be safe for sensitive users.
These non-toxic fabric softener sheets are effective at softening up laundry. Like the Molly’s Suds sheets, they are compostable after use. If you prefer a fresh scent (which is why many of us get dryer sheets to begin with), they make lavender and eucalyptus sheets, which are scented entirely with essential oils and botanical extracts.
4. Biokleen Non-Toxic Laundry Dryer Sheets
I recently tried Biokleen’s dryer sheets, and I was very impressed with this product. I felt like they softened up my family’s clothes, and they also reduced the static I normally get in a freshly dried load of laundry.
Most importantly, Biokleen is a company that embraces natural and plant-based formulas in their products. They never use unhealthy ingredients like phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, brighteners, or artificial colors or fragrances. Their dryer sheets are simply made out of unbleached paper, plant-derived softening agents and emulsifiers, and palmitic acid.
If you use Biokleen’s natural dryer sheets, you can rest assured that they won’t have any negative effects on rivers, streams, plants, or wildlife.
5. Clean People Non-Toxic Fabric Softening Dryer Sheets
I recently discovered Clean People’s non-toxic fabric softening dryer sheets, and I was really impressed with their performance. I love the fact that these are biodegradable and plastic-free. These dryer sheets are made from 97% plant-based ingredients, and are entirely free of chlorine, phosphates, parabens, animal fats, and dyes.
My clothes came out of the dryer feeling super soft, with barely any static noticeable at all, and they smelled great. You can get these in lavender, fresh clean, spring scent, or sweet petals, or you can opt for the fragrance-free version.
The one possible knock against these sheets is that along with essential oils, they also use an unspecified ingredient simply labeled “fragrance” in their ingredient list. I reached out to their company to find out more about the source of this fragrance, and they told me that their fragrances are a mix of “International Fragrance Association (IFRA) compliant blends of fragrance oils, natural oils and essential oils, specifically selected to be lower in potential allergens.” The “fragrance oils” they’re referring to may in fact be synthetic, but they’re not being entirely transparent about that.
Clean People makes its dryer sheets in Canada, and they never test their products on animals. They also plant a tree for every 100 packs they sell, so they go that extra mile for the environment.
Switch to Non Toxic Dryer Sheets for a Cleaner Load of Laundry
Making the switch to healthier products such as plastic-free laundry detergents and non-toxic dryer sheets is a small but impactful step we can take in our laundry room to help create a healthier and more eco-friendly home. By opting for natural options like wool dryer balls, Seventh Generation’s Free and Clear Fabric Softener Sheets, or Clean People’s All Natural Fabric Softener, we can enjoy soft, static-free clothes without compromising our well-being.
The benefits of non-toxic dryer sheets extend beyond our laundry room, too. With plant-based ingredients, these eco-friendly options reduce our ecological footprint and help preserve our planet for future generations. Their biodegradable nature and commitment to being cruelty-free and vegan show that conscious choices can make a difference in our collective efforts to protect the environment.
For more recommendations, check out our other guides to the best eco-friendly and non-toxic household products:
- Best Non-Toxic Air Fresheners for a Clean and Fragrant Home
- Most Eco-Friendly Hand Soaps
- Best Natural Dish Soaps
- Earth Breeze Laundry Sheets: An In-Depth Review
