DIY Dryer Sheets from Scrap Fabric

Dryer sheets have chemicals and perfumes that transfer from your clothes, sheets, and towels to your body, and some of these can irritate certain skin types. Moreover, traditional single-use dryer sheets cost money and end up in the landfill, where they take years to break down. 

However, you can rather simply make your own with some fabric, a sewing machine, and a simple solution. 

Materials

You will need:

• A yard of flannel 
• Washcloths or some terry cloth
• Sewing machine and supplies

You can buy washcloths at a discount or cut up old towels and coordinate colors and patterns for fun. 

For the solution, you’ll need:

• 1 cup white vinegar 
• 1 cup water
• Essential oils

Surprisingly, vinegar is very good at removing odors and as a fabric softener! 

Cut, Pin, Apply Sewing Machine

Once you have your materials, it is only a few short steps to cut and put them together with your sewing machine. 

Cut 

First, cut both the terry cloth and flannel into 5” × 5” squares. Cut the same number of squares for each fabric. 

Pin 

Pin one piece of terry cloth to each piece of flannel. Pin them so that the flannel’s insides (“wrong sides”) are against the terry cloth, and the pattern faces outward. 

Apply Sewing Machine

Position a square on the sewing machine with a ¼-inch seam allowance, and sew the squares together. Do this for each square.

To keep the fabric center from ballooning while in the dryer, use your sewing machine to sew a line down the middle of each square. Alternatively, you can also sew from corner to corner. 

Mix Solution, Add Sheets 

Combine the water, vinegar, and essential oil in a sealable jar.  Roll each dryer sheet and place it in the jar to soak up the liquid. 

Use and Care of Your New Dryer Sheets

When you need a dryer sheet, remove one from the jar. Lightly wring out the excess liquid. Put the dryer sheet in the dryer with a load of laundry. Run the cycle as usual. 

When the dryer cycle is complete, roll up the dryer sheet and return it to the jar. Refill the jar with vinegar, water, and essential oils as often as you need to. 

You now have reusable dryer sheets to keep your laundry fresh. Best of all, you don’t have to buy dryer sheets ever again!