How to use a vinegar-soaked T-shirt to replace toxic dryer sheets

Come on, we all know the difference between using fabric softener, and not using fabric softener in our laundry. For me, it was a difference I experienced in college when I tried to scrounge together enough coins to do a load of laundry. In those days, there was no way I was going to spend the extra cash on something as superficial as a dryer sheet!

It started to become a trend between me and my peers, to bring loads of laundry home to be cleaned the “right” way. Although the right way usually included your mother doing your laundry, it also included dryer sheets!

Well, this is going to be a savior to college students everywhere, and anyone who wants to save themselves some money by making their own reusable dryer sheets. I know, I know, that sounds like a lot of unnecessary work but the whole process will probably only take you five minutes.

DIY Dryer Sheets

You Will Need

1 mason jar, with lid.
1 old t-shirt

¾ cup vinegar
¼ cup water
Essential oils for fragrance. (optional)

Step One

Pull out an old t-shirt. You know that one from high-school that you haven’t worn in 10 years. Preferably X-large in size. You can use a smaller size, but you may end up needing more than one.

Step Two

Cut your shirt into around 16 pieces. Your measurements do not have to be exact. Just 16 pieces around the same size.

Step Three

Mix the vinegar, water and few drops of your favorite essential oil together in the mason jar. Be sure you use enough oil to really give it a good scent. The best ones to use are citrus scents, like lemon and orange, or floral scents, like lavender. You can always combine more than one scent as well.

Step Four

Fill your mason jar with your cut up pieces of a t-shirt. You may have to stuff them in the jar depending on how thick the shirt you used is. Put the lid on and give it a good shake. Don’t worry if all the sheets aren’t wet, they’ll soak up all of the water/vinegar mix. My advice is to let them soak for a couple of hours.

Step Five

Once your sheets are wet with the softening solution; you can use them. Use 1 sheet per load in the dryer and just toss it in like you do with the store bought stuff. Obviously, your sheet will dry with the cycle so just set them aside when you pull the dry clothes out. Once your jar is empty it’s time to make up another batch of the vinegar solution.