Homemade Reusable Dryer Sheets

 

I was folding some laundry, seems like my life these days, and realized I had a ton of bleached, stained or ripped pieces of clothing and I wanted to see what I could do to reuse them.  Later that day it dawned on me, I used to literally grab a sheet of paper towel and put a few drops of essential oils on it and toss it in the dryer.  Insert light bulb here, and I thought, maybe I can use these scraps to make dryer sheets?  I can save some cash and freshen up my laundry!

Here are the steps for a super simple way to brighten up your load!

First, cut all of your old scraps into squares that are all about the same size, about 6″ x 6″.  They do not have to be perfect, just cut them as close to the same size as you can.  Examples of scraps you can use are old tee shirts, wash cloths, or your husbands ripped boxers that he never gets rid of.

Now it’s time to make the easy mixture.  All you need is white vinegar and a few drops of your favorite essential oils.  Don’t worry, your clothes will not smell like vinegar, this keeps your clothes from molding plus vinegar is actually a natural disinfectant.

I alternate between three of our essential oil blends and use Enliven, Burst or Velvet for mine.  You can make your own according to what you like.

I use a glass jar with a secure top or seal and fill it to about 1/4 with vinegar.  I then added about 7-10 drops of the essential oils.  If you just want a subtle scent you can adjust accordingly.

Once your liquid is in the jar, you fold up your cut up scraps and sort them beside each other in the container.  The bottom of the cloths should be covered with the mixture. You then seal and label your jar so you know what you’re working with and store it in your laundry area.  When you are ready to use, just pull a sheet or two out, depending on your load, and pop it in the dryer.  When your clothes are dried, they will smell fresh and clean.

Neat tip: when I leave my load in the washer a tad too long, I put a few more of these cloths in the dryer and it literally removes that sour smell.