I stopped using fabric softener because:
- the “fragrances” were too strong for comfort
- they often unpredictably stained my clothing
- they seemed like a questionable expense
- they left an unpleasant film around the dispenser
- the things in the list below work well
What I do now:
- a scoop of baking soda, approximately 2/3 cup into the washer at the beginning of a cycle, plus…
- home made wool dryer balls, of sorts, in the dryer with the clothes, to be explained below
What I have tried:
- white vinegar, which seems to work fine, but is just more trouble and is used up faster in terms of volume than the baking soda, thus requiring more effort to stay stocked
- purchased dryer balls, which were more than I wanted to pay for enough of them to keep the static under control
How I made the dryer balls:
- purchased skeins of 100% wool yarn
- wound each skein into a tight ball
- put each ball into the toe end of its own nylon stocking
- washed them all in hot water, then dried them, complete cycle 2-3 times to try to get them to felt
- took them out of the nylons
Problem solving the unraveling dryer balls:
- tried washing them a couple more times to get them to felt better, but could see that wasn’t happening
- put them all into a mesh laundry bag, where, over the course of 4 years, 2 of them completely unraveled, but 2 stayed together
- keep this bag of wool dryer “balls” in the dryer to cycle with all dryer loads,
- except for when they accidentally get tossed out with the clean laundry and all the next load has to keep the static under control is the baking soda, which is sometimes enough, but sometimes isn’t
Would I try to make dryer balls again:
- yes
- or I might make wool bags out of coat fabric or old sweaters, stuff them with wool yarn or wool scraps ,and sew them closed, because who says they need to be perfectly round anyway