There have been some questions in recent years about whether dryer sheets are harmful to your dryer or not. The answer is that they can be. If you use dryer sheets on the regular but never wash your lint trap's screen, then there's a good chance those dryer sheets have left a film on your lint trap. That film can block airflow in your dryer to the point your dryer will overheat, and some of the electronics in your dryer could fail.
See, all those chemicals used in dryer sheets aren't great for the health of your dryer. Clogging the screen of your lint trap also makes your dryer run less efficiently, even as it works harder than ever. But what can you do? Sure, you could clean the screen of the lint trap every month or two, but who has time for that? Why not hack it instead? Enjoy these life hacks that will help you avoid the negative consequences of lint build-up!
- Make homemade dryer sheets. Store-bought dryer sheets contain loads of chemicals—they're essentially just thin pieces of polyester covered in chemicals. Not only is that bad for your dryer, but it can also be harmful to you. Some chemicals used in dryer sheets can emit toxic fumes, such as ethyl acetate, formaldehyde, and styrene. And these chemicals can cause skin rashes and acute respiratory tract inflammation. Pretty scary! Even worse, research found that "natural" dryer sheets emitted almost as many of these chemicals as regular ones. So, how can you make your own? Grab an old rag, spray it with vinegar, toss it into your dryer, and you've got a homemade dryer sheet! If you're not down with the vinegar, use a teaspoon of natural hair conditioner instead.
- You could also go the dryer ball route. There are many different kinds of dryer balls out there, so experiment to see what you like most. Rubbery dryer balls seem to work exceptionally well, as they soften fabric with their texture (it helps fluff clothing fibers). Wool dryer balls are also popular (and you can make these if you like). They're a bit more expensive, but they last 3–5 years, so the price is worth it!
- Or avoid putting anything in your dryer by adding stuff when you wash your clothes instead. By pouring ½ cup of baking soda into the washing machine and ½ cup of vinegar in the fabric softener compartment when washing clothes, you'll automatically have soft, static-free clothing out of the dyer. (And your clothes won't smell like vinegar, so don't worry!)
- Another great way to avoid dryer sheets is to wear natural fabrics. Synthetic fabrics, like polyester, are more likely to become staticky, but natural fibers aren't. It's one of the simplest ways to avoid the dryer sheets!
If you're simply not ready to ditch the dryer sheets, though, remember to clean the screen of your lint trap every couple of months. Just take some dish soap and a small brush, gently scrub the screen clean, then let it dry before putting it back in your dryer.
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