Does anyone else use dryer sheets? I thought I would give these a try as I love the scent. I also don't like the idea of liquid softner in the washing machine so I use it on occasion.
Dryer Sheets
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phillymatt53
Well-known member
I'll stick with Downey, diluted with warm water.
Today's load of T shirts and sweatshirts came out nice, as usual.
I don't like those dryer sheets, never did, I don't care what they smell like.
Just my two cents....
I've used sheets a few times, probably no more than three boxes over the past forty years. Sheets presumably require contact with fabric, I don't think they distribute evenly throughout the load vs. liquid products.
I don't use softener on every load.
I don't use softener on every load.
Thank you for the input. I'll keep this in mind and see how this load turns out. For me softner is more often about the smell than the softness. No smell is great, but sometimes a warm towel with a touch of lavender or spring flowers perks me up.
I usually use them. Some people are heavy handed with them (using 3 per load), but usually will only put 1 or 2 in at most.
Not one of those scent fanatics, but sometimes just want things to smell clean as assurance for the effort put in.
Not one of those scent fanatics, but sometimes just want things to smell clean as assurance for the effort put in.
harvestgold68
Member
Nope. Inhaling some unknown chemical fragrance getting into the fibers of my sheets and towels gives me a big NO. I also didn’t think it would be good for my dog to inhale that dryer sheet fragrance on his towel bedding. I just use Purex no scent liquid detergent and that’s it.
My family has never used softener and I can't say I have felt like I've wanted to. Laundry smells fine as is... additionally, those sheets build up a sticky coating and will cause more lint to accumulate in your dryer and duct work. No thanks!
Ok, so after doing two loads with these sheets I can say I like them. There is softness to the towels and jeans, but more importantly a notice a nice light scent which I particular enjoy. I will keep using these sheets for select loads, they are nice. And they make the dryer smell nice too.
Using either type of fabric softener on towels will make them less absorbent.
vacerator
Well-known member
We only use scent Free dryer sheets. Never liquid softener. My daughter in law also hates the residue buildup from liquids in the dispenser. I did use liquid in my old Maytag because the dispenser was in the top of the agitator and easily rinsed after use.
I've watched a video of a tumble dryer being torn down and repaired on youtube, where the previous owner had used dryer sheets, the stuff from the sheets had run down inside the case and had also coated the conductivity sensing wires so autodry didn't work properly until they were cleaned up.
Personally, I'd rather my laundry wasn't scented. I do use fabric conditioner, to deal with static and improve softness, but choose a lesser scented one. That said I use to find the scent left by the detergent I currently use due to it being regularly discounted, rather overpowering, but having lost most of my sense of smell since covid, I no longer notice it.
Personally, I'd rather my laundry wasn't scented. I do use fabric conditioner, to deal with static and improve softness, but choose a lesser scented one. That said I use to find the scent left by the detergent I currently use due to it being regularly discounted, rather overpowering, but having lost most of my sense of smell since covid, I no longer notice it.
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vacerator
Well-known member
Yes, detergent and softener residue buildup can affect dryer efficiency and make lint cling to parts and the plenums. Scented are worse though. American tumble dryers are very large and it takes years for any resude to affect it. Our previous dryer was 15 years old and the auto dry was still working great. It had only had been vacuumed out about every 6 months in the lint and exhaust plenums.
pierreandreply4
Well-known member
i use that brand pretty useful when using in the dryer and to kill humidety in closet
panasonicvac
Well-known member
I use them almost every time except for like towels or quilts. I rotate between Bounce and Kirkland. Then I'd take the old sheet and use it to remove the lint from the screen.
I stopped using any kind of fabric softener almost a year ago. The liquid softener leaves a greasy build up on the washer which I despise and the dryer sheets really don’t do much in adding a fragrance to the laundry, the only thing they are really good for is to use to take the lint off the lint screen.
Instead I use 6 dryer balls. They fluff up the laundry, separating it as it tumbles and facilitates faster drying times. I do like the scent that liquid softener imparts, but I’ve found that using Ariel Powdered detergent which has a pleasant scent is sufficient to impart a pleasant fragrance to the finished laundry.
Makes doing the laundry much simpler and less expensive too.
Eddie
Instead I use 6 dryer balls. They fluff up the laundry, separating it as it tumbles and facilitates faster drying times. I do like the scent that liquid softener imparts, but I’ve found that using Ariel Powdered detergent which has a pleasant scent is sufficient to impart a pleasant fragrance to the finished laundry.
Makes doing the laundry much simpler and less expensive too.
Eddie
phillymatt53
Well-known member
My nifty way of cleaning the lint off the dryer's lint screen is to hold it above a small wastebasket next to the dryer, and use a soft bristle 2" paintbrush to wisk the lint right off the screen.
Works like a gem and takes a mere couple of seconds.
Works like a gem and takes a mere couple of seconds.
Never touch the stuff. More absorbent towels, better wicking action on my workout t-shirts, nothing to attract more dirt.
It's fascinating to watch the market go back and forth almost cyclically from "free 'n' clear" to fragrance beads in the washer, softener in the rinse dispenser and dryer sheets in the dryer. I remember seeing a TV commercial on a Spanish language station touting "¡Suave y mas suave!" ("Soft and more soft!") by pouring liquid Downy in the rinse dispenser and tossing a Downy sheet in the dryer IN THE SAME WASH LOAD.
Good luck drying off with THOSE bath towels!
It's fascinating to watch the market go back and forth almost cyclically from "free 'n' clear" to fragrance beads in the washer, softener in the rinse dispenser and dryer sheets in the dryer. I remember seeing a TV commercial on a Spanish language station touting "¡Suave y mas suave!" ("Soft and more soft!") by pouring liquid Downy in the rinse dispenser and tossing a Downy sheet in the dryer IN THE SAME WASH LOAD.
Good luck drying off with THOSE bath towels!
The thing is clean towels and clothes while having no bad smell, will sometimes have almost a metallic smell to them or even take on the odor of the home the dryer was used in. Sometimes a lite scent is enjoyable and adds a touch of elegance to the experience.
vacerator
Well-known member
In dry cold winter weather not using a dryer sheet results in more static electricity in the clothes.
We never use liquid softener, tried it about 30 years ago, and we didn't like it. My wife even claimed her clothes got a blue hue, although I never noticed it.
We use dryer sheets. Snuggle, Gain, or store brands like Meijer. Whatever is cost efficient. Only use it on clothes and sheets, otherwise they get staticky, especially in the winter, when the furnace is used. Not really used for scent, Gain powder detergent has that covered.
I never use them on towels, as stated above they become less absorbent. I also find they will smear my glasses, or if used on rags, the polish will smear when I wax my car. And I get smearing when cleaning windows.
We use dryer sheets. Snuggle, Gain, or store brands like Meijer. Whatever is cost efficient. Only use it on clothes and sheets, otherwise they get staticky, especially in the winter, when the furnace is used. Not really used for scent, Gain powder detergent has that covered.
I never use them on towels, as stated above they become less absorbent. I also find they will smear my glasses, or if used on rags, the polish will smear when I wax my car. And I get smearing when cleaning windows.
Dryer sheets were heavily used at a bad place in my life, it was a college and students often used multiple sheets. Later, someone used multiple sheets in the neighborhood and it was triggering.
Yes, I use both some times. Dryer sheets help with static cling. Some brands better than others. Bounce maybe the best. But softener usually does a better job. No matter what some people say, the clothes dryer tends to neutralize the scent of the detergent. I am surprise so many insiders on this site hate softeners.
I don't use softener of any kind, I figure I get exposed to enough chemicals without intentionally adding them to my day. I agree, the fabrics come out softer, with no static and may smell nice, but...
harvestgold68
Member
“Fragrance” on dryer sheets, softener sheets, contain benzene and other chemicals that can cause a variety of respiratory issues and headaches in some individuals. I never wanted that mysterious fragrance imbedded in my towels, bed sheets, underwear so I never used them and I didn’t think it would be good for my dog to inhale fragrance on his towel bedding which I wash every couple of weeks (if we can smell dryer sheet fragrance imagine how unbearable that must be to your dog who can smell far better than we can) so I never used any type of dryer sheets. I only use Purex no scent laundry liquid in my wash and nothing in the dryer.
When visiting the US I always use Bounce Outdoor Fresh sheets because I like the ambery scent and they don`t interfere with a toploader`s single rinse cycle as liquid FS might do, but stopped stocking up for use at home a long time ago because I don`t like the concept of possibly unevenly distributed chemicals on my clothes.
Liquid FS BTW is supposed to be better at softening whereas sheets should be better at controlling static.
We have a version of Lenor (liquid of course as sheets are only a minor niche product) which is more or less identical to Gain Original scent but I don`t care for this kind of green apple-citrus scent.
A Bounce scented Lenor is apparently too expensive to produce in Europe or too toxic to meet local regulations. LOL
Unfortunately nothing comparable has ever been on the market here.
Liquid FS BTW is supposed to be better at softening whereas sheets should be better at controlling static.
We have a version of Lenor (liquid of course as sheets are only a minor niche product) which is more or less identical to Gain Original scent but I don`t care for this kind of green apple-citrus scent.
A Bounce scented Lenor is apparently too expensive to produce in Europe or too toxic to meet local regulations. LOL
Unfortunately nothing comparable has ever been on the market here.
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In order to keep my dispensers clean, I’ve moved to the Method dryer sheets over liquid.
The Method sheets are on sheets of perforated paper, which seems to work well enough.
I won’t get any the retail brands. They’re all spun plastic PE or rayon. I don’t want to buy or make more plastic trash. Or get more microplastics all over my clothes.
The Method sheets are on sheets of perforated paper, which seems to work well enough.
I won’t get any the retail brands. They’re all spun plastic PE or rayon. I don’t want to buy or make more plastic trash. Or get more microplastics all over my clothes.
soapdog86
Member
I don't use fabric softeners on every load as well. Because fabric softeners tend to reduce absorbency in towels as well as reducing the elasticity in warm up pants, socks, and underwear. I only use either laundry sanitizers such as Lysol Laundry Sanitizer or fabric rinses such as Downy Rinse & Refresh.
Well dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener is out there for those who feel, notice and appreciate the difference of softness in their laundry…
And deal with and/or get around whatever harmful effects there are in and on the dispensers, components and implants of their machinery and cleaning of the appliances themselves!
Either use or don’t use, need and make part of your laundering or do without…
And deal with and/or get around whatever harmful effects there are in and on the dispensers, components and implants of their machinery and cleaning of the appliances themselves!
Either use or don’t use, need and make part of your laundering or do without…
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