Comments on: 6 alternatives to dryer sheets + 2 reasons you should care http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/ Experiences in living green, healthy and happy Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:05:35 -0700 hourly 1 By: Susan C http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-1015 Susan C Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:34:46 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-1015 I've used vinegar in the rinse for about 20 years, ever since I had babies in cloth diapers. The babies have long since grown out of diapers! but I've kept using the vinegar. There's no vinegar smell at all. I'd say you don't need to use 1/2 cup, though. I just use a splash or a glug--probably less than a quarter-cup. Towels are soft and absorbent, too. (I even used the vinegar when I hung clothes to dry.) I’ve used vinegar in the rinse for about 20 years, ever since I had babies in cloth diapers. The babies have long since grown out of diapers! but I’ve kept using the vinegar. There’s no vinegar smell at all. I’d say you don’t need to use 1/2 cup, though. I just use a splash or a glug–probably less than a quarter-cup. Towels are soft and absorbent, too. (I even used the vinegar when I hung clothes to dry.)

]]> By: Link Love: New State, New Life Edition — Your guide to stylish, eco-friendly decor! http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-1010 Link Love: New State, New Life Edition — Your guide to stylish, eco-friendly decor! Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:02:29 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-1010 [...] 6 alternatives to dryer sheets + 2 reasons you should care {Gaiam Life} [...] [...] 6 alternatives to dryer sheets + 2 reasons you should care {Gaiam Life} [...]

]]> By: Carole Marner http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-998 Carole Marner Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:47:10 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-998 Rather astonished you did not advise the young woman to toss the dryer out with the dryer sheets. I cannot think of another item that could cut down the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere as quickly and as painlessly as a line dryer for clothes. Except perhaps a good push mower instead of a gas guzzling lawn mower. We are not playing games here. Please don't tell me about soft towels. Compared to the catastrophes looming ahead caused our obsessive overuse of carbon releasing fuels, any kind of towels as well as bathing itself may soon become a sad memory. Vinegar in the rinse water, by the way, works well enough. Rather astonished you did not advise the young woman to toss the dryer out with the dryer sheets. I cannot think of another item that could cut down the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere as quickly and as painlessly as a line dryer for clothes. Except perhaps a good push mower instead of a gas guzzling lawn mower. We are not playing games here. Please don’t tell me about soft towels. Compared to the catastrophes looming ahead caused our obsessive overuse of carbon releasing fuels, any kind of towels as well as bathing itself may soon become a sad memory.

Vinegar in the rinse water, by the way, works well enough.

]]> By: mae http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-997 mae Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:06:03 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-997 Having used vinegar to do most of my cleaning for a while, I now find it difficult to stomach the "fragrance" of most conventional cleaners. It's way too chemical-ly and tends to irritate my nose. Surprisingly, adding vinegar to your wash doesn't leave you smelling like a salad dressing. On the contrary, at the end of the load the smell of vinegar miraculously disappears and all you are left with is a clean, fresh scent. It's also a mild antibacterial, which helps to prevent odors. On the subject of dryer balls, I've had mine for a good three years now and they still work like a charm. I'm guessing if they break on you it's probably because you're using too much heat. I don't dry on high heat; I don't need to--the balls keep the air circulating between the fabrics so they don't really need too much time or heat to dry. Having used vinegar to do most of my cleaning for a while, I now find it difficult to stomach the “fragrance” of most conventional cleaners. It’s way too chemical-ly and tends to irritate my nose. Surprisingly, adding vinegar to your wash doesn’t leave you smelling like a salad dressing. On the contrary, at the end of the load the smell of vinegar miraculously disappears and all you are left with is a clean, fresh scent. It’s also a mild antibacterial, which helps to prevent odors.

On the subject of dryer balls, I’ve had mine for a good three years now and they still work like a charm. I’m guessing if they break on you it’s probably because you’re using too much heat. I don’t dry on high heat; I don’t need to–the balls keep the air circulating between the fabrics so they don’t really need too much time or heat to dry.

]]> By: MJ http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-994 MJ Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:12:11 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-994 I've had a set of dryer balls from Gaiam for several years and they are going strong. We do around 5 to 8 loads a week. They're supposed to last for at least 2 years. I’ve had a set of dryer balls from Gaiam for several years and they are going strong. We do around 5 to 8 loads a week. They’re supposed to last for at least 2 years.

]]> By: Bill http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-991 Bill Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:37:27 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-991 I hate to be a contrarian here, but my first reactionto this post was I personally LOVE that warm freshly washed dryer scent of snuggles as it wafts through the neighborhood aire.. sure beats to the soot of car monoxides and 2nd hand smoke anyways.. Guess it depends on your neighborhood and relative smells therein. Either way, I am pretty sure that vinegar, while it maybe a 'safe' alternative, wouldn't smell as sweet. On the other hand, if someone is having an allergic reaction then certainly its time to go hypo-allergenic or buy one of those green product alternatives. The dryer balls surprisingly didn't last very long. I know, i'd thought they'd last nearly forever, but nope they cracked and fell apart after about 20 or 30 washes or i should I say dries? guess the heat of the dryer was too much to handle. ~ open mind, open heart, but always watch your back.... I hate to be a contrarian here, but my first reactionto this post was I personally LOVE that warm freshly washed dryer scent of snuggles as it wafts through the neighborhood aire.. sure beats to the soot of car monoxides and 2nd hand smoke anyways.. Guess it depends on your neighborhood and relative smells therein. Either way, I am pretty sure that vinegar, while it maybe a ’safe’ alternative, wouldn’t smell as sweet.

On the other hand, if someone is having an allergic reaction then certainly its time to go hypo-allergenic or buy one of those green product alternatives.

The dryer balls surprisingly didn’t last very long. I know, i’d thought they’d last nearly forever, but nope they cracked and fell apart after about 20 or 30 washes or i should I say dries? guess the heat of the dryer was too much to handle.

~ open mind, open heart, but always watch your back….

]]> By: Dm http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Dm Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:08:55 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-987 My husband developed allergies which has the doctors puzzled as to why his hands, face, and eyes were swelling. All of a sudden, he needed to carry an epipen after rushing him to emergency a few times. One day, it dawned on me that I had taken all of the sheets/towels and his clothes in the drawer, and used fabric softener on everything. He was surrounded by it 24/7. I stopped using and rewashed all the clothing. He never had the reaction again. It was scary at the time. My husband developed allergies which has the doctors puzzled as to why his hands, face, and eyes were swelling. All of a sudden, he needed to carry an epipen after rushing him to emergency a few times. One day, it dawned on me that I had taken all of the sheets/towels and his clothes in the drawer, and used fabric softener on everything. He was surrounded by it 24/7. I stopped using and rewashed all the clothing. He never had the reaction again. It was scary at the time.

]]> By: Lisa http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-986 Lisa Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:16:46 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-986 Great information! I love the dryer balls personally, and to add a fresh scent, especially to towels, I use cheesecloth bags of lavendar in the dryer (it goes great with Seventh Generation's Lavendar-Eucalyptus laundry detergent). Everything smells wonderful without the chemicals, and as a bonus the dryer balls are great for helping to dry bulky items like blankets. Great information! I love the dryer balls personally, and to add a fresh scent, especially to towels, I use cheesecloth bags of lavendar in the dryer (it goes great with Seventh Generation’s Lavendar-Eucalyptus laundry detergent). Everything smells wonderful without the chemicals, and as a bonus the dryer balls are great for helping to dry bulky items like blankets.

]]> By: Rose http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/6-alternatives-to-dryer-sheets/comment-page-1/#comment-985 Rose Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:22:17 +0000 http://blog.gaiam.com/?p=955#comment-985 Thanks for the great info! Thanks for the great info!

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