Why Fabric Softener Is Bad For Your Laundry and What to Use Instead

If static is a concern, you can occasionally use a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets contain chemicals that melt at high temperatures and transfer onto your clothes. This residue makes your clothes slippery, which makes them feel soft to consumers. It can also decrease static. But that residue isn’t only on your clothes—it builds up in your dryer, too. As such, Rich advises against relying on dryer sheets. “Dryer sheets may be better than liquid softener, but they can leave a residue on the dryer moisture sensor, reducing its effectiveness,” he says. 

Instead of a dryer sheet or fabric softener, you can try a piece of aluminum foil compressed into a ball. Take a 3- to 4-foot piece of aluminum foil, tightly scrunch it into a smooth ball with no hard edges (you don’t want it to snag on any of your clothes), and toss it into the dryer with your laundry. The aluminum is supposed to discharge static buildup and help prevent clothes from sticking together.

If all else fails, Rich recommends hanging clothes to dry. It’s easy, eco-friendly, and won’t cause static.