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Eco Friendly Alternatives to Tumble Dryer Sheets

September 15, 2017
alternatives to tumble dryer sheets

alternatives to tumble dryer sheets

Hello!  Let’s talk about eco friendly alternatives to tumble dryer sheets today.

First things first, I try hard not to use my tumble dryer when I don’t need to.  I much prefer line drying my laundry but sometimes when the weather doesn’t play ball then needs must.

Through sheer frugality and through never being convinced that you need yet another product for your laundry, I have never used tumble dryer sheets.  From what I can understand people use them to a) scent their clothes, b) soften their clothes and c) to reduce static cling, so I kind of get why people use them.

The thing is tumble dryer sheets aren’t quite as innocuous as they look.  Those little sheets can contain volatile organic compounds like butane and acetaldehyde, which can cause respiratory irritation, and quaternary ammonium compounds, some of which are linked to conditions such asthma.  Meanwhile the term “fragrance” can hide a huge variety of chemicals which manufacturers don’t have to disclose on account of being classed as trade secrets.  Yet the chemicals used can be toxic or known allergens.

As well as the potential health problems that tumble dryer sheets can cause, there’s also the environmental impact of having to bin the sheet after each use.  Is there an eco friendly alternative?  I like to think so.  If you’re looking to green your laundry, then here are some eco friendly alternatives to tumble dryer sheets that address all of the above.

eco friendly alternatives to tumble dryer sheets

Eco friendly alternatives to tumble dryer sheets

Wool Dryer Balls

I appreciate that wool dryer balls sound like the most hippy-ish thing in the world.  In the interests of research I bought some wool dryer balls from eBay to give them a go, and it turns out I quite like them.  Scent free they soften your clothes as the dryer spins, and help prevent static cling naturally.  And if you do want to scent your clothes, simply add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the balls before placing in the dryer.

Quick, easy and reusable: what’s not to love?

Apparently the wool dryer balls help your washing dry quicker, but I haven’t noticed a considerable decline in drying time.  You can’t win them all!

Make Your Own Fabric Softener

If you want to soften your clothes the easiest and cheapest way to do this is during the wash cycle.  Here’s a quick guide on how you can make your own fabric conditioner, which softens clothes as well as helping to eliminate static cling.

Scented Fabric Scraps

If you just want to add scent to your laundry, then place a few drops of your favourite essential oil on a scrap of fabric and add to your dryer at the start of the drying cycle.  Natural fabrics work best, so try an old cotton flannel, a bit of muslin, a cotton handkerchief, or something similar.

Other tumble dryer tips

If you want to avoid static cling the best thing to do is to avoid tumble drying polyester and other synthetic fabrics, such as lycra and synthetic fleece.  Natural fabrics, such as cotton, don’t tend to cling as much as polyester.  Meanwhile, polyester tends to dry quite quickly when hung up to dry.

Another top tip is to avoid over-drying your clothes.  Completely dry clothing spinning around in your tumble dryer encourages the formation of static, so try taking your clothes out the dryer 5 minutes before you normally would to see if that helps.

If you do have a problem with static cling that none of the above helps with, some people swear by crumpling up a ball of tin foil and placing that in your tumble dryer along with your clothes.  I have not tried this as I don’t buy tin foil, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind!

Another unusual tip for eco friendly alternatives to tumble dryer sheets that I have seen bandied around is to add a teaspoon of hair conditioner to a scrap of fabric and place that in the dryer alongside your wet clothes.  I haven’t tried this either, but it’s another trick to keep up your sleeves if none of the above work for you!  I would use an eco friendlier brand of conditioner if giving this a go.

Missed anything?  Let me know in the comments below!

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Health & Beauty, Home and Garden, Life & Style, Natural Cleaning

Natural Makeup Brush Cleaner Recipe

August 22, 2017
homemade makeup brush cleaner

homemade makeup brush cleaner recipe

This post contains affiliate links, denoted by *

So, let’s talk makeup brushes and my natural makeup brush cleaner recipe.

I’ll admit I didn’t even own a makeup brush until last year.  I used to just apply makeup with my fingers, because I felt I never wore enough makeup to justify buying fancy tools.  My makeup bag literally consists of four items.  And also, who doesn’t like finger painting?!  Then I bought a makeup brush last year (notice, singular – I’ve not gotten carried away with myself!) and wondered what on earth I’d been doing all these years.  It’s so much easier!

The thing about makeup brushes is that whilst they do make applying makeup so much easier, they do need regular cleaning to help keep your skin clean and healthy.  Without cleaning your brush, you’re just brushing dirt and bacteria around your face, which, less face it, isn’t so appealing.

I’ve been trying out a few different methods to make a natural makeup brush cleaner and have decided that this natural makeup brush cleaner recipe is a) by far the simplest and b) by far the best.  When it comes to cleaning makeup brushes, no-one wants to be messing about with lots of different ingredients, so I think it’s best to keep it simple.

The main ingredient I use in this recipe is Dr Bronner’s liquid castile soap*.  I use this in lots and lots of different ways around my home, and always have a bottle in my bathroom cupboard.   It’s a little on the pricier side of things, but you only ever use it diluted, so it does work out at incredibly great value.  The thing about Dr Bronner’s is that it’s certified organic and made with only pure plant oils, so there are no nasties in it whatsoever.  It’s also incredibly gentle on your best makeup brushes.

Natural Makeup Brush Cleaner Recipe

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Natural Makeup Brush Cleaner Recipe

Clean your makeup brushes naturally, with this natural makeup brush cleaner recipe. Made in seconds with simple ingredients, your skin will love it!
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 single use solution

Ingredients

  • 1 small jar with about 2 inches of lukewarm water appox 50 ml
  • 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap*
  • optional 50 ml white vinegar (I buy in bulk from here*)

Instructions

  1. Add the liquid castile soap to the lukewarm water and stir to combine. It's important to use lukewarm water as too hot water may melt the glue that holds the bristles of your makeup brush in place.
  2. Place the bristles in the soapy solution and swirl a few times to loosen the old makeup. .
  3. Keep going until the brush looks clean, and then rinse in some clean lukewarm water.
  4. If you want to ensure all the soap has been removed dip your brush bristles in a small jar of white vinegar. White vinegar is amazing at cutting through soap, leaving your brush super clean. Once your brush is dry it won't smell of vinegar, as vinegar dries without an odour - trust me!
  5. Whether you rinse your brush in water or vinegar, next you need to mould the brush back into shape, and then leave to dry on a flannel.
  6. Viola, naturally clean makeup brushes with very little effort!

homemade makeup brush cleaner

Please note, when using this natural makeup brush cleaner recipe, please don’t leave your brush sitting in water.  You only want your brush to be in the soapy water for as long as it takes to clean your brush: it doesn’t need to steep for any length of time, otherwise it may damage the metal and/or wooden components of your makeup brush, shortening it’s lifespan.

natural makeup brush cleaner recipe

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