Dryer Sheet Substitutes

Damp Washcloth

• Once you load your dryer with wet clothes, add a damp washcloth or towel inside the appliance 10 to 15 minutes before the load finishes drying. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting to keep the washcloth damp. The damp washcloth adds moisture inside the dryer, which prevents static electricity. For best results, remove the clothes from the dryer before they finish drying so that they are slightly damp. Avoid removing wool fabrics before they finish drying, though, because you can harm the material.

Dryer Ball

• Commercial dryer balls separate clothes in the dryer so that they do not clump together. Separating the clothing prevents static electricity and helps the fabric dry quickly. The dryer balls usually have small bumps or spikes on the surface, and they sometimes contain a pleasant scent. If you don't have a dryer ball, add two or three tennis balls to a large load of laundry. The balls move around in the dryer and work almost as effectively as dryer balls.

Separating Laundry

• Properly separating the laundry helps reduce static cling. Look at the care labels on clothes and separate synthetic fabrics into a pile. The synthetic fabrics dry quickly and need to be dried using the permanent-press cycle. Common synthetic fibers are nylon, acrylic, polyester and rayon. If you do not have enough synthetic fabrics for a dryer load, hang them to dry in a warm location. For best results, shake each item of wet clothing before you place it into the dryer to prevent the fabrics from clumping together.

White Vinegar

• White distilled vinegar works well at reducing static electricity. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to each wash cycle. Never mix vinegar and bleach together because they can create toxic fumes. White distilled vinegar not only removes static cling, but it also helps remove soap residue, soften clothes and neutralize odors. When you add white vinegar to the laundry, use your usual amount of laundry detergent.