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Cleaning expert begs people to stop making this laundry mistake: 'Please stop'
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A lot of what we know about cleaning our house and other chores is learnt from trial and error, not from reading any sort of instruction manual.
This means, every now and then, we get to learn that some method of doing a task that we thought was correct is actually wrong, wrong, wrong.
Laundry is one of those household chores that can be comical if you mess up - white shirts that are not pink, wool jumpers shrunk to half their size. But what about how we use our dryers?
TikTok user @jeeves_ny is a professional dry cleaner and recently filmed a video about why everyone should stop using dryer sheets.
“I’m begging you to please stop using dryer sheets,” Jeeves says in the clip, which has been viewed 8.6 million times, been liked by 855 users and wracked up an impressive 5990 comments.
"They're single use, they don't help with drying time," he says.
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Jeeves explains that dryer sheets are coated in fabric softener, which is bad for your clothes, the dryer, and the absorbency of things like your towels and underwear.
So, what should you be using instead of dryer sheets?
Jeeves recommends using wool dryer balls instead of sheets.
What are the benefits of using these?
As he explains in the TikTok, wool dryer balls are “reusable, they help cut down drying time by creating space in the dryer to allow more surface area, and they’re really good at cutting out static electricity, and they don’t have fabric softener”.
Naturally Sheepskins Wool Dryer Balls, $29.95
These sustainable dryer balls are made from 100% wool and are packaged in a natural cotton bag.
They promise to be quieter than dryer sheets and to make your clothes soft, static and wrinkle-free.
They come in a pack of 6. It’s recommended to use 4 for a small load or 6 for a larger one.
If you enjoy the sweet scents of dryer sheets, you can add a few drops of essential oils to these balls to get the same effect.
Adairs Light Grey Marle Set 4 Wool Drying Balls, $20.99
The Adairs dryer balls are made from 100% felted wool.
They are, as will all the boys on this list, substantially more eco-friendly than single-use dryer sheets.
These wool balls are chemical-free. They can reduce the average drying time by 30%.
Eddingtons All Natural Wool Dryer Balls, $30.42
This set of 3 wool dryer balls re roughly 8 cm in diameter and can last for up to 1000 cycles.
They’re made in Nepal from 100% wool.
Like other wool balls, they act as a natural alternative to fabric softeners.
They soften your clothes without using any harsh or artificial chemicals.
If you want to freshen up your laundry, Eddingtons recommend adding essential oils and running the dryer with no heat at ten minutes at the end of the cycle.
Pacific Air Clothes Dryer Balls, $18.95
Wool might not be your thing, either for ethical or allergic reasons.
Luckily, you don’t need to miss out on the innovative dryer ball technology just because you don’t want wool, as there are plastic alternatives.
The spikes on these balls work in softening clothes and separating them while in the tumble dryer, which helps to decrease creases and wrinkles.
These dryer balls are reusable and can last for over 100 cycles.
Ecoegg Dryer Eggs Fresh Linen, $37.95
These are another plastic alternative, but with a twist!
These Dryer Eggs are shaped like, yes, an egg.
They have a unique vented design that gently disburses the scent of fresh linen across your load (also available in other scented and fragrance-free).
The perfume content is kept mild so that your clothes stay hypoallergenic and kind to sensitive skin.
The bumpy nodules work as described with the spiky balls above by softening your clothes and separating them.
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