Comments on: The Homemade Laundry Room

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:38:09 +0000

has anyone explored how to make your own dryer bars yet? I have extremely sensitive skin and can’t use downy or like fabric softeners because I am allergic. Dryer sheets make me break out in hives as well. I am looking for an all natural way to re-purpose my downy dryer bars and make them reusable but can’t for the life of me figure out how to make that work. I also don’t know what type of raw materials to start with to make it and I am sure whatever it is it’s not going to cost me $6.00 every single time….$6.00 for 10 or 20 maybe but not just for one lol. Any ideas would be welcome and very helpful. I know someone out there has at some point thought the same thing. How do we stop having to pay such high prices for things we can make on our own for a third of the cost.

By: Padraigin

Padraigin — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:18:00 +0000

I envy you folks who live in houses with yards so you can hang a clothes line for air drying. We apartment dwellers do indeed have to be creative when we want to air dry (e.g., the folding dryer over a heat vent). I’m wondering if anyone knows how to easily de-toxify dryers in public laundromats (i.e. remove the fumes left behind from dryer sheets even after the sheets have been removed that stink up my clothes and make me ill). Thanks!

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:34:05 +0000

It’s a sheet placed in the dryer with clothes that keeps them from getting static cling.

By: Sonja

Sonja — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:28:39 +0000

What is a dryer sheet? I’ve never even heard of it. So I very much doubt you actually need one.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:50:30 +0000

Good to know about the alternative to dryer sheets. I am making my first laundry detergent on Sat. After that, throwing out chemical cleansers and mixing my own. Feels good to take responsibility – for environment, safety, finances, etc. AND I will be able to actually inhale while cleaning!

By: Breton Wench

Breton Wench — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:52:39 +0000

Great post, and I agree with FS, dryer sheets?? Why? Never used them and don’t see the need. It s just more ‘stuff’ we are encouraged to buy.

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:21:36 +0000

Front loading washer/dryer combo machines don’t need dryer sheets or fabric softeners. We got one of these machines as we didn’t have space for two machines. If cost a lot but has paid for itself. When we lived with metered water, the quarterly water cost was down $20, no more dryer sheets, a very small amount of detergent and you are good to go. I also dry severl loads a week on a dryer rack my MIL was getting rid of so that was free. During the winter I set the dryer rack over a heat vent so it doesn’t take that long for the stuff to dry plus it adds needed moisture into our dry winter air.

By: Mrs. Money

Mrs. Money — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:31:34 +0000

It’s funny because I make so much of my own products that it’s second nature now! I have been making laundry detergent for a couple years now. Love it!

By: mom-from-missouri

mom-from-missouri — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:06:38 +0000

I have been doing this for years, and it adds up. I probably save around $200 a year, based on our family size by making my own.
And, I save even further by line drying.

By: frugalscholar

frugalscholar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:34:50 +0000

Well, according to the prez of Seventh Generation, one needs little if any laundry detergent. This was featured in the WSJ. When I discussed on my own blog, I received many concurring opinions. Generic detergent in my area is about 5 cents a load on sale–hence, if you use half of that, you are spending only pennies a load.

The best way to save on dryer sheets is not to use them!