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arikara

(5,562 posts)

72. They stink so bad they make me gag

Thu Aug 28, 2014, 12:26 AM

Aug 2014

The only thing I've ever used them for is as an ant repellant. Seems ants are smarter than people, they avoid dryer sheets.

To avoid static cling and ironing, I take the shirts out of the dryer after 5 or 10 minutes and hang them to dry. Everything else just goes out on the clothesline, or next to the wood stove in the winter.

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There Might Be a Scary Downside to Fabric Softener Sheets [View all] madokie Aug 2014 OP

A friend swears by 2-4 tennis balls in the dryer for softening. GeorgeGist Aug 2014 #1

I wonder what they add to the air as they heat up madokie Aug 2014 #2

Agreed!! Dale Neiburg Aug 2014 #4

Thanks I'll have to tell my wife that madokie Aug 2014 #8

Felted wool dryer balls are quieter than tennis balls curlyred Aug 2014 #10

Not just softening leftynyc Aug 2014 #12

They work, but they won't take static cling out of plastic clothing Warpy Aug 2014 #77

It's all about the scent. Is there any evidence that they actually soften anything? cbayer Aug 2014 #3

Our cat loves 'em tularetom Aug 2014 #5

Those things are toxic to animals. democrat in Tallahassee Aug 2014 #41

Yup--my dogs will try to eat them out of the basket. I use them for fragrance, TwilightGardener Aug 2014 #50

Use less detergent so that one rinse is necessary OR fadedrose Aug 2014 #69

Keep Her Away From Fire otohara Aug 2014 #56

Nah, we're just gonna quit using the fabric softener sheets tularetom Aug 2014 #63

Interesting. onlyadream Aug 2014 #6

They discolored my towels and sheets HockeyMom Aug 2014 #7

If I had my way about things we wouldn't use them either madokie Aug 2014 #9

I no longer use dryer sheets, too. PADemD Aug 2014 #13

I'll be darn. I thought I was the only one who got an itchy rash from those things. BlueJazz Aug 2014 #34

I suffered for a year... Ino Aug 2014 #59

OMG same here pipi_k Aug 2014 #60

I don't get the desire for soft clothes. canoeist52 Aug 2014 #11

I really wish I could have a yeoman6987 Aug 2014 #47

I've started using dryer balls sometime ago they work better..... Historic NY Aug 2014 #14

LOL they should repel us as well... marions ghost Aug 2014 #16

And then there's that nasty chemical "potpourri" marions ghost Aug 2014 #15

Odoban>>> alternative to Febreeze. It's natural. Developed for use in kennels and animal shelters KittyWampus Aug 2014 #23

Thanks for the tip marions ghost Aug 2014 #51

+1 "Fresh" cannot be bought in a product. " canoeist52 Aug 2014 #61

They're fracking our laundry!! TransitJohn Aug 2014 #17

I dry my clothes cwydro Aug 2014 #18

Me too, except for undies and socks. KittyWampus Aug 2014 #24

I use liquid fabric softener. Quantess Aug 2014 #19

I use liquid if I use it tammywammy Aug 2014 #21

Towels are the only thing I don't want softened. Quantess Aug 2014 #39

No need to buy it anymore, just use white vinegar. KittyWampus Aug 2014 #25

Vinegar doesn't smell good. (no text) Quantess Aug 2014 #38

No smell in laundry, promise. Doesn't do anything for static cling though. KittyWampus Aug 2014 #58

As Someone In That Industry . . . ProfessorGAC Aug 2014 #49

Another non-essential item to cross off my shopping list. Thanks for posting! randome Aug 2014 #20

And the answer is... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #22

best solution I've seen on this thread ecstatic Aug 2014 #40

That crap smells like poison. roody Aug 2014 #26

++100 Duppers Aug 2014 #28

Because It Is Poison - All Petro Fragrance Products otohara Aug 2014 #57

Some people don't use them for the scent OnionPatch Aug 2014 #64

I'm so allergic to the damn things that... Duppers Aug 2014 #27

I know someone like you marions ghost Aug 2014 #53

yes! I also have to close my windows if the neighbors Duppers Aug 2014 #66

It is air pollution marions ghost Aug 2014 #73

I quit buying fabric softener and use vinegar instead DawgHouse Aug 2014 #29

I'll have to try that idea. Hugin Aug 2014 #31

I just put vinegar right in the fabric softener compartment. DawgHouse Aug 2014 #45

I can't even be in the house when a dryer is running with scented dryer sheets in it. Hugin Aug 2014 #30

Same here, I can't stand the smell of fabric softeners. n/t RKP5637 Aug 2014 #35

Another vinegar person here JustAnotherGen Aug 2014 #32

For me, I'm horribly allergic to fabric softeners, break out in hives/itches all over. Not RKP5637 Aug 2014 #33

A bit of laundry soap on a washcloth acts the same WhiteTara Aug 2014 #36

Have not used a clothes drier in years. Plenty of sunshine and plenty of time. CBGLuthier Aug 2014 #37

You don't live in Chicago mucifer Aug 2014 #42

No, the land of the constant broiling sun. Oklahoma. CBGLuthier Aug 2014 #43

Beware the scary Downey Side, Luke pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #44

Too much marbles in hand fumbling. maced666 Aug 2014 #46

I live a few floors above my building's laundry room and the fake scents drift up all the time freeplessinseattle Aug 2014 #48

Is Your Health Being Destroyed by Other People’s Toxic Fragrances? otohara Aug 2014 #52

Oh no! What will I put in my zoob tube if I don't use dryer sheets? Taitertots Aug 2014 #54

So I shouldn't have been using those as toilet paper all these years? snooper2 Aug 2014 #55

Well, why not? pipi_k Aug 2014 #62

I never use them in my laundry Mr.Bill Aug 2014 #65

Sweet, thanks for the tip. My jeep attracts lots of bugs. (nt) Inkfreak Aug 2014 #68

They make my eyes itch mcar Aug 2014 #67

Wow marions ghost Aug 2014 #74

Remember to *never* use fabric softener on towels. moriah Aug 2014 #70

I bought a pair of these guys recently frazzled Aug 2014 #71

They stink so bad they make me gag arikara Aug 2014 #72

I'm highly allergic to those things tabbycat31 Aug 2014 #75

I just use a three grated bars of Castile soap mixed in a bin hedgehog Aug 2014 #76