[ad_1]
Laundry expert Melissa Pateras has amassed an enormous 1.3M followers on her TikTok account, where she discusses washing machines and tumble dryers.
The staple “laundrytok” content creator urged her followers not to use an item some homeowners consider a laundry essential. Melissa suggested ditching dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are designed to reduce static, make clothes smell nicer, and make them soft. However, Melissa warns against them strongly.
They are an unnecessary purchase but could also leave you having to replace your washing machine and dryer. She said: “Do you want to know another way to save money save your clothes and save your laundry machine? Well, stop using dryer sheets.
“They leave a coating of chemical residue on your clothes and your dryer. That residue coats the dryer sensors and it messes with its ability to dry your clothes. They will shorten the lifespan of your dryer.
“They’re not healthy, or eco-friendly. You’ve just been programmed to think that we need them.”
READ MORE: How to dry clothes without a tumble dryer – best method faster than air drying
If you want something for your wash besides dryer sheets, Melissa suggested some alternatives. There is vinegar or aluminum.
“You can also add white vinegar to your wash instead of fabric softener. Or you can spray a cloth or a sock with vinegar and toss it in the dryer,” the expert said. “That’ll reduce wrinkles, and it will reduce static, and, no, your clothes won’t smell like vinegar.
“Use dryer balls. You can toss in three to six of these and for best results wet them first. Dryer balls will decrease your drying time while reducing static and wrinkles.
“Another alternative is to use aluminum foil. Just roll it up into balls and toss them in. Press them down well and they will last longer and when they need to be replaced. These ones can just be recycled. So believe me, you don’t need dryer sheets.”
Other TikTok users chimed in to discuss the use of laundry sheets. One said: “Our tech said no dryer sheets and no fabric softener both kill machines.”
“I just used my last dryer sheet!” another said, “Not buying anymore, and also cut down on my laundry soap only a shot glass full now!”
One commenter wrote: “As a personal trainer, dryer sheets and fabric softener ruin the moisture-wicking in your gym clothes! High heat also ruins that too. Best to line dry.”
Another added: “I use vinegar on my towels and they absorb so much better.”
[ad_2]
