Static Eliminator

I never used dryer sheets until I moved in with my husband. He used one in every load. I am sure he learned this from his mother. (Hey, at least he knew how to do laundry!)

I have sensitive skin, allergies, and asthma-yes, the dreaded triple threat! I switched to one of the "free" dryer sheets with no perfumes or dyes.

Then when we had children, something in the back of my mind told me not to use them with the babies' laundry.

Did you know that traditional dryer sheets have these chemicals?

• Alpha Terpineol
• Benzyl Acetate
• Benzyl Alcohol
• Camphor
• Chloroform
• Ethyl
• Acetate
• Limonnene
• Linalool
• Pentane

Two of those are on the EPA's hazardous waste list!

I recently found out that dryer sheets actually reduce the flame resistance property on children's pajamas. Who knew?

My other concern was that with every load of laundry, we were sending yet another dryer sheet into the landfill.

I figured there had to be another way. There is. A quick search of the internet and the solution was right there: Static Eliminator.

I was eager to try this innovative product. The Static Eliminator is two tubes of striped fabric. The first few times you use them, you go ahead and toss them back into the wash because they start removing the build-up of chemicals that has been deposited by regular dryer sheets onto the drum of your dryer.



The Static Eliminator can be used 500 times.

For the majority of our laundry, I did not notice a difference (better or worse) between regular dryer sheets and Static Eliminator. There were a few items that were static-y, however: my Columbia shorts (which are ALWAYS static-y), flannel sheets, and flannel pajamas.

I can live with a little static if I'm resolving the issues of added chemicals and environmental impact. If you are concerned about regular dryer sheets, I would definitely give Static Eliminator a try.

Now is there something that can be done about all that dryer lint?

Available online at Static Eliminator or at retailers such as Gaiam for $20.

(This was written by Leeanthro who can be read at Soy is the New Black where she dishes about family, food, foraging, and frivolity. While many of the products she discusses are sold only through boutique or specialty stores, some are widely available at national stores and online.)