I Tried Dryer Sheets vs. Fabric Softener, and There Was One Clear Winner

Who doesn't love soft, static-free laundry? And for many of us, added fragrance gives us the sense that our clothes are fresh and clean. Scratchy towels, clingy pant legs, and lint-covered socks don't appeal to anyone; so we turn to liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets or both to change the results of our laundry routine.

I tested fabric softener vs. dryer sheets for two weeks each to determine which I liked using and which one gave me the best results at the end of my comparison period. Here are the results.

True Confessions

This was a new experience for me because I don't use liquid fabric softener for my laundry and never have. Fabric softener is added during the rinse cycle in the washer. Having studied textile sciences and more chemistry in college than I ever thought possible, I don't feel comfortable with the amount of chemical ingredients left in the fabric to saturate and coat the wet fibers. It is this residue, often silicone-based, that makes fabrics feel silky.

You can create a DIY version that contains fewer chemicals and offers similar results. If I notice my laundry feeling scratchy, I know that there is leftover detergent residue left in the fabric. To remedy the problem, I run a second rinse cycle and add two cups of distilled white vinegar to strip away the residue.

I also don't use dryer sheets. These sheets of nonwoven synthetic fabric are coated with a solution that rubs off onto fabrics thanks to the heat of the dryer. It is this coating that makes clothes feel softer to the touch.

Instead of dryer sheets, I use wool dryer balls. They fluff the wet clothes allowing them to dry more quickly. I also remove most laundry while it is still slightly damp to prevent overdrying which leads to static cling.

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The Fabric Softener Test

I purchased two fabric softeners—scented and unscented—and dutifully added them to the automatic dispenser in my washer. I found the scented variety overwhelming for my family. So, I did reduce the amount recommended per load to half. The unscented variety was much more palatable and my son said he "didn't smell like a fruit basket".

After two weeks, my shirts and slacks felt soft to the touch. However, I did not like how my cotton and microfiber cloths and towels reacted. They felt almost greasy and did not absorb water nearly as well as they had before.

The Dryer Sheet Test

Again, I purchased two boxes of dryer sheets—scented and unscented. With each load of wet laundry, I tossed a dryer sheet on top after I loaded the dryer. As with scented fabric softener, the fragrance was too strong. I cut the sheets in half and it was more tolerable and the unscented sheets worked well.

I tried to let the clothes dry a bit longer to see if the sheets made a difference. The loads that I dried on high heat and for a bit too long still had some static electricity. The loads I treated my usual way did seem to feel or be much different than without a dryer sheet.

The Final Choice

If I must choose, I'll take the dryer sheets. While the coating they leave on clothes reduces the water-absorbency of cotton and microfiber towels and the moisture-wicking action of athletic wear. the fabrics felt less "sticky" than when using fabric softener.

Both products leave residue on the drums of the appliances. Fabric softener residue in a washer, especially a front-loading model, is one of the main food sources for mold and mildew that cause odor.

In the dryer, the sheet residue can coat the moisture sensor in the drum causing the dryer to run longer than needed. However, it does not cause odor and the sensor is easier to clean than an entire washer drum.