What's the best replacement for dryer sheets for sustainable laundry?

[SofiaMM]

I’ve been trying to switch to a more sustainable laundry routine, but I’m stuck on the dryer sheets. I know the conventional ones are full of chemicals and synthetic fragrances, and they’re single-use, but I’m not sure what actually works as a replacement. Wool dryer balls seem like the obvious choice, but do they really soften clothes and reduce static on their own, or do I need to add something like a few drops of essential oil to them?

[William44]

Tried wool balls. They soften a bit and cut down on clumping, but static sticks around unless the load is light and fluffy. It helps that they keep things from balling up, so drying time drops, but it’s not a miracle.

[AvaVH]

I did a few drops of essential oil on the balls once in a while. Smelled great, towels got a little oil sheen when I went heavy, so I stopped doing that consistently. It did not seem worth the risk for the laundry I care about.

[SavannahD]

Sometimes I wonder if the problem isn’t the dryer sheets at all. Maybe it’s the fabrics or the humidity in the room. I swapped more breathable materials and still had static, just different. I’m not sure there is a single fix.

[Stella69]

Have you tried line drying or tossing a damp towel in with the load to tame static?