Believe it or not, you don't need dryer sheets.

I can remember having several loads done at the laundromat and kicking myself for forgetting or running out of dryer sheets, thinking I couldn't finish the job without them. Turns out, that's not the case.

For some insight, we'll look at the origin of the perceived laundry staple. Dryer sheets were patented in 1960 by Procter&Gamble to tackle textile stiffness and static shock. In the 60s, a washer and dryer in the home was, and still is, a luxury, but has become a key part of every home that has one.

As you can imagine, with the myriad of technological advances that have been made, the washer and dryer have been included and improved upon since their debut in 1911, for the better, but the machines could only do so much in regards to the constitution of the clothing. Stiff clothes and static were just part of the job regarding laundry that was primarily made of cotton, until the invention and introduction of the dryer sheet.

How does it work?

The thin sheet, which later had scented oils added, is coated with a layer of positively charged ingredients that the heat of the dryer removes from the carrier sheet. Those ingredients then attach to the negatively charged clothing fabric neutralizing the static, as well as lubricating the textile lightly to give them a softer feel.

Why should you stop using them?

You no longer need them. Much like scented additives in the washer, dryer sheets are not really necessary to do a load of laundry without turning into a lightning rod. While they were very useful in the 1960s, as the designs of dryers did not address the issue of static and textiles were most commonly made of cotton, today the story is different. From cotton to polyesters, to various synthetic fibers, static is not as much of an issue. New ingredients in soaps also address scent and stiffness just as well as a dryer sheet.

More often than not it is a relatively unnecessary purchase that also has a significant impact on the environment and even our skin. Various chemicals have been added over the years to prolong the shelf life of the products that have resulted in skin reactions, though they are few in number.

The more common occurrences can be noted in litter dump sites and watersheds. The thin fibers that make the carrier sheet are not made to dissolve, considering they have to survive a round in a hot drying machine with damp clothing. They are light and easily carried away by wind and water, which provides many methods of transportation to pollute the environment.

Ultimately, the use of dryer sheets may create a nice feel to our clothing, but over the years, the benefits of using these products are not outweighing the costs. Companies will tell you that you need them because that is how they make their money, but as a college student who prioritizes where I put my money, this is not an item that is needed.

Next thing you know, there will be articles about how millennials are killing the laundry industry.

It starts with us.

Happy drying!