In many American homes, a dryer sheet goes into every load almost on autopilot. Soft towels, less static, a fresh smell: it seems like a harmless habit. But according to Consumer Reports, those sheets leave something behind, and not only on your clothes.
In short
- Dryer sheets contain chemicals that melt at high temperatures and transfer onto clothes.
- That residue also builds up inside the dryer, including on its moisture sensor.
- Consumer Reports suggests wool dryer balls as a reusable alternative.
- Liquid fabric softener has its own downsides, especially for towels and kids’ sleepwear.
What a dryer sheet actually does
A dryer sheet works by coating your laundry. “Dryer sheets contain chemicals that melt at high temperatures and transfer onto your clothes,” explains Consumer Reports in an article on fabric softeners and what to use instead, written by senior home and trends writer Angela Lashbrook and updated in March 2025.
That coating is what makes fabric feel softer to the touch. It’s also the source of the problem: what melts onto your clothes in the heat of the drum doesn’t stay only on your clothes. Some of it stays behind in the machine, load after load.
The problem inside the machine
According to Consumer Reports, the residue builds up in your dryer too. Rich Handel, quoted in the article, points to one part in particular: dryer sheets “can leave a residue on the dryer moisture sensor, reducing its effectiveness.” That sensor is what helps the dryer judge when a load is done.
That’s why Handel advises against relying on dryer sheets. Like many laundry habits, this one deserves a second look, just like the washing machine program many people shouldn’t be using.
What to toss in instead
The alternative Consumer Reports suggests is simple: “try wool dryer balls, a reusable and cost-effective option.” You put them in the drum with your wet laundry and reuse them load after load, instead of throwing away a sheet every time.
Consumer Reports is clear that it has not tested how well dryer balls work, so think of them as a reusable swap rather than a miracle product. For people who prefer to skip the dryer whenever they can, an old tool still does the job: the clothespin, whose two little holes most people never use.
Its cousin, fabric softener
Liquid fabric softener, poured into the washer, raises other issues, according to the same article. It can reduce the absorption of your towels. “Fabric softener can reduce flame resistance on children’s sleepwear,” Consumer Reports warns. It can also diminish the wicking ability of workout clothes, the moisture-wicking fabrics designed to pull sweat away from your skin.
The limit
Consumer Reports hasn’t tested wool dryer balls, so their effect on static and softness isn’t measured here. The concerns about towels, children’s sleepwear and workout clothes apply to liquid fabric softener in the article, not to dryer sheets specifically. Always follow the care label on your clothes and your dryer’s manual.
That’s the trick.
