Vegan, Eco-Friendly Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softeners

I have been a very bad vegan and I didn't even know it. I have to admit that it never even occurred to me that dryer sheets wouldn't be vegan. As long as I was purchasing them from an ethical company that doesn't test on animals and is environmentally-conscious, I thought I was safe. I mean, it's a dryer sheet - a bit of fabric and some fragrance right? Who knew that almost every brand of dryer sheet has tallow? Well, apparently lots of people knew, just not me. Anyways, as soon as I found out I was inadvertently drying my clothes with animal fat; I was thoroughly disgusted and began the search for an animal-friendly, natural way to have static-free, nicely scented clothes and linens.

While my ultimate goal is to line-dry all my laundry, in the meantime I'm still using a dryer and, thus, needed to find an alternative fabric softener that is friendly to animals, the environment and my pocketbook. On my quest for vegan fabric softeners, I found some great options that vary in price, as well as some DIY options that are easy and inexpensive to make at home.

Method offers Softener Infused Dryer Cloths that use softeners, anti-static agents and fragrance that are all plant-derived. These cloths can be purchased at Target, Whole Foods Market, Costco and lots of other retailers. The list price online is $5.00 for a package of 32 cloths.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dryer Sheets are also made with plant-derived ingredients and are bio-degradable. A box of 80 sheets costs $7.99 and can be purchased online or at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Whole Foods Market, Linens 'N Things and many other stores. Visit their website for a list of stores or for more information.

Natural Choices Safe 'N Soft fabric softener is available online at several websites and is biodegradable, vegetable-based and free of dyes, fragrances and solvents. The great thing about this vegan fabric softener is that it can be used in the washer or the dryer.

ATTITUDE Fabric Softener is another great vegan option made from soy and essential oils. You will get 52 loads out of their 35.2 ounce bottle of concentrated liquid softener, and it's biodegradable too! ATTITUDE products are available at Whole Foods Market and Wal Mart. Visit the ATTITUDE website for a list of retailers or more information.

Ecover Ecological Fabric Softener is another vegan fabric softener that can be purchased at drugstore.com for $5.99 for 32 ounces. This vegan fabric softener is also made from plant-derived ingredients and is biodegradable, and even their factory is eco-friendly!

Seventh Generation Fabric Softener is soy-based and widely available in retailers such as Whole Foods Market and most local natural or health food stores. Their 40 ounce bottle will cover 40 loads and runs right around $6.50, depending on where you buy it.

If you have super sensitive skin or want to go the way inexpensive route, using vinegar in place of commercial softeners is also an option. This is very cheap and most folks report that between ¼ and ½ cup added to their wash works wonders for softening clothes and getting the laundry detergent out of the fabric. This won't work quite as well for static, but this can be fixed by line drying or adding about ¼ cup baking soda during the wash cycle.

For another DIY vegan fabric softener option, check out Recipezaar for an easy, inexpensive recipe using baking soda, vinegar, water and essential oils.