DRYER BALLS - come in a couple styles. The most common ones are the (As Seen On TV) round Dryer Max Dryer Balls. They are light blue, about the size of a tennis ball and look more like a doggie chew toy (covered with rubber spikes on a rubber ball) than something used in the dryer. An eliptical-shaped one is called Nellie's Dryerballs (more expensive, but I don't think they are any better - had one fall apart soon after using them). Google either of those names and you'll find more information on them.
I LOVE them and have used them for years, even though I nearly always line-dry clothes (now that I have both an indoor and outdoor line). Dryer balls work best for fluffing and shortening drying time, but not necessarily for reducing static (even though that's one of their claims). When I first started using them, they DID reduce drying time by 25-50%.
I'm trying to avoid the toxic chemicals found in most laundry products. It's gotten to the point where I can't stand to be outside when neighbors are running their dryer - the perfume/toxins from their softeners really bother me.
I'm a new convert to CHARLIE'S SOAP (used homemade products for years), and purchased the 1,280 load bucket after using two 80 load packages to make sure I really liked it. This brings the per load amount to almost the same as homemade soap.
I also use VINEGAR in the rinse. The smell of vinegar fades once it's dry. Sam's Club sells two 1-gallon plastic bottles in a box, and it's the best price I've found for vinegar.
I make a homemade liquid detergent/all-purpose cleaner, and used it for a long time before trying Charlie's. Charlie's Soap leaves clothes much softer - even when hung on a line to dry. You'll find the recipe for the liquid detergent at the link below, entitled "Liquid Natural Detergent" and it uses liquid Castile Soap, salt, BAKING soda (for those of you who have a hard time finding WASHING soda), vinegar, and Grapefruit Seed Extract (kills bacteria). I like to make it with different scents from Castile Soap, or add some favorite fregrence oils.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE - add 1/2 c. to the RINSE to whiten clothes.
I've also use both liquid and dry "homemade" laundry detergent. This was great when I found ZOTE soap for 70 cents at the Dollar General Store this spring. Fels Naptha is much more expensive, and ZOTE has a nice citronella small - much better than Fels Naptha smell.
DRY Homemade Laundry Detergent
2 bars Fels-Naptha Soap - grated (or 1 bar ZOTE)
1 c. WASHING Soda
1 c. Borax
Mix and use 2-3 T. per load.
You can also add a "booster" - 1/2 c. Cascade Dishwasher Det. (for the enzyme action).
When switching to more "natural" types of laundry products, you'll need to be careful and pre-treat really dirty items, which occasionally means pre-soaking some items.
BORAX - is a pretty good laundry booster and helps remove stains and odors. It works by conditioning the water and controlling alkalinity. Not that anyone uses them anymore, but borax is a great soak for baby diapers, but works great on stained or urine soaked clothing, sheets, blankets, etc.. For a soaking solution, mix 1/2 c. borax with 2-4 gallons of hot water.
Borax is also an inexpensive, and effective, floor and surface cleaner. Mix 1/3 c. borax with 1 t. dishwashing detergent and 1 gallon of warm water in a large bucket.
Borax Scouring Powder: 1/4 c. borax and 1/4 c. baking soda
-Grainlady
Here is a link that might be useful: Natural Cleaning Recipes
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Borax, recipes
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