I have heard many people say to not use dryer sheets when doing their glider's laundry. Why not?

I use them regularly, and don't have an issue... but am I putting my gliders in danger? I will add that I only use fragrance free, but that is for me, since I am allergic to fragrance.

I wanted to have this discussion in "Fact or Fiction"... so bring it on!

not sure about facts but here is my reasoning


I don't use Dryer Sheets because of the fact that you never know what your suggie could be allergic to, plus I have noticed my suggie's sneeze a lot when I tried them in the past.
I don't see any need to use them anymore for static either that is why I use cold water to wash their items with, it helps lessen the amount of static when it comes to drying I have noticed

I use those dryer balls to help with static, when I do try to use the dryer (mine doesn't quite dry things anymore!) I have used unscented dryer sheets before without a problem, though

I don't use the dryer sheets but do use fabric softner in the washer. I haven't had any issues with it.

Well so far I have been washing things as normal and I do use dryer sheets and nothing out of the ordinary has happened with my little guys.
So I don't know about this one.

Thanks for your replies so far, keep 'em coming!


Shelley, this is another one, and is definitely related. Thanks for adding about the fabric softener

i use the softner in the washer too. mine are dry in the dryer after about 6 minutes, so its just a waste of a dryer sheet, plus my stuff smells good as it is!

I use dryer sheets or the bounce bar. I haven't had any issues because of it.

Agree with Karen, like to air dry pouches

Newer product my glider's recently approved of is from -
Seventh Generation Seventh Generation

We tried the - Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender - Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender

Smell before purchasing - I personally hope they will provide a Lemon Eucalyptus !!

So, it seems to me, that there was never any "scientific" reasoning for not using fabric sheets / fabric softener? This thread will continue to stay open so we can see if there was older information that we're not aware of

Thanks for everyone's input!

I've got nothing scientific to add to this either. Only that when I wash my monkey stuff, I only use a very small amount of detergent and then everything air dries.

I have been using fabric softener for years now(1/4 of what one should use), and I never had any problems.

Dry sheets and fabric softener do leave a light 'film' on everything. If you over use it, fabric can even loose some of it's absorbency (temporarily, if you rewash things without fabric softener, it will eventually regain absorbency). I don't use fabric softeners with my glider's stuff just because I don't want to add something extra to their environment.

Exactly!! ok everyone, go clean your lint trap, your screen looks good right? Try pouring water on it and see how fast it goes through.

Fire safety tip for the day, Wash your lint trap!! the reduced water flows means you have reduced air flow which can cause fires.

To add to this, with suggies constantly grooming, I would worry about the possibility of them ingesting some of the "film" that the dryer sheets leave. I have stopped using any kind of fabric softener on most of our clothes due to the fact that I work in hot environments and I can actually feel the softener on my skin if my clothes get sweaty.

this may not be relevant but since we are talking about laundry.. how do u guys feel about oxyclean? i use scent and dye free arm n hammer plus scent and dye free oxyclean on all my laundry, including the suggie stuff..
not usually fabric softener or dryer sheets though bc my bf has sensitive skin..

I see no problem with that Nicole, but I'm no expert on this

All this talk about a "flim" on the fabric softener and sheets... I understand it about the fabric softner, but I don't understand how a 'bounce free' free of dye and fragrance, used mostly for static can leave a film? I'm not saying it doesn't, I'm asking, how do you know it does?? Thanks

I use tide w/fragrance, oxyclean, and scented dryer sheets for my gliders stuff ever since I got them and have never had an issue either.

Please keep this thread on topic, if you have questions or comments about other forms of cleaning, start a new thread.



The dryer sheets are a type of fabric softener (this is why you aren't supposed to use both more than one kind per load - i.e. liquid and dryer sheets or bars, etc.) When you handle a new dryer sheets, you can feel the waxy residue, that has to go somewhere. If you use ANY kind of fabric softener with most of your laundry, the residue/film can actually build up on the filter and you can see that water does not run through it quite as well as a new filter screen (or for someone that doesn't use fabric softener at all). There is even a snopes page about it.
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/dryer.asp

I have a lot of allergies that I did not used to have, so I am super sensitive to things like this and cannot use any kind of fabric softener (even the 'free' kinds) on my bed sheets because I can have a reaction to it.

If you search google, there are many, many sites discussing the buildup of a film or residue from any type of fabric softener and whether people think it is safe or not.

I am not trying to ruffle feathers (fur, lol). Do I think it is going to kill or be seriously detrimental to the average glider, no, absolutely not. But it is just one more thing that one glider could be allergic to or become allergic to and it could cause a problem for that glider so I choose not to use it. The question was asked, and I am just giving my perspective and conveying what I know so that everyone can make their own informed decision.

I know many, many people that would NEVER feed a single cricket to their glider because they feel the risks are too great. I fed my oldest pair 60+ a night for years because I felt the rewards outweighed the risks and I made an informed decision for myself and my gliders. The point of these threads is not necessarily to be a 'this side is right and that side is wrong', they are meant to gather information in one place so that new (and old members alike) can look at all sides and make a decision they are comfortable with for themselves and their gliders.

(Okay, I am putting that soapbox completely away now. ).

Thank you, Gretchen. That was very informative.

I air dry my suggie laundry so dryer sheets are a non-issue for me. I don't use liquid softener, either, though.

With all of my suggies laundry I use Borax all natural laundry detergent. Nothing else added!!! I will mostly air dry pouches, blankets, covers.. Cage liners I will put in the dryer for about 10 mins nothing added..

Heidi & Tom

I air dry most of the time, but if I do use the dryer I use fabric softner sheets.