8 Best Dryer Sheets, Tested by Laundry Experts

Bounce has been around for 51 years, and it's always a top performer in GH Cleaning Lab tests. It's the standard against which we measure other dryer sheet brands. These leave items lightly softened, scented and static-free. Bounce leads our list of the best lightweight alternatives to a heavy bottle of fabric softener, especially if you have to carry your washing to a laundromat. Just slip one or two sheets into the dryer while the clothes tumble. The sheets are slightly smaller than some other brands, and Bounce recommends two per medium load for best results.

These longstanding faves gave us excellent results, working to help minimize wrinkles and static but also adding a clean scent — something you get when line-drying laundry in fresh air. If you prefer a fragrance-free option, the brand also offers a Free & Gentle formulation.

This budget-friendly pick is widely available at just about any grocery store. The sheets measure a bit smaller than some competitors, so the Downy scent may not be quite as noticeable, but these still offer great performance at a great price. You spend less, yet get that signature fresh floral scent on fluffy, clean clothes.

You might need to double up. The company recommends using two sheets for medium loads and three for large loads. While that's up to you, take it into account because you will go through a box much faster that way.

Downy WrinkleGuard Sheets contain triple the crease-relaxing ingredients as the brand's regular dryer sheets to help stop wrinkles from forming in the first place. They fight that rumpled look wanted by no one.

These are a good fit for wash-and-wear tailored shirts (still, hang them right after drying). And we noted great performance and a pleasant scent when adding one mega sheet to the dryer with bedsheets. The bed linens came out softer and less wrinkled than when tumbled with an ordinary dryer sheet. Sateen bedsheets are notorious for wrinkling, but with one of these, they were noticeably smoother, a bonus for folding and bed-making.

While they won't entirely eliminate the need to steam or iron clothes, this product does minimize wrinkling to help make those tasks quicker and easier. The WrinkleGuard formula can even help keep clothing less wrinkled during wear.

In our recent Lab test of four products made specifically for removing pet hair from laundry, no other contender surpassed this one. We coated a fluffy sweater with a big handful of faux pet hair and washed it on regular cycle, then placed the sweater in the dryer with half of one of these mega sheets for a 20-minute cycle. When we removed the sweater, it was nearly free from pet hair.

Tackling pet hair is this product's strong suit, but our tests proved it does a great job softening fabric at the same time. Like all dryer sheets, they can only be used once, but you can extend their lifespan by repurposing them to wipe dust from baseboards, furniture and even computer screens. We found a dryer sheet swipe on an iPhone screen removed makeup, oil and sweat.

Though you generally shouldn't use fabric softener on items like towels and workout apparel, this modern dryer sheet formula is an exception. It's specially designed to prevent buildup while maintaining the fabric's absorbency and moisture-wicking properties.

Dryer sheets are typically treated with ingredients including fatty acids, which melt when heated to soften clothing. But that process can clog some fabrics, most commonly activewear, causing a loss of elasticity and breathability. Your pricey yoga and running clothes can take a hit.

Our test laundry came out of the dryer soft and static-free. No annoying "coated" feeling. Hex wet dryer sheets are an innovative alternative to traditional brands and the laundry detergent worked well in our tests, too. The brand has a big sports following, having been featured in Runner's World and selling out on the Dick's Sporting Goods website.

Though it does have a subtle "Fresh & Clean" scent, Hex is made with sensitive skin in mind — no heavy fragrances or irritants.

We have tested many Mrs. Meyer’s products, including dishwashing liquid and detergent, fragranced hand soaps and multi-purpose cleaners. They perform well and the scents are amazing, so we're comfortable recommending these dryer sheets. This brand is known for its wide range of garden-inspired fragrances like basil and lemon verbena, but you will pay more — 21 cents per sheet — to get that handpicked scent.

The paper sheets, made from plant-derived fibers and essential oils, help soften fabrics and reduce static. You can even extend your chosen laundry scent throughout your home with Mrs. Meyer's extensive line of cleaning products and soy candles. One consumer reviewer said, "The Honeysuckle is my favorite year-round scent, fresh but not overpowering." On the other hand, one GH home tester found the Lavender "way too strong" in her laundry room, so you may want to check reviews before you commit.

A winner of a 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award, these Beyond dryer sheets offer a more natural alternative to conventional brands on the market. The product is a 99% USDA Certified Biobased Product, which means it's recognized as almost fully derived from renewable materials, like plants.

The non-woven sheet is made from renewable fibers and plant-based softening agents. Both our Lab and consumer testers liked Beyond. They noted softening and static control without waxy residue. “I liked the long-lasting, natural scent," a tester told us. "It leaves clothes smelling very clean and fresh, but without the perfume-y smell that I am so accustomed to with typical dryer sheets.”

Seventh Generation is well-known for its USDA Certified Biobased Product status, and 97% of this dryer sheet's ingredients come from renewable sources. And since the product is completely dye- and fragrance-free, it's a great pick for those with sensitive skin or allergies.

But do they work? Yes, a home tester said. She found that the dryer sheets left fabrics lightly softened and static-free. The company makes laundry products in several fragrances, but we chose this unscented one for kids and adults with allergies and/or sensitive skin, as scented dryer sheets can be irritants. Still, some consumer reviewers said they detected a mild scent that they didn't like even though there's no added fragrance.