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Good advice, Monroe. I have a suggestion that uses no chemicals, perfumes or ink. It's pretty cheap too and I only use recycled. It does require removing but it tears away incredibly easily and if a few flecks are left, they are soft and quiet enough to ignore. My favorite stabilizer for string quilts is white gift wrap tissue paper. Always a years worth around here after the holidays.

misseva

My mother used newspapers and she left it in until she sewed all around the block to stabilize it then she tore it away before she sewed the blocks together. I use stem when pressing and have never had the ink to come off.

Marycumi

Thanks for the great advise! There are plenty of cheap alternatives that will not cause medical problems down the line,

cheaha39

Dryer sheets are also all wrong for quilting, as they are highly inflammable

linhawk

Aren't they washed out?

SewOK

Not only do dryer sheets contain chemicals and scents, the fibers in the dryer sheets can work themselve through the quilt fabric and cause a lot of skin problems in infants and children, i.e., skin rashes, breathing problems, etc.

Suz

Someone had told me to use dryer sheets. I decided to press them flat before using. What a mess? The oil?? from the sheets ended up on my ironing surface and had to be replaced. Never again. I use uglies or cheap muslin.

janjer

I found some foundation pieced blocks that a great-aunt made using newspaper, (dated 1920 something). The newspaper was still intact, hadn't discolored the fabric but would probably fall apart with the first washing. Now that would be a mess inside a quilt. I guess that's why they took time to remove the foundation. I wouldn't use that today,
the ink would probably stain the fabric before you had it sewn.

Peckish

When I first started quilting, I was told I could utilize old, used dryer sheets for the back of my applique pieces. I did for one quilt, but eventually ended up tossing the whole project out because I couldn't take the smell anymore. I don't have chemical sensitivities, but every time I ironed a piece I felt nauseous.

Tink's Mom

I have thrown a bunch of used sheets into the washer in a lingerie bag with a bunch of other clothes. A regular cycle in the washer took care of any scent in mine. I would think that they would be very close to the original prechemical state after the washing.