Saving on your laundry bill
You know I love line-drying my laundry. The work of hanging clothes outside shakes stress from my system like nothing else. It charges my spirit and seems to imbue every stitch of my clothing with the freshness of the outdoors so I can carry it along with me - even when I'm stuck inside. But, even as much as I enjoy "airing it all," there are times when a clothes dryer can come in handy. Let's face it: Most of us own dryers, and we have been known to use them. Rather than beat ourselves up about the toll our dryers are taking on the Earth, it's time to figure out a better way to use them when line-drying isn't an option.
The key to using a dryer with a green conscience is twofold. First, you want to keep your energy usage as low as possible. And second, it's critical to avoid the chemical crud that can creep into your clothing from dryer sheets. The stuff that's supposed to keep laundry soft and static-free is generally a chemical sheen of petroleum and artificial fragrances.
It starts out on the dryer sheet and ends up smeared into the fibers that hug your skin on a daily basis. These chemicals have been linked to headaches, rashes, nausea and even more troubling health concerns, so ditching them is a must-do. But if you forgo dryer sheets, what's to stop your laundry from becoming a big ball of crackling static?
Static cling is kindled by over-drying clothes (particularly synthetic fibers like polyester, rayon and nylon), which wastes energy at the same time. You can start keeping static at bay by adjusting your dryer to a more efficient "less dry" setting or removing clothes while they still have a hint of moisture in them.
If you're looking for a little extra help with static and softness, my favorite alternative to toxic fabric softeners is based on an old trick. Ever heard of throwing tennis balls in the dryer? The idea is that the friction from the bouncing balls reduces static cling and softens the clothes. But even better than that, the balls circulate and separate clothing to significantly speed drying time (cutting high energy costs).
The trouble with tennis balls is that they smell funky when they get hot due to the rubber content, dyes and chemicals that nobody wants baked into their clothes. Similarly, the spiky blue laundry balls found in stores are usually made of toxic PVC plastic and can crack after a few cycles in a hot dryer. But there is another twist on the tennis ball trick that's 100 percent natural - and this one can even be made at home: wool dryer balls.
Wool is truly a wonder fiber because it doesn't harbor bacteria, and it absorbs static cling. Dryer balls made with wool can withstand years of use without falling apart like the others. Plus, they may just help your dryer last longer than if you use dryer sheets, the waxy coating of which can clog and damage your dryer's heating element.
You can buy wool dryer balls at www.wooldryerballs.com. They're handmade by a work-at-home mom who reports that four balls in the dryer can cut an average of 25 percent off your drying time. However, if you're feeling frugal and just a bit crafty, try making your own.
Copyright 2010, MaryJane Butters. Distributed by United Feature Syndicate Inc.
DIY Dryer Balls
Materials:
• 100 percent wool yarn (old sweaters and socks can be used for this purpose)
• Darning needle
• 2 nylon stockings
Instructions:
Begin by winding the yarn around two fingers. After a few rounds, slip the loops off, fold in half and continue wrapping the yarn snugly around the little ball you're creating. (Wrap from all angles to form a nice circular shape.) Keep going until you have a tight ball that's about 2-3 inches in diameter.
Thread the end of the yarn through your needle, and push the needle through part of the ball several times to secure the loose end of yarn so that it doesn't unravel. Repeat to make 4 balls.
Place the balls into a nylon stocking, tying a knot in the stocking between each ball.
Stick the stocking into your next wash load, and then toss it in the dryer on high heat to "felt" the wool. The result will be firm, compressed balls.
Your dryer balls are now ready to work in your dryer. Ideally, toss 4 to 6 balls in the dryer with each load of laundry and marvel at how they soften clothes, decrease wrinkling and static cling, and cut your drying time.