Skip to main content

Tuesday's tip: dryer ball alternative




This is what I'm trying out today. 


 I usually experiment with something before I tell you about it, but this was just too interesting to keep to myself.  You know that I am always trying to find ways to save money around the house.  I told you here and here how I dry my clothes.  Well, now I've read about how to make a dryer ball out of aluminum foil.  Interesting, no?

My purchased dryer balls have served me for the past 9 months, but they are starting to look worse for the wear.




Anyone want to give it a try with me?  I just waded up some aluminum foil (recycled is great).  I'm going to try a load fresh from the washer and also my usual line dried load that I like to fluff and tumble in the dryer for a few minutes.  I'll let you know how mine turned out and you can do the same.
Labels:

Comments

  1. Busy Honey BeeMay 18, 2010 at 1:55 PM

    I used my old dryer balls to make a decorative twine ball. Just an idea! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tidy Brown WrenMay 18, 2010 at 4:52 PM

    What a great way to recycle!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Flannel Jammies FarmMay 18, 2010 at 6:41 PM

    A natural solution is to add 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash cycle, or to add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. If using vinegar, the vinegar smell disappears when the clothes are dry.

    I never used dryer sheets because we all have such sensitive skin, and I either make my own detergent or buy an all natural detergent that's scent-free.

    I usually hang my clothes out to dry, but with the rains we've had over the last couple of days, my laundry is beginning to pile up!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tidy Brown WrenMay 18, 2010 at 7:29 PM

    I have used vinegar as a fabric softner before, but I always seem to miss the rinse cycle. I love making my own laundry detergent and have been very pleased with the results. For stubborn stains and/or whites, I let the load soak for several hours and then wash in the usual cycle. I haven't used bleach in years and I don't really miss it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Greg KApril 5, 2013 at 3:13 PM

    I tried the aluminum foil a few days ago and it did not work for me in fact it felt like it was worse. I tried it with my synthetic running gear and a natural synthetic mix. The reason I wanted to try is 1 to save the environment 2 to save some cash 3 i heard it dryer sheet hold the smell in workout cloths.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I'd love to know what you're thinking. Please feel free to leave ideas and comments.

Popular posts from this blog

How To Make Your Own Exercise Bike For Next To Nothing

Remember back in April when I had a kidney transplant?  Well, the kidney is doing great (thanks, Cathy , for taking such good care of it when you owned it).  There was one little glitch, however.  During surgery, the retractors they used caused some nerve damage in my right leg.  When I woke up from surgery, I couldn't move or feel my leg.  The docs felt like the feeling would come back but the paralysis had them stumped.  A visit to a neurologist ruled out a stroke and a CT scan showed some fluid which was pressing on L4 and L5 (medical talk which means I couldn't feel or move part of my leg).  The prognosis is good and I'm recovering pretty quickly.  In fact, I've left my cane behind and I'm walking freestyle without falling.  My next goal is to be able to drive. I've been itching to get back to exercising (physical therapy doesn't count) because my medication causes me to gain weight and I need to burn some calories.  Running? - nope.  Walking? - can&
45 comments
Read more

A Designer's Secret For A Taller Bed

  Several years ago Hubs and I spent almost a year looking for a bedroom set that we both loved.  He wanted clean lines and dark wood.  I wanted curves and a "tall" bed.  Of course, there was no perfect bedroom set but we were able to compromise on a set that we both liked.  My main wish was for a bed that I could "climb up into".  The problem with that wish was that most of the "tall" beds were four poster beds and Hubs was not in the mood for that.  We found a Thomasville bed on display at a local furniture store and it fit the clean lines that Hubs wanted and it was "tall"  enough to suit me.  The problem was that once we received the bed we ordered in our home, it wasn't as tall as I had remembered it being.  My heart sunk!  I went back to the furniture store to look at the display.  Their bed was much taller than our bed.  Hmmm. . . what was different? I got nosey and lifted up the comforter on the bed.  It revealed their secret
10 comments
Read more

Rock-what-you-got Muffin Recipe

Back before Christmas I was given a huge amount of persimmons.  In the area I live in, Fuyu persimmon trees produce fruit in the Fall and a small tree can produce a lot of fruit.  The persimmon fruit looks like an orange tomato, but inside, it is firm like a plum.  It is rather sweet, having a honey like flavor. We like to eat them fresh, but after awhile, our huge supply was more than we could handle.  With what was left, I peeled them and pureed the flesh in the food processor.  I froze the puree in 2 cup batches in freezer bags. One of my favorite ways to use this persimmon puree is to make muffins.  I have a basic muffin recipe that I use and it is very adaptable, allowing for any kind of puree to be used. I've used all kinds of pureed fruits and veggies to make these muffins.  I've used sweet potatoes, pumpkin , apples, pears, bananas, zucchini,squash,blackberries,blueberries, and figs.  I've even used a combination of fruits and veggies to get the 2 required cup
7 comments
Read more