Dryer Update–Foil for Static Cling?
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | October 18, 2007
As previously discussed, most dryer sheets are evil. While I’ve never personally had a problem with static cling, this is probably the most common reason for using dryer sheets in the first place. That, and the sparkling-clean scent of fresh clothes.
So here’s a tip for you static-clingies to try:
Of course, aluminum foil is highly resource-intensive to produce– but I’m thinking, if this works, that the foil ball can probably be reused time and time again. And if you crumple up a used-but-clean sheet of foil in the first place, well then we’re doing pretty well. If it works, this would be a much better choice than those plastic laundry balls…
So, report back, you static-clingy Tiny Choosers, and let us know if this works!
PS- Vanessa over at at Green as a Thistle switched to these reusable anti-static dyer sheets– supposedly they last for 500 loads and are chemical free… and if David Suzuki recommends them, they’re alright by me!
[Image by nano_burger via Flickr]
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For some psuedo-scientific reason (ions and something-or-other) I threw in a blue raquet ball I got from the corner bodega into the washer and dryer just to see what would happen. The laundry came out static free although it smelled ever-so-slightly of cooked ball. Also some laundrymats have a strict “no rubber ball in dryers” policy so be careful when trying this out.
I love to imagine that the strict “no rubber ball in dryers” policy was brought about by a rash of punk kids who would fill dryers with rubber balls, start them going, and open them quickly to release the balls. ha!
Crazy youts…
Also, foil is recyclable, so if it somehow looses it’s power, you can toss it in your recycling bin. You can also, from the get go, buy recycled foil (not made by Reynold’s but rather the variety you’d likely only find in a health food store).
[...] Thursday: Jenn checks out a new idea for dryer sheet devotees. [...]
I tried the aluminum foil ball. The cottons came out a little static-y afterwards, but the synthetics (gym / hiking clothes) were all stuck together in a huge staticy mess.
Now really I should be drying the synthetic son the dry rack since they dry so fast, but just wanted to report mixed results from the aluminum ball strategy…
Thanks so much for reporting back! Huge static-y messes are not particularly appealing, so it’s good to know that the foil ball method is a no-go.
[...] dryer update–foil for static cling? – as previously discussed, most dryer sheets are evil. while i’ve never personally had a problem with static cling, this is probably the most common reason for using dryer sheets in the first place. that, and the sparkling-clean scent of … [...]
Just a thought…and not a very scientific one–though I am going to experiment with this. What would happen if you took a small fridge like magnet, wrapped it up in a ball of foil and put it in the dryer?
Static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative charges right. Would a magnet, possessing both positive and negative sides, make a difference? Would attract or repel???
I need a good scientist to ask this question!
that’s a neat idea, Cheri! my first thought, though, is that the magnet would make the foil stick to one of the sides of the dryer. I don’t know if that would be a good thing or bad, though!
Magnetic fields and electric charges are different things. Electric charges come from an excess or deficit of electrons. It’s created when different fabrics rub up against each other.
There’s a good ehow explanation: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4911223_dryer-sheets-reduce-static-cling.html
I think the washing detergent cause the clothes to become negatively charged (excess electrons). Softener sheets contain chemicals attracted to the electrons, in a waxy substance. The heat metls the chemical and deposits it onto the clothes, neutralizing the charge.
The best way to avoid cling is to dry on the line.
Sad to say but the positive and negative forces in static and magnets are not the same so I think all this will do is stick the ball of foil to the inside of your dryer.