Foil balls in dryer?

**herbsgirl** · 07-28-2010, 09:45 AM

I used to use Foil balls in dryer. I kind of got out of it, thought about trying it again! It seemed to help fluff my clothes, and it is touted on the internet to take care of static cling.

The balls also seemed like they would also help dry stuff faster, because the balls got really really hot while they fluffed the clothes. I found out by trial and error, that the heavy duty foil works best. And adding another layer to the balls weekly or so also seemed to help The balls seem to shrink into hard little foil things!

I had trouble with synthetic sweaters still having static, but I want to try this again!

Anybody else ever try it?

**onencgirl** · 07-28-2010, 08:06 PM

Never tried the foil balls but I do keep a tennis ball in the dryer to fluff. I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle. My clothes come out soft and static free.

**Libby** · 07-28-2010, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by onencgirl

Never tried the foil balls but I do keep a tennis ball in the dryer to fluff. I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle. My clothes come out soft and static free.

Never tried foil myself but I had 'dryer balls' given to me. Hard plastic balls with nubs all over them. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say this but any type of ball in the dryer = noisy.

**homemaker66** · 07-29-2010, 07:32 AM

Thanks for the idea!! I have used the ones that you buy at walmart but I will try this trick.

**Englishlady** · 07-29-2010, 07:53 AM

Maybe you could put a couple of layers of foil on to tennis balls so that you have a larger "hot" surface area and then the foil wouldn't shrink?

They would still clank around the machine though!

**herbsgirl** · 07-29-2010, 09:05 AM

The clanking doesnt bother me as much? I wonder does the Vinegar in the wash instead of softner actually prevent all static?

**onencgirl** · 07-29-2010, 10:17 AM

yeah... I have no static problems using vinegar.

**Frugallady2010** · 07-29-2010, 02:11 PM

yeap, another vinegar user here and no problems. I usually stick a old sneaker in the dryer to help with the "fluffing" Noisy as heck but it seems to work.

**sjdavis** · 03-03-2011, 03:03 PM

okay, so how much vinegar do you use in the rinse cycle. As, I hate the smell

**Ali Lee** · 03-03-2011, 03:42 PM

Did the foil balls snag any clothes?

**MikeInPdx** · 03-03-2011, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by sjdavis

okay, so how much vinegar do you use in the rinse cycle. As, I hate the smell

I use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup a load, depending on the load size, and it works fine. I still may need half of a dollar store dryer sheet on something REALLY staticky but it works well.

I tried the aluminum foil balls in the dryer. They did nothing for static but they did seem to help fluff the clothes a bit. I line dry almost everything now, but it did seem to shave off a little bit of drying time.

**ttistin** · 03-15-2011, 10:25 PM

I would like to try this but am wondering if the foil may snag on clothing?

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-16-2011, 07:31 AM

Id be worried about the foil snagging something

**RaineyDaye** · 03-16-2011, 10:21 AM

I've been using foil balls this winter when I use my dryer. They don't snag because they become very tight, smooth balls of foil. Maybe you could put something like towels or something else you don't worry about snags for your first load with the foil balls.

**Cares** · 04-14-2011, 12:23 PM

I"m just starting to use/make and sell 100% wool dryer balls. They act as a natural softener, anti-static, and cut your drying time.
What you do is wrap 100% FELTING wool yarn into a ball about 4-5 inches around. Make a few balls (they say to use 3-12 at one time in your dryer - I've made 4 so far, but will add more) and place them in pantyhose with a non-wool string tied between each ball (on the outside of the pantyhose) to prevent the balls from sticking/felting together. Toss in tot he washer on hot water. Then toss into dryer on hot heat. Wrap more wool around the balls to make them bigger (about tennis ball size or even baseball size) and redo the washing/drying steps. And there you go! They'll last for YEARS and they're chemical free!