This $2 Trick Reduces Tumble-Dryer Static in a Pinch
We’ve all heard of dryer balls, often touted as the best way to speed up tumble-dryer timings, reduce wrinkles, and soften fabrics. But what if there was an even cheaper alternative?
The answer likely already lies in your kitchen cabinets. Laundry experts explain that scrunched balls of aluminum foil make for an affordable, effective substitute in a pinch and work particularly well to reduce static cling.
Here, the pros share exactly why, and how to try this laundry hack in your own home.
Latest Videos FromHomes and Gardens
If you’re clued up on why you should be using dryer balls, you’ll know why they’re a crucial indoor laundry accessory. Importantly (and admittedly), aluminum balls won’t work in the same way, but they are an impressively budget-friendly way to reduce static cling when doing laundry.
‘The main thing aluminum foil balls can do is help reduce static,’ explains Rechelle Balanzat, Laundry Expert and Founder and CEO of Juliette, an NYC-based premium laundry service. ‘As your clothes tumble and rub together, they create static, and the foil helps discharge some of that electricity. It can help with that annoying cling you sometimes get when clothes come out of the dryer. It’s a simple, inexpensive alternative if you don’t have dryer balls on hand.
‘Just scrunch aluminum foil [available at Walmart for under $2] into two or three firm, smooth balls and toss them into the dryer with your clothes,’ adds Juliette. ‘You can reuse them until they start to fall apart or get too rough.’
Remember, however, that these won’t work in the same way as dryer balls, also available at Walmart.
Juliette explains, ‘Dryer balls help separate clothes, improve airflow, and can help with drying time. So I see foil balls more as a simple static-reducing hack, rather than a replacement for dryer balls.’
What to Shop
Looking for more laundry day inspiration? Shop from a selection of top-rated products below to make your routine easier than ever.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Joseph Joseph AirFrame 3-Tier Folding Clothes Drying Rack
This collapsible clothes drying rack features a staggered design that creates six dedicated long-hanging rails, while a secure locking mechanism ensures stability even when fully loaded.
For the real deal, these wool dryer balls are crafted from 100 per cent premium New Zealand wool and are designed to last over a thousand dryer loads. They’re also completely free from any synthetic fillers.
These plastic dryer balls are even more durable than wool alternatives, yet they’re still made from non-toxic materials. They help prevent items from becoming tangled and wrinkled as they dry.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser and Refresher Fabric Spray
If your items still need a little de-wrinkling straight out of the tumble dryer, this spray eliminates wrinkles in seconds. It also works as an ironing aid and can be used on clothing, curtains, bedding, and more.
Tide Pods Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent
These laundry pods are one hundred percent free of any irritating residues, dyes, and perfumes. They also work on 100 percent of common stains and are conveniently safe to use on all washable fabrics.
Joseph Joseph Tota Laundry Hamper
This laundry hamper cleverly features two removable bags for carrying to and from your machine, along with a lid for stylishly concealing items waiting to be washed.
Meet the Expert
Juliette is the Founder and CEO of Juliette, a New York-based luxury laundry and dry-cleaning service. She’s also a recognized graduate of the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute International.
This towel hack uses wool dryer balls and essential oils to fluff up fabrics.
For more helpful laundry advice, you can sign up for our newsletter so you never miss the latest features.
