Who Needs Dryer Balls? The Drying Tip That's Free, Eco Friendlier, and Leaves Clothes Wrinkle Free

Dryer balls have been around for the past several years as miracle product for short-cutting laundry chores. Dryer balls supposedly leave your clothes soft and static free without the need of fabric sheets. According to the ads, these laundry aids also shorten drying time and reduces the need for ironing. In this eco conscious world, no dryer sheets and less electricity is always a good thing.

Of course, the jury is still out on whether or not dryer balls do what they actually claim to do. Some people love them while other people feel they aren't worth the $15 cost. As for myself, I think all the fuss over "dryer balls" is a bit overrated.

Us old timers figured a long time ago how to dry clothes wrinkle and static free without the need of dryer balls and Downy. This drying tip is not only free, it will significantly lower your electricity bill while extending the life of your laundry. So what's the tip? It's called "Drip Dry". Before you stop reading in disgust, bear with me a bit longer as I explain how "drip dry" works and why it's such as fantastic way of drying clothing wrinkle free, even if they aren't permanent press.

How to drip dry properly

The process of laundering clothes is what causes wrinkles in the first place. Whether we squeeze out the water by hand, run them through a wringer, or let them spin in the washing machine, the fabric folds up on itself and creases. In the old days, these creases had to be removed by ironing. These days, we can toss the clothes in the dryer and let the heat of the machine relax the wrinkles.

The secret to wrinkle free drip drying is to pull the clothes out of the dryer after just a few minutes of tumbling and let them finish drying on hangers. You'll discover that dress shirts, tee & polo shirts, hoodies, skirts, and even dress slacks will drip dry without a crease.

A few tricks I use to make sure these garments dry wrinkle free include the following tips:
* Washing dress clothes on permanent press or the gentle cycle ~ these cycles are gentler on clothes and result in less wrinkles
* Folding dress slacks on the creases before hanging them over a pants hanger to finish drying
* Buttoning up the shirts (first "snapping" the wrinkles out of the button line if necessary), straightening the arms on the hanger, and adjusting the collars before setting out to drip dry
* Draping sweaters over a drying rack or the edge of the bathtub and distributing the weight equally to avoid stretching

The benefits of drip drying your clothes can really add up. For one thing, you save electricity in not using the dryer nor the iron. Laundry additives such as fabric softener, dryer sheets, and possibly even spray starch are no longer necessary. And you'll discover that your clothes will last longer and hold their colors much better.

There's nothing wrong with using dryer balls if you are short on time. But for an eco friendlier alternative, drip drying your laundry wins hands-down every time..