Cut dryer costs with a simple aluminum foil trick
A tumble dryer is a real energy guzzler. You can increase the device's efficiency and reduce your electricity bills with a clever trick. All you need is aluminum foil and follow three simple rules.
Standard tumble dryers have a power range from 2 to 3 kW. Assuming the dryer has a power of 2.5 kW and operates for an hour, it will consume 2.5 kWh of electricity. By comparison, an oven uses between 0.8 and 1.5 kWh.
The aluminum foil trick will lower your electricity bills
The aluminum foil trick is simple. The portal chip.de states that you should form a piece of aluminum foil into a ball the size of a tennis ball. Then, place this ball in the tumble dryer with the wet laundry. This shortens the drying time and makes the clothes softer.
Aluminum foil in the dryer helps prevent static charging of clothes and blankets. During the drying process, clothes are rotated back and forth in the drum, which causes individual items to rub against each other and exchange electrons. This causes some fabrics to become positively charged and others to be negatively charged.
A strong electrostatic charge can cause hair to stick out from the clothes and result in an unpleasant sensation when wearing. However, if there are aluminum foil balls in the drum, the electrostatic charge on the clothes is eliminated.
To ensure the trick works and is safe, remember a few tips:
- Use only regular aluminum foil - coated versions are not suitable as they may leave residues in the tumble dryer,
- Regularly replace the ball (after about 10-15 drying cycles) as it wears out over time,
- Do not use with delicate materials - very thin or delicate fabrics may be damaged upon contact with aluminum foil; check the laundry material specifications before using the trick.
How to save electricity while using a dryer?
Besides the aluminum foil trick, consider using other methods to improve the dryer's efficiency:
- Well spin-dry your laundry - the drier the clothes are when placed in the dryer, the less energy the tumble dryer needs,
- Regularly clean filters - remove lint from the filter after each drying cycle to avoid blocking airflow,
- Ensure the correct load size - do not overload the tumble dryer, as it will lengthen the drying time.
The aluminum foil trick, combined with other energy-saving tips, can reduce electricity costs and extend the device's lifespan.
Appliances that consume a lot of electricity
Among home energy guzzlers is not only the dryer but also, for instance, the washing machine. If we wash at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, we can reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent.
The same goes for the refrigerator. Increasing the temperature by 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) can reduce its energy consumption by 6 percent. Meanwhile, turning on the convection mode in the oven can save up to 28 percent of energy.
