Aluminium foil hack: Cut dryer costs with this simple trick
A tumble dryer is a significant energy consumer. With a clever trick, you can increase the appliance's efficiency and reduce your electricity bills. All you need is aluminium foil and to follow three 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 aluminium foil trick will lower your electricity bills
The aluminium foil trick is straightforward. The portal chip.de states that you should form a piece of aluminium 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.
Aluminium foil in the dryer helps prevent static charging of clothes and blankets. The service explains that 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 negatively charged.
A strong electrostatic charge causes, for example, hair to stick out from the clothes and results in an unpleasant sensation when wearing. However, if there are aluminium 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 aluminium 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 in contact with aluminium foil; check the laundry material specifications before using the trick.
How to save electricity while using a dryer?
Besides the aluminium 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 aluminium foil trick, combined with other energy-saving tips, can reduce electricity costs and extend the appliance's lifespan.
Appliances that consume a lot of electricity
Among home energy guzzlers are not only dryers but also, for instance, washing machines. If we wash at 30 degrees Celsius, 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.
