Dryer What???

So, appliances make our lives easier, but they do take up more energy than doing it the old fashioned way. What to do? Well, few tidbits - keep your appliances clean and also keep the filters clean. Example, if your dryer is trying to dry with 10 loads of lint on the filter you will be waiting longer for your clothing! Speaking of dryers - one of my favorite tips is a dryerball. A what you say? A dryerball.

Now before I start, here is my eco-disclaimer. Some in the enviornmental crowd don't appreciate dryerballs much. Dryerballs are made of PVC, and this is not the best for the environment. Indeed the production and disposal of these has an impact on the world, but in the environmental reduction there are choices, choices, choices. In these situations, you have to decide which way of reduction is going to work for your lifestyle. We all can't move off-grid in Alaska. While I might like to think I could, I am probably not going to make the most energy effiency choice - hang drying clothing for a family of four. So, I am going to reduce my electricity consumption of clothes drying by having an effienct dryer and using dryerballs.

Back to the main topic - what are dryerballs? These are blue spiny critters that you throw in your dryer to reduce your dry time (up to 25%). You can find lots of them in the drug stores, but personally I like this one the best. http://www.nelliesallnatural.com/ The oval shape supposedly bounces around more fluffing and drying close more rapidly. Additionally, it is rated not to leach plastic yuckiness into my clothing when it gets hot. Nellie's dyerballs are $16 and are guaranteed to last for about 2 years. At 25% reduction of dry time, the dryerballs should save someone doing about 32 loads a month (and who with kids isn't doing more) $21/the year. Additionally, when using dryerballs you should use less softener, less dryer sheets, and have less lint in your machine (it will work better) -all saving you money and reducing consumption. The other best thing it saves time!