Fabric softener/anti-static in laundry?

[puglogic]

Okay, it's mid-winter in Colorado and the static is driving us crazy. Getting an electric shock every time I touch a lightswitch is bad enough, but the laundry sticking together -- and to me -- isn't cool.

Who has a fabric softener-type home concoction they'd be willing to share?  I can't bring myself to buy dryer sheets any more.

[senecando]

I haven't tried this myself, but my girlfriend is planning on doing it: http://www.crunchybetty.com/how-to-make-felted-wool-dryer-balls

[Miamoo]

First thought is to humidify the house somehow.  Not sure it's a fabric softener problem as much as a humidity problem.  Haven't had that static problem in many years but do remember it being oh so - ouch! - annoying when it did happen.

Look forward to others input!

[JessieImproved]

You're over-drying your clothes.  Try removing the synthetics early, or even taking out the clothes slightly damp.

[happy]

Stop using the dryer. If the humidity is that low, dry it either on the line or indoors on racks.

[Russ]

+1 for line-drying solving both the humidity problem and the static problem. I put all my clothes straight onto hangers out of the wash, dry somewhere airy, and then stick them straight in my closet. Actually saves a step overall

[Rural]

I'll agree air drying is the best solution, and drying less time will also help. But for a dryer sheet replacement, put just a little cheap conditioner (the hair kind, from the dollar store) on a damp washcloth in with each load of clothes.

[NinetyFour]

I have a washer but no dryer.  I hang everything, including sheets.  Since my house is quite small, I have to get kind of inventive to find places to hang everything (in the winter).

Sorry, but static cling from a dryer is a problem that can easily be avoided.

[minnie1928]

I haven't tried this myself, but my girlfriend is planning on doing it: http://www.crunchybetty.com/how-to-make-felted-wool-dryer-balls

I've done this and then later attached a safety pin to each ball, supposedly the pins help discharge the static...but I'm far from a scientist. :)

I typically dry my clothes for about 10 minutes only using the dryer balls and low heat. I then hang things up to dry. I use vinegar as fabric softener in my washer. All in all, my static isn't bad with this combination.

[pjm-7]

Try taking aluminum foil and making a ball about the size of a golf ball.  Toss in the dryer.

[GuitarStv]

Stop using the dryer. If the humidity is that low, dry it either on the line or indoors on racks.

+1


This is what we do.  It really does help with indoor humidity, and there's no static issue when stuff is hung to dry on racks.

[mrsggrowsveg]

I line dry unless it is raining or freezing, but have noticed a bit on vinegar in the washer softens the clothes a little.

[anastrophe]

Stop using the dryer. If the humidity is that low, dry it either on the line or indoors on racks.

+1


This is what we do.  It really does help with indoor humidity, and there's no static issue when stuff is hung to dry on racks.

+ a million. I hang my laundry indoors in the evening and it's totally dry by morning. If you heat your house, the humidity is probably around 20-25%, which is sufficiently dry to dry out everything from plants to skin to damp clothes in a few hours.

[NinetyFour]

When I renovated my ADU (for me to live in), I didn't even purchase a dryer.  I hang everything.  I live in a low humidity are of the country, so that helps.

[Greg]

A quick mist of plain water will kill any static.  Reuse a window cleaner bottle, or get a new sprayer from a hardware store.

[Russ]

^ kinda defeats the purpose of a dryer though, doesn't it?

[galliver]

My experience is that cottons dry just fine, but synthetics, wool, etc get all staticky. Those tend to dry nicely on a rack, though. :)

Also, someone mentioned overdrying: I think it's helped me to put thick, long-drying fabrics (jeans, towels) together, and thin, faster-drying fabrics (socks, underwear, tanktops) together, to match the drying times. T-shirts are pretty flexible (they go in the smaller load!) Pretty sure it also cuts down on wear&tear, maybe.

[Greg]

^ kinda defeats the purpose of a dryer though, doesn't it?

A slight mist is all that's needed, you won't even feel it unless you use too much.  Dampening one's hands and rubbing your clothes (as worn) has the same effect.  Same with hair.

[Ottawa]

Russ: A clothes dryer is an absolute necessity!  Especially if you want to:

1) Increase your electric bill by 10%
2) Produce ~2500lbs of CO2 extra per year
3) Increase the impetus for dirty power plants to expand
4) Spend money on an appliance you don't need
5) Erode your clothes at a rapid rate (after all that lint trap...is your clothing)
6) Increase the chances of a house fire (~15,000 homes go up annually because of this)
7) Throw away that free humidity in the winter

But you already knew this ;-)

[Ragdoll]

I grow Rosemary and it thrives in the winter where I live (Texas). My bushes are very large. I fill an old sock with fresh Rosemary and pin it shut. I also pin extra safety pins in the sock...probably 8-10. Then I slide the whole thing inside another old sock. I keep this in the dryer and just keep adding fresh Rosemary every few weeks. Rosemary is antibacterial and gives off a pleasant very light scent to your laundry. I can smell the slight scent when I open the dryer door but not when I wear the clothing. The safety pins reduce/eliminate static. Be sure to place the whole thing in the extra sock to keep it from making noise and from putting tiny dents in your dryer drum. Believe me this works well. If you don't have Rosemary I am sure just using the sock and safety pins would clear up any static.