I have learned so much about my dryer this week....things I would have never thought about needing to know and things I would have never thought would matter!! I found all this new information after reading an article attached to a tip I found on Pinterest!!
I learned that simply removing the lint from your dryer's lint filter is NOT enough! If you use storebought dryer sheets they cause an invisible film on the mesh/screen that catches the lint. Apparently this is caused by whatever is in the dryer sheet that keeps the clothing from becoming 'staticy' :) So, I decided to test out my lint filter - I took it to the bathtub and sure enough it held water!! Which means that when the dryer is running it is not 'breathing' properly - which can cause a fire to start in your dryer. WOW. So, I use a small amount of dish soap and a soft scrub brush and cleaned my lint filter until water ran through it.
I look forward to seeing how the home-made dryer sheets I made will make a difference!!
I also learned that balled up piece of aluminum foil (from your kitchen cabinet) will help prevent static cling in your clothes after they have been through the dryer!! I was a little cautious of this at first..but I tried it yesterday (after reading many reports of others good luck with this) and it works!!!
I look forward to hearing any other tips or ideas you may have!! Please, share!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Home-Made Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets
FABRIC SOFTENER
1 Gallon container
1 cup Baking Soda
6-8 cups Vinegar
Water
Essential Oil - Optional
I use an old 1 gallon Fabric Softener container (rinsed well)
Combine 1 Cup Baking Soda with Vinegar - carefully! I did this in a mixing bowl. I only added enough vinegar to make the baking soda mixture easy to pour into the 1 gallon container. Then I gradually added the remaining vinegar. I added about 10 drops of Clean Cotton Essential Oil. Then I filled the container the rest of the way with water.
I also took my husband's drill and drilled a few small holes in the lid of the container to prevent an explosion! Before each use you need to slightly shake/stir the mixture - which will re-mix the baking soda and vinegar and cause it overflow if not handled carefully.
DRYER SHEETS:
1 empty baby wipe box
while washcloths
Fabric Softener
I cut up some plain white washcloths from Wal-Mart into pieces that will easily fit into the baby wipe box. Then I pour fabric softener over the rags until they were wet through. I use one rag with each load of laundry put through the dryer.
1 Gallon container
1 cup Baking Soda
6-8 cups Vinegar
Water
Essential Oil - Optional
I use an old 1 gallon Fabric Softener container (rinsed well)
Combine 1 Cup Baking Soda with Vinegar - carefully! I did this in a mixing bowl. I only added enough vinegar to make the baking soda mixture easy to pour into the 1 gallon container. Then I gradually added the remaining vinegar. I added about 10 drops of Clean Cotton Essential Oil. Then I filled the container the rest of the way with water.
I also took my husband's drill and drilled a few small holes in the lid of the container to prevent an explosion! Before each use you need to slightly shake/stir the mixture - which will re-mix the baking soda and vinegar and cause it overflow if not handled carefully.
DRYER SHEETS:
1 empty baby wipe box
while washcloths
Fabric Softener
I cut up some plain white washcloths from Wal-Mart into pieces that will easily fit into the baby wipe box. Then I pour fabric softener over the rags until they were wet through. I use one rag with each load of laundry put through the dryer.
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