Next to your washing machine, what major appliance would be hard to live without? If you answered, "my dryer," then you are right! This fabulous convenience has been around for decades, but its added value and importance to help with weekly chores is unbeatable.
This appliance was designed to remove moisture from clothes and other textile items upon their removal from the washing machine.
Heat is circulated through ventilation holes in a drum.
The dehydration process takes place as the drum rotates and moisture evaporates from your articles.
Maybe you haven't given it much thought, but there are many ways to make your unit work more effectively.
1) What's the Racket? One way to conserve energy, thus making your appliance work better, is to throw a few tennis balls in with your laundry.
The balls primarily create extra space and help your load not to "clump" into sections.
This is especially useful with blankets, towels or other large items.
Energy is conserved because the items will dry faster with more air circulating.
This, in turn, will save on energy resources such as gas or electricity.
It will also keep your home more comfortable especially during hot, summer months.
Other benefits will be fewer wrinkles, less static cling and reduced lint build up.
2) The Dryer Towel.
This tip will help you cut your drying time in half! Put about a tablespoon of fabric softener onto an old fluffy towel.
The unheated towel and the softener in with the wet laundry load can save on the average as much as 20 minutes of heating time.
3) Time For a Tune-Up.
Many dryer fires are started by dirty lint screens and clogged vents.
To help prevent a catastrophe, wash your lint screen and trap in warm, soapy water monthly.
Scrub it gently with a soft toothbrush.
Rinse and let air dry.
Clean the lint trap following each cycle.
Use your vacuum hose to suck out any built-up lint inside the rim of your unit.
Hire an appliance repair service once a year to clean out the long vent tubing that goes from the back of the unit to the outside of your house.
4) Don't Forget To Warm Up.
If you want your unit to be nice and warmed up when you throw in your heavier items, always begin your laundry by drying light weight items and delicates.
Try to do all of your drying back to back so as not to allow the unit to cool down between loads.
And, always do a full load versus half a load.
5) Go lightly.
Don't overload your unit as it doubles the time, using more energy.
These are just five ways you can save energy, time and money while using this worthwhile appliance.
The benefits of using a dryer cannot be underestimated.
It is a practical and useful way to make an unpleasant chore doable.