Let’s be clear about something: static cling in our clothing is no joke. Sure, at best the build-up of static electricity – a result of our clothes rubbing and bumping up against each other in the dryer, a phenomenon also known as the “triboelectric effect” – is, comparatively, a pretty mild annoyance, but it’s still super bothersome. Who has the time or the patience to deal with unruly clothing that refuses to fold or hang properly, static shock, or – worst of all – wardrobe malfunctions? Not me, that’s for sure, and while I appreciate that dryer sheets are the most obvious solution, I’m not really a big fan of the residue they can leave behind on my favorite shirts and pants. So when The Creek Line House let us know that there was an alternative hanging out in our kitchens, I knew I had to try it. That solution? Aluminum foil.

Yes, aluminum foil— in a ball.

This trick is so simple. All you need to do is tear off three sheets of aluminum foil, each about a foot long. Roll them together in a ball about two to three inches in diamater, and toss that ball into the clothes dryer along with your laundry. Run the dryer as you normally would, and voila— no more static cling, and no dryer sheets needed!

I can tell you first hand now— it definitely works! I tried it with my last load of laundry, and there was zero static cling even right out of the dryer. What’s more, it was a particularly dry day here, which would normally lead to lots of static electricity, AND I didn’t notice any decrease in softness. I didn’t miss my dryer sheets AT ALL.

So why does this trick work? Simple! The tin foil simply absorbs the static electricity, thereby preventing your clothing from absorbing it. Plus, the presence of a more solid object in there with the clothes also helps soften them as they’re battered by the ball. You’ll notice that the aluminum ball smooths out a bit during the cycle as it absorbs all that bouncing!

Best of all, you can reuse that same ball for further loads. According to The Creek Line House, it’ll work for up to a year! Now that I’ve given it a try, I’m definitely going to stop buying those dryer sheets, and I’ll be putting the ones I already have to other uses. What about you? Have you ever heard of or tried this trick before? Do you have your own tips for avoiding static cling?