Tuesday, November 6, 2007

WFMW--How to keep sheets from getting rolled up in the dryer?

This week is a backwards Works For Me Wednesday, where I ask you to solve a problem I've been having.

This is a recent problem, just since the weather got cooler. I switched out our percale sheets for new flannel sheets and a new flannel duvet cover from LL Bean (along with our down duvet). With Tom's dust and mite allergies, I HAVE to wash all bed clothes once a week in hot water. Any time I don't wash the sheets and the duvet cover, about the 9th or 10th day, Tom starts complaining about being stuffy and not able to breathe.

Anyway, since we switched to the flannel bed clothes, my problem is that everything gets rolled up in a ball in the dryer, and when the dryer goes off, nothing is dry because everything got rolled on itself. I rarely had this problem with our percale sheets and duvet cover. Now, I often have to unroll the sheets and duvet cover 3-4 times before everything gets dry. All I'm putting in at one time is a queen bottom sheet, duvet cover and two pillowcases, so the dryer is definitely not too full.

Please, give me wisdom! Leave your solutions to this problem in the comments area. And if this problem has you stumped, but you want to provide solutions to others in need, visit Shannon's site, where more bloggers are asking for help.

9 comments:

Alicia said...

Although I haven't tried this, I've heard this and just googled it to make sure: throw in a few tennis balls. You can google "tennis balls in dryer." It apparently workds pretty well - I think I'm gonna have to take my own advice.

Phyllis Sommer said...

Do you shake it all out really well before you put it into the dryer, from the washer? I find that really helps to avoid the "balled up syndrome."

but tennis balls sound good too!

Cyndy said...

Hi Cindy, It's Cyndy again! Try adding some wet towels. I sometimes have the same problem with my percales and found that this helps. The sheets dry faster than the towels and the towels seem to keep the sheets from balling up.

BusyBee said...

I have had the same problem and since we live in a complex with a coin operated laundry facility, it's an extra $1 in quarters every time my clothes aren't dry enough to take out of the dryer. I bought the "as seen on TV" dryer balls at Bed, Bath and Beyond and they do help. Plus, you could use a 20% off coupon that they always send out in the mail.
--Carianne

Jane said...

I'm with Busy Bee on the dryer balls. They have saved me more than a roll of quaters! IF they dont work for you, at least you have a dog toy! LOL

Cindy said...

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to check out the dryer balls (or tennis balls if I can't get to Bed, Bath and Beyond by next Monday). I'll let you know how it goes.

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Throw in a few, clean, DRY towels. It may help. It also will help the sheets dry quicker. Works for really wet jeans, too. I add clean, dry towels to any load that I need to dry in a shorter amount of time.

LaughterThoughts said...

I use a tennis ball!
Tennis balls are also great if you need to wash a pillow or down coat-they stay fluffy and don't get lumpy with the balls bouncing around in there.

With sheets, sometimes I'll also stop part way through the dry cycle to shake the sheets out some more if I need to.

ohAmanda said...

Yay! Glad you posted this. I've been having this same problem!