For 20 years, my laundry routine never changed: wash the clothes, move them to the dryer, and wait for the cycle to finish. But after dealing with static, less-fluffy towels, and rising energy costs, I became curious about a viral DIY trick—putting a ball of aluminum foil in the dryer. Skeptical but interested, I decided to test it for myself.

The idea was simple. I tore off about three feet of aluminum foil and rolled it tightly into a ball roughly the size of a tennis ball. Online advice suggested keeping it compact while avoiding sharp edges. The claim was that the foil could help reduce static, improve drying, and possibly shorten drying time without using dryer sheets.

I placed the foil ball into a dryer filled with wet towels and started my usual 60-minute cycle. After 45 minutes, I checked the load and was surprised to find the towels already dry. The result may vary depending on the dryer, fabric, and load size, but in my case, the cycle appeared to finish faster than usual.

The biggest difference was the reduction in static. The towels were easier to separate, looked less wrinkled, and still felt fluffy. I also noticed a slight rattling sound from the foil ball, but there was no unusual smell. Over the next few weeks, I continued using it and noticed no obvious problems with my towels or dryer, although the foil ball gradually became compressed and needed reshaping.

Laundry professionals note that results can vary, so this isn’t a guaranteed solution for every machine. Still, the experience convinced me to keep using it. As the original article puts it, “The benefits, particularly in terms of reduced drying time and static, are worth the minimal effort involved in preparing and maintaining the foil ball.” It may be a simple trick, but for my laundry routine, it was worth trying.