DIY Life

Ditch the dryer sheets, balls and expensive infomercial products; you can get static-free clothes with a few household items you can easily find in your own pantry, kitchen or garage. In fact, before dryer balls were invented (can we even think back that far...?), there was another handy ball that kept clothing soft, bouncy and fluffier than ever. Curious yet? Go on; take a guess. (Hint: it's in the garage!) Give up yet?

The tennis ball! To keep fabrics soft and cling-free, toss three tennis balls into your dryer and run them through a cycle. You'll be amazed at how softer your clothes come out, and you've saved a few bucks along the way!

Not a sports fan? Try this crafty DIY dryer ball version that boasts just a few key supplies: yarn, pantyhose, socks, scissors, crochet hook and measuring tape. You probably have each of those items at home, so forget the excuses and get to work now!

Steel wool is great for many DIY projects. It comes in different grades for different applications (#00, #1, #2), and in many cases it's much better than sandpaper. But as great as it is, in some cases there's a much better product -- bronze wool!

Why is it better? For one thing, it doesn't rust like steel will; this is an important consideration on any project that involves moisture. For the same reason, you can store it longer in a humid environment. Consider these applications:

• Gun maintenance: It'll take off minor rust, but not the bluing.
• Any boat maintenance: it doesn't rust, so it won't discolor wood -- like that expensive teak.
• More suggestions after the break....

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Miele Inc. has issued a voluntary safety recall of about 3,100 residential super large gas dryers, model T 9820, due to a gas leak risk and a fire hazard.

If the dryer is not installed properly, the internal gas fitting can loosen, posing a risk of gas leaking into the home. If the gas leak is not detected, asphyxiation, an explosion or a fire can occur. If one or both of the caps on the internal exhaust duct becomes dislodged, lint can build up and be carried through the gas burner, posing a fire risk. Although no injuries have been reported, Miele has received a report of a fire and 11 reports of consumers smelling gas after their dryers were installed.

The residential super large capacity white dryers were manufactured in the Czech Republic and sold by Miele distributors between March 2007 and December 2007 for about $1,300. Please see the CPSC press release for the serial number and more information about the recalled dryer.

Consumers are advised to stop using the dryer and turn off the gas supply to the unit. The firm has sent direct notices to consumers. Consumers who have not had their dryer inspected should contact a Miele authorized service provider for a free inspection and repair. Miele can be contacted at (800) 420-1813 or www.miele.com.

A few months back, the control knob on my clothes dryer broke. Since it involved only a minor DIY repair job, I thought this a fab opportunity to try shopping for spare parts online. Result? A 10 out of 10 experience. I used PartSelect and was really happy. Other likely-looking choices include PartStore and big box store sites like SearsPartsDirect, to name just two of the many sites out there.

I was thrilled with how easy it was to locate such a tiny and obscure plastic doo-dad via the Web. Thrilled because ordering it online was possible in the first place. Also thrilled because such sites make simple appliance repairs easier for the beginner DIY'er. Interested? After the break, I'll share what you should know before cracking out that credit card:

The Speed Factor. Buying spare parts online saves you lots of valuable time. In the olden days, you would have to flip through the phone book to find likely parts suppliers. Then you would have to make some phone calls. Next, you would waste at least an hour driving to and from the supplier.

I love the smell of fresh clothes still warm from the dryer, but then again, who doesn't? What I don't like is having to pay an arm and a leg for dryer sheets. I cut dryer sheets in half so that a box of 80 becomes a box of 160, but then that little half sheet curls up in the dryer, and the clothes don't smell as fresh.

Most of the time, I use vinegar in my wash machine, and it works just as well as liquid fabric softener to freshen and soften my clothing. In the dryer, I always pop a half sheet of Bounce, but I want a cheaper way to get my clothing static free. Thanks to Curbly, I found that way, with these recipes for making your own dryer sheets.

1. Pour fabric softener into a spray bottle, spray an old washcloth 4-6 times, and then put in the dryer with the wet clothes. A small refill carton should last you over 1 year.
   
2. In a pail, such as an ice cream container, mix one gallon water and one cup concentrated liquid fabric softener. Every time you do laundry, dip an old washcloth into the mix, wring out, and dry with your clothes. Put the lid on the pail and don't forget to label both the pail and lid.
3. Pour a 50/50 mix of fabric softener and water into a spray bottle, spray your wet clothes 3 or 4 times, or an old washcloth, then put the rag in the dryer. Basically the same as the first recipe, but less concentrated.
   
4. Mix equal parts hair conditioner and water in a spray bottle, spritz a washcloth, and dry with the wet clothes. I wouldn't recommend this recipe too often, as hair conditioner can be very expensive.
5. Vinegar with a few drops of essential oil misted on an old washcloth works just as well, and is much cheaper than dryer sheets.

One fabric softened rag should last about 5 loads before you have to wash it. Old pieces of flannel work great too, if you don't have any old washcloths kicking around. Don't forget to wash your rags every once in a while too, not only to remove build up, but to keep them from smelling funky.

I've been neglecting laundry lately and as a result have piles of it taking over the upstairs landing. Today, I plan to beat the battle and run load after load until it's done. My dryer's usage is by no means exhaustive, but my poor planning does mean that it's overused in short spurts. I started wondering how this impacts the life of our dryer and furthermore, what added fire risk it might be subject too after such a long day. What causes dryer fires and how can they be prevented?

This article about clothes dryer fire prevention answers these questions, providing important information about how fires start and your steps to prevention. According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, clothes dryers cause an estimated 15,500 fires each year, resulting in 10 deaths and 10 injuries. Many of these can be prevented.

The article will elaborate on proper installation, dryer placement, vent cleaning, and hazard recognition. Lint is your biggest contributor to dryer fires. It isn't all caught in the lint trap, and can accumulate on the heating element if it's not maintained regularly. First and foremost, clean the lint trap after each load. You will also want to periodically clean the surrounding areas with a vacuum, collecting any build-up. Finally, have thorough maintenance done every couple of years in order to keep your dryer running safely and efficiently.

There's nearly nothing so frustrating as a clothes dryer which returns your freshly washed laundry in the same condition as when you put it in there. Most of us know the feeling we get when we stick our hand in the dryer expecting warm fluffy towels only to find a cold wet lump of terry cloth fabric.

There are three main conditions which most commonly cause this problem to occur. Your dryer vent could be plugged up, your heating element could be failing, or your dryer drum may be refusing to turn. A few tests and observations can quickly reveal the source of your trouble.

Major appliance repair can be a big job and an even bigger expense to have someone come in for. Even the greatest DIY'ers are often stuck by appliance repair problems. The most important thing, and where I think most people actually go wrong is in understanding how your appliances actually work.

If you don't know the mechanics of a washer machine, how are you supposed to know where to start working when something goes wrong. That's the thing that I particularly liked about this site. They first start by giving a quick "how it works" lesson for each appliance. The diagrams are a great help here too.

I do a lot of laundry in my house and, as a result, I accumulate what seems like a metric ton of dryer lint each week. As I fished the latest clump of fuzz from my dryer's lint cup, I got to wondering, "Is there something useful could do with all this?" The only think I could think of was to toss it into my backyard for the birds to use when they build nests. I knew other people must surely have come up with other, more creative, ideas so I decided to find out.

What I learned may surprise you: