Why People Are Putting Aluminum Foil In The Washing Machine (And Is It Safe To Do?)

If laundry day is your least favorite day of the week, then you are not alone. Getting clothing clean and fresh without damaging it or setting stains can be difficult, and all of that happens before you have to fold and put everything away. If you consistently struggle with your washing due to a low-quality machine, tricky fabrics, or lack of knowledge, it may help to seek out some clever laundry tips and tricks. Depending on your source, though, you may find some duds that won't clean your items effectively and might even harm your clothing or machines. One potentially risky hack that some people swear by is adding aluminum foil to the washing machine.

According to supporters of the hack, all you need to do is add your laundry, detergent, and fabric softener like you normally would, crumple up a couple of sheets of aluminum foil into round balls, add them directly to the drum, and run a cycle based on the care instructions for your garments. Regular kitchen aluminum foil is generally recommended, and most people say they use two square sheets of foil to create two separate balls. 

The thought is that the foil balls help separate items during the wash cycle to help prevent bunching and lint buildup, reduce static by having the clothes rub against the foil rather than each other, and even act like an agitator in machines that don't have one. The benefits may sound enticing, but actual results are hard to gauge, and testing this hack could result in damage to your machine that is expensive to fix.

Before testing this hack for yourself, be sure to understand the harm that may occur. First, any sharp bits of the foil could snag on delicate clothing, pulling threads or wearing down areas, which could ruin a favorite item. A sharp bit could also scratch the inside of your washing machine drum. Additionally, because foil balls could be considered a misuse of the machine, your warranty could be voided. Ultimately, if you use the foil balls in a load of durable materials, compact the ball as much as possible, remove it after the cycle, and aren't relying on a warranty, it should be safe to test out. If you are too worried about damage, you may also consider avoiding static build-up while washing blankets with another common household ingredient.

A hack very similar to this one (but perhaps more popular) involves adding aluminum foil balls to the dryer to reduce static. You may want to know what really happens if you put aluminum foil balls in the dryer before you try it, but the reported benefits are very similar and the trick has more support regarding its effectiveness and safety. This makes sense, as dryers are typically where people think of static being generated. However, the washing cycle also contributes to the static cling of clothing, and prevention can start in the washing machine, typically by using a fabric softener. Overall, there is little direct support for adding foil to the wash, but some individuals online report success.