Comments on: Another mystery solved

By: DaniGirl

DaniGirl — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:17:46 +0000

The things I learn from you guys! Thanks for all the links, and the info about the dryer balls. I’ve seen them around, but always had my doubts. Now I’ll have to try them out!

By: Fawn

Fawn — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:59:10 +0000

Okay, point taken on the flame-retardantness (or whatever that word should be). I guess I was thinking that most clothes wouldn’t go “poof” anyway, so why expose our kids (and ourselves) to questionable chemicals? Also I assumed that the softener just destroyed the flame-retardant chemicals, not that it actually makes them more likely to ignite.

Here’s an interesting article on how clothes can go “poof” – scary:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2002/02/05/fabricsoftener_020205.html

I guess I’ll stick with dryer sheets!

Sorry for being off-topic, Dani…!

By: Nora Bee

Nora Bee — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:32:32 +0000

I have a secret love for this site:

http://www.explodingdog.com/

He makes cartoons from reader ideas.

By: Chantal

Chantal — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:17:01 +0000

Also, don’t use fabric softener on Dri-Fit stuff. It stops the wicking that makes it so awesome.

Other sites besides Google Reader and Facebook? Gossip sites. I’m ashamed, but it’s true.

http://www.dlisted.com
http://www.wwtdd.com
http://www.perezhilton.com

…and just go from those.

By: Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:10:03 +0000

I visit random recipe sites for ideas that will never manifest themselves in my own kitchen. Other than that, I just stick to the blogs.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:22:56 +0000

Actually, Fawn, children’s sleepwear is either flame-retardent or form fitting (like the newer stretchy cotton pj’s). And people worry because it’s the difference between a smouldering burn and poof, up-in-flames when, for instance, the child leans over to blow out a candle and leans too close.

By: Fawn

Fawn — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:56:54 +0000

I don’t get why people worry about clothes being flammable — and except for children’s clothing, they’re not exactly flame-retardant in the first place. Anyway, I think they stopped making children’s clothing flame-retardant a few years ago.

I use cloth diapers and don’t use fabric softeners on them when I dry them – it does not seem to affect the comfy-ness of the diapers. Many cloth-diaper users like to line-dry, anyway, and the sun has a bleaching effect that is always welcome. I don’t do this because I don’t have a clothesline… but using the dryer is kind of softening in itself – you know how line-dried stuff is usually kinda stiff. I really don’t need fabric softener with the diapers anyway, because the only reason I use them is to reduce static in the loads that have lots of fleece or other static-creating fabrics. The cotton in the diapers don’t create much static. (Although back when I used fleece diaper covers…)

The problem with Downy balls is that they can damage the inside drum of your washing machine, nicking the paint off, which creates a spot that can start to rust. Besides, as we all start migrating to the much-more-efficient front-loaders — ya’ll are doing that right? — the Downy ball will go the way of the cassette tape.

By: Kels

Kels — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:23:45 +0000

As you said, Towels are less absorbent.. and for anyone who uses cloth diapers (like no one, but save the environment!) don’t use fabric softerners, might feel better on babies.. but less absorbent therefore leaves to bigger messes :S

By: Shan

Shan — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:37:53 +0000

Another dryer ball fan over here. I’m actually on my second set.

Thanks for the link.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:05:58 +0000

another vote for dryer balls, here. I usually have no problem with static except for a few synthetic sweaters when mixed with socks, especially if overdried. But we’re mostly a cotton family, so they’re great.

By: Miche

Miche — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:46:11 +0000

Thought you might be interested in these:
http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/dryer_balls.html

We use them in our dryer. I sense that our drying times have improved (but haven’t actually timed it) and it does help to soften clothes without chemicals. I wouldn’t say that using two is equal to using chemical fabric softener. However, we haven’t purchased more than two yet.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any sites to offer.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:52:20 +0000

Hey thank you so much for the link love. It is highly appreciated.
I read 214 blogs for my job with the local newspaper. I read a lot that are well outside my range of normal, but probably my favorite for thought provoking is http://xark.typepad.com

It’s often academic and has political undertones, but I am always left with something to chew on.

By: colleen

colleen — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:10:34 +0000

Did you know that liquid fabric softner makes your clothes, more importantly, your childrens clothes flammable?

By: Jenny F. Scientist

Jenny F. Scientist — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:19:42 +0000

Oooh, I take it back: http://www.wackywarnings.com/

Though I really prefer the visual-only ones, like those amazingly awful Homeland Security ones, or the infamous one which appeared to convey “Don’t have a party in the cherrypicker.”

By: Jenny F. Scientist

Jenny F. Scientist — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:09:55 +0000

I did actually know about towels- it drives me crazy! My dad used to fabric-soften them and us three girls all had waist-long thick hair. Aargh.

Sadly, I have no time for extra information now! But I like the how stuff works one. Oooh, shiny.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:21:41 +0000

Does my husband’s blog count? He writes about the goings on in the world of Canadian military history (which was in my regular interests at one time but is so far out now that I feel like an imposter). I keep a Scientific American RSS feed on my iGoogle page and periodically dip my toe into a science story and occasionally check in with the Freakonomics blog.

I knew about the towels and fabric softener thing but haven’t convinced He who does most of the laundry of it yet. Thanks for the resource.