A Viewer Writes: The lighter side of everyday life.. DRYER BALLS??

The wife told me to buy her some “dryer balls”. Several months ago I purchased a new $900 dryer because the old one was “older” technology and “beat the clothes to death”. The new one saves lots of energy by tumbling and gently blowing warm air through the clothes. But apparently this does not “fluff up” the material, thereby requiring dryer balls to be inserted to create more agitation. I see something sinister in this.

A couple of years ago, it was a new washer ($1000), ostensibly to save energy, water and wear and tear on clothing. But when it was installed, there were not enough bubbles. The well water contained too many minerals. A new water conditioner ($1200) caused the washer to overflow with bubbles, thus a change to a more expensive detergent (which caused skin rash). Finally, things looked right....until the septic drain field overflowed because the water conditioner installer exhausted the salt water into the septic pipes. Another $3500. AND now we must buy bottled water to drink because it contains minerals and tastes better than the well water. Am I alone, or is this what is considered normal??