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How To Use Wool Dryer Balls
If you are tired of using chemically coated dryer sheets it is time to try out dryer balls.
Wool dryer balls are an amazing alternative to standard dryer sheets. They are an all-natural way to eliminate static electricity while softening your clothing.
Wool dryer balls help separate the layers of clothing as they bounce around in your dryer. This prevents clothing from sticking together and allows warm air to move quickly between the wet layers.
Since the ball is made of wool, they will also help to absorb some of the moisture which also helps the drying process.
You can also find dryer balls made of plastic. Although they do work, they typically aren’t as effective as natural products.
One of the best side benefits of dryer balls is the money-saving factor. Although the initial purchase is slightly expensive most good quality balls will last for over 1,000 loads. Plus, they help your clothing dry quicker.
How to Use Wool Dryer Balls
Using wool dryer balls is simple as opening the package and throwing them into your dryer with a new load of laundry.
Depending on the size of your dryer you will need 3-5 extra-large balls or 5-7 of the smaller balls.
Since dryer balls reduce drying time it is important to monitor your first couple of loads to ensure you don’t over-dry clothing. Over-drying can cause clothing to wear out faster.
If your dryer doesn’t auto-sense the dampness level, make sure you pull out your laundry before it gets too dry.
Why You Should Use Dryer Balls
Cost-effective:
Typically, one dryer ball will last for around 1,000 loads of laundry. You can purchase a pack of 6 for $10-20 dollars.
Dryer sheet typically cost around $9 for a pack of 240, costing you around $45 for 1,000 loads of laundry.
This means an instant savings of around $25-35 for every 1,000 loads of laundry.
It is harder to quantify energy savings. Most sources say your clothing will dry 20-30% faster. These numbers are all from wool dryer ball manufacturers, so I have to take it with a grain of salt.
However, my own personal experience does lead me to believe the laundry dry’s quicker. I’ve noticed that in my dryer when I use dryer balls my loads tend to finish 4-5 minutes faster.
This is completely non-scientific, but I do feel like dryer balls saves me dryer time which equates to money.
Eco-Friendly
Dryer balls are about as eco friendly as they come. They are a natural wool-based product with no toxic chemicals.
Since they can be reused multiple times it saves on packaging as well.
Once used up the wool balls can be composed at home or in a typical trash facility.
Non-Allergenic
Although you do occasionally hear of wool allergies, most people can use wool products without issues.
Wool dryer balls are great for people with sensitive skin. Being able to avoid chemicals is a huge plus for anyone with laundry sensitivities.
When to replace Wool Dryer Balls
Most wool dryer balls will last for approximately 1,000 loads. When they start to look scraggly and pieces are tearing off it is time to replace them.
One of mine was starting to fall apart recently, so I pulled it apart and then tossed it in my composter. The natural fibers collect water and are supposed to be awesome for gardens. I’m super excited to try it out.
How Do Dryer Balls Smell?
The dryer balls themselves don’t have an odor. Many people are used to using dryer sheets to give their laundry and fresh fun smell.
The easiest way to mimic this with dryer balls is to add a couple of drops of essential oil to their balls. Let the drops sit for 3-5 hours before using them.
I typically add 5-7 drops which last anywhere from 4-8 loads of laundry. I’m a huge fan of lavender, but some of the citrus smells work great as well.
How Do I Get Rid Of Static Cling when Using Wool Dryer Balls
Static cling is caused by over-drying clothing. Many of the new dryers will automatically stop when the clothing is dry which helps prevent this issue.
If you have an older unit, you can duck the wool dryer balls in water and then add them to your load. This will increase the humidity in the dryer and the laundry will dry faster than the wool balls. It works like a charm and more importantly doesn’t increase the drying time.
Static also comes from synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, rayon, and acrylic. If you separate these clothing and either air dry them or dry them separately you’ll avoid static issues as well.
Do Wool Dryer Balls Transfer Lint?
Typically dryer balls don’t transfer lint, but as your balls get older it can begin to happen. It is particularly annoying when using white balls with black clothing.
To solve this problem, I got a set of black wool dryer balls and use them on my darker loads.
Can you make your own dryer balls?
DIY dryer balls are super popular and based on the directions I’ve found look super simple to make.
I’m planning to make some next time I have a little bit of free time. In the meantime if you are interested in making your own wool dryer balls check out this post.
How To Use Wool Dryer Balls
As you can see using wool dryer balls is as super simple.
Using wool dryer balls will save you money, time, and is eco-friendly.
The only bad thing about wool dryer balls is locating them in your clean laundry. You’ll be amazed at the places you find them in your clothing.
