So I am doing some online retail therapy and wondering about wool dryer balls. Does anyone use these instead of dryer fabric softener sheets? I see where you can put a drop of essential oils on them.
Any experiences to share?
Do they make your clothes dry faster or make them softer? Reduce static?
I’ve seen the wool dryer balls at Marshall’s and T J Maxx and thought about trying them. I’ve only ever used tennis balls (when drying a down parka, to fluff it). It’s noisy!
Clean tennis balls work well for drying and fluffing down jackets and other items.
Another alternative – aluminum foil balls: http://www.greenideareviews.com/2012/03/18/aluminum-foil-dryer-balls-review-do-they-work/
Thanks -would have never thought about aluminum foil
I gave them to DD for a Christmas gift but we haven’t tried them yet! They were a special Amazon deal when I bought them and she’s really into sustainability (and the college machines don’t dry well) so I thought they’d be a good gift. She loves the idea but we’ll see how they work this week.
I have used dryer balls for years. I think they reduce the static. I don’t use dyer sheets at all.
Have read some good and bad reviews on the cheap dryer balls sold at drug stores and elsewhere, enough for me NOT to buy them.
Received some as a gift so stopped using tennis balls when drying comforters or pillows. Don’t use them otherwise and never use dryer sheets or fabric softener.
@HImom are you talking about the wool ones?
No the cheap rubber or nylon ones. Some claim they work great while others complain that they ruin clothing— leaving stains, oil splotches. We have steered clear. H and I are allergic to dryer sheets. I have successfully used clean tennis balls while drying down items to help them fluff up. Worked fine. Normally we don’t add anything when we dry but don’t have significant static issues.
We have the rubber or whatever they are made of ones. They do keep the clothes nice and soft, but they do nothing about static at all.
I got the wool ones at a farmer’s market and love them.
I have wool dryer balls that I got about a year ago in an effort to be more earth friendly and chemical free. I’m pretty meh on them. I don’t think they work as well as the dryer sheets in minimizing static cling, something we have an issue with during our cold, dry winters.
@doschicos I was skeptical, bought a set of three from a friend who sold them through Norwek(?) because I felt like I had to buy something from them, they cut down on drying time significantly, I bought another set of three. I estimate it saves us around $0.50/load (with 6 wool dryer balls in a load, around $15/month-not a huge savings, but a savings all the same.
I used the blue rubber ones for awhile and found they fluffed my clothes up in a nice way. I didn’t notice that my dryig to a shorter period of time. I also didn’t use them with comforters specifically but used them with all my loads. I don’t know that I have this brand specifically but this is what they look like:
A couple disappeared and I read good things about the wool balls so bought those. I only have 3 so maybe more are needed but I don’t notice any difference with the wool ones. If I decide to keep using dryer balls, I’ll buy more of the blue rubber ones. Of course, they’re not natural so they don’t help with sustainability.
Mine are the same as @collage1 except mine are lavender.
I love my dryer hedgehogs! https://www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-Hedgehog-Dryer-Balls-Reusable/dp/B005U9Y71Y
I especially love their effect on sheets -just right soft.
Another complaint about dryer balls - they make drying clothes much nosier!
The cheapest plastic-like ones are incredibly noisy. I use the wool-like ones and like the result. Plus, they are quiet!!