Dryer balls made from wool are an eco-friendly alternative to drying sheets - but are they right for your family? Do they really dry and soften your clothes?
If you've ever rushed out the door only to have someone politely tap you on the shoulder and let you know there's a pair of underwear stuck to the back of your sweater, you've probably experienced the benefits of dryer sheets.
Dryer sheets eliminate static cling and leave clothes feeling incredibly soft, but do they do more harm than good? If you're looking to reduce your environmental impact - not to mention your family's exposure to the harmful chemicals found in traditional dryer sheets - natural wool dryer balls may be the sustainable alternative you've been looking for.
Learn more about the benefits of wool dryer balls, how to find the best wool dryer balls for your dryer, and tips on how to incorporate them into your laundry routine.
Wool Dryer Balls
In short, traditional dryer sheets help reduce static cling, soften fabrics and leave clothes smelling fresh and pleasant. Traditional dryer sheets contain a thin layer of fabric softener that targets static charges and even helps prevent linting. But dryer sheets are a nice to have, not a necessity.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission does not require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in dryer sheets, so you never know what you're getting. Many contain harsh chemicals and added fragrances that stick to the fabric, are released into the air and eventually rub off on your skin, potentially triggering asthma and skin reactions.
From an environmental standpoint, they are a disposable product that may emit harmful toxins into the air and onto your clothing - if you need proof, just look at some of the ingredients in dryer sheets as noted on the EPA hazardous waste list.
While these cute little sheets may not be as toxic as some claim, more research is needed to determine if the fragrances used in drying sheets are harmful to your health.
Considered by many experts to be the safer choice, wool dryer balls are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional dryer sheets. Natural and chemical-free, 100% wool dryer balls are also hypoallergenic, making them a smart choice that is gentle enough even for those with sensitive skin or even small baby clothes.
Yes! Wool dryer balls work their soft magic by popping open your clothes and are best suited for small to medium loads so they have room to roam around.
Not only do they retain heat, but they also help keep clothes separated in the dryer, which allows air to flow more freely and reduces drying time by 25% per load.
Because they are eco-friendly, you know they are reusable and must last a long time. Well, in fact, they last an average of up to 1,000 impressive loads.
A gentle reminder: Replace them when the wool starts to fall apart.
1) Dryer balls help your dryer run more efficiently. They fluff your clothes, prevent clumping, increase air circulation, and reduce the time it takes to dry your clothes.
2) Dryer balls replace dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners, saving you money over time. The same set of dryer balls will last for years. I have a family of 4 that had them for 2 years before I replaced them.
3) Fabric softeners make your towels less absorbent. The chemicals in fabric softener products leave a film on your clothes. It feels good, but it actually makes your towels less effective. This is not a problem with dryer balls.
4) Dryer balls will fluff up your stiff clothesline dried towels and clothes. Skipping the dyer and using a clothesline is the best way to save money and it's easier to get your clothes on, but it can make them stiff. Some people can't stand that stiffness, but if you throw stiff clothes in the dryer for a few minutes, it really helps.
5) Drying sheets and liquid fabric softeners are harmful to your health According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most of which have not been tested in combination. Liquid fabric softeners may also contain formaldehyde.
● Benzyl alcohol: Irritating to the upper respiratory tract.
● Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.
● Linalool: An anesthetic that causes central nervous system disorders.
● Benzyl Acetate: Associated with pancreatic cancer.
● Ethyl acetate: an anesthetic on the EPA hazardous waste list.
● Ethanol: on EPA's hazardous waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders.
● Limonene: Suspected gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxicant, nephrotoxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, and skin or sense organ toxicant.
● A-Pinitol: Causes respiratory problems, including fatal edema and central nervous system damage.
● Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.
● Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful by inhalation.
These chemicals stay in your clothes for a long time and leave a residue that never fully washes out. When fabric softeners are exposed to hot water or heat sources such as dryers or irons, the vapors are released into the environment. These chemicals can be inhaled and absorbed by your skin - further affecting human welfare as well as the environment.
Drying sheets when heated are harmful to the chemicals released into the environment through the dryer vent.
Several known side effects of these chemicals include central nervous system disorders, headaches, nausea, dizziness, pancreatic cancer and more.
How many dryer balls are loaded at a time?
The number of dryer balls you use can be determined by the size of the amount of laundry you want to dry.
For small to medium loads, 3 balls should do the job.
For larger loads, you can use 5-7 balls.
For very large loads, you may need up to 8-12 balls.
These are just general guidelines; the more balls you use, the less time it will take to dry your clothes.
Yes, you can use your favorite essential oils; simply tap 2-3 drops on each ball and let dry for about an hour before using.
Although the scented oils may discolor the surface of the dryer balls slightly, the balls will still work fine. Re-scent the balls every 4-5 times or as needed.
You can store the dyed balls in a well-ventilated area to avoid absorbing odors or retaining moisture. Therefore, we recommend that you do not store them in plastic bags.
Wool dryer balls are designed to be gentle on both your laundry and the dryer drum.
Well, if you're expecting the sound a tennis ball or other type of plastic dryer ball makes as it hits and tumbles inside your dryer, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quiet the reusable wool dryer balls are.
To further dampen their sound, you can layer the balls between loads of laundry, rather than just adding them before or after loading the dryer. The layering technique should make the sound more subdued.
Have wool dryer balls ever seen better days? Don't toss them in the trash just yet! There are multiple ways to freshen up organic wool dryer balls before they are officially phased out.
Clean dryer balls...
Hand wash with a mixture of mild laundry soap and warm (not hot) water.
Avoid machine washing in hot water, as the heat will eventually relax and speed up the unwinding process, damaging the felted wool.
Lint buildup should not affect the effectiveness of your wool dryer balls. To get rid of it, you can either wash them or (gently!) scrape off the surface with a light razor or sweater stripper.
(Quality dryer balls may also pucker after use, which is normal and will increase surface friction, making them more effective.)
The uses are (almost) endless. Once you decide to retire your used wool dryer balls, you can toss them into your compost pile. Or, you can keep them around.
Here are some ideas.
● Refresh the air: Add oil to the dryer balls and place them in a corner.
● Sweeten your sheets: Add oil to a dryer ball and tuck it into a closet.
● Play indoor catch.
● Practice juggling.
● Cover it with a cloth and use it as a doll's head.
● Offer them to your pets - they make great toys! Just make sure that any essential oils you have used before are animal safe.
