Dryer Balls

For the holidays I bought myself a present, a 12-month subscription to receive a different product every month to help me live “healthier and greener”. The first item I received was a three-pack of wool dryer balls.  Each ball is about the size of a tennis ball and lasts for over 1,000 loads of laundry.  I do eight loads of laundry a week and after 224 loads of laundry the balls still look brand new so I’m sure they will last for at least 1,000 loads.  I am proud to report my family has not used fabric softener or dryer sheets for seven months now and everyone is still happy with their clean laundry.  That is a big accomplishment for a family of six with four teenagers!

You are probably wondering what is so great about these balls. The biggest plus for me is that they are chemical free.  I’ve been trying to reduce the chemicals my family uses in our cleaning supplies because they are not good for us or our environment.  Wool dryer balls also reduce drying time.  This means I save time (yay!) and money on utility bills (double yay!!).  Dryer ball manufacturers report the balls can reduce drying time by up to 50%.  Most blogs I have read indicate at least a 25% reduction in drying time.  If the dryer is packed to its capacity with clothes, the amount of drying time takes longer because there is less space for the clothes to move around.  Wet clothes stick together in the dryer until they become dry enough to separate.  The dryer balls separate the clothes allowing more hot air to penetrate in and around the clothes while pulling the evaporated water into them.  Additionally, dryer balls reduce static (as long as you don’t over dry the clothes) and soften fabrics by agitating against the fibers.

I add two drops of lavender essential oil to each ball; it gives the clothes a light scent. I love my wool dryer balls so much that I purchased two additional sets that I gave to friends.  Stay tuned for a blog post on soap nuts.  They are a natural substitute for laundry detergent and I’ve heard great things about them.