Wondering how to keep your clothes smelling fresher and cleaner for longer? Tired of the old ways of drying your clothes and thinking of how to spice your laundry? Look no more. Here’s how to use wool dryer balls in your laundry.
A lot of us enjoy that fresh smell after clothes have been dried in the dryer after laundry. It’s refreshing, and it reminds us of cleanliness. And it’s indeed nice to know our clothes that used to smell like sweat and pollution are now clean and seeming like brand new. What’s the secret? Dryer balls.
I remember seeing these cute, fluffy balls when I was younger. And at first, I thought they were toys for playing with. And since they do look like toy balls, I thought they are included in the dryer because they also have to be cleaned. But, little did I know they are precious balls that can change the way you do your laundry.
The Benefits of Using Wool Dryer Balls
From the younger days of thinking dryer balls are just fluffy toys to play with when I finally got my own place, I realized that these wool dryer balls are more than just cute circles you put in the dryer. They have many uses and are essential if you want your clothes coming out of the dryer, fresher, and smelling better than before.
There are other types of dryer balls like plastic dryer balls and rubber dryer balls. But in my own experience, wool dryer balls take the lead. They are superior in every way, and their benefits are better than others.
So, you want to know why you should include these dryer balls the next time you go to the store? Well, here’s a quick list of the benefits that will surely convince you to have them in your dryer next time you do your laundry.
- Dryer balls reduce static electricity build-up in your dryer, making lint accumulation less likely. When you have less static between your clothes, fibers are not broken down and may lead to lint all over your favorite shirt. Dryer balls are meant to reduce this static electricity since they can bounce around and prevent clothes from rubbing against each other.
- Wool dryer balls are non-toxic and are made from natural materials, unlike rubber or plastic dryer balls. This basically means they are safer to use, even baby clothes and towels. So when you want to use wool dryer balls in your baby’s clothes, you can be assured that no toxic chemicals will be released in your laundry since wool dryer balls are safe, even for small kids’ clothes.
- Wool dryer balls are more affordable than dryer sheets. In addition, each wool dryer ball can be used more than once, so you don’t have to replace them every time you put a laundry load in the dryer, saving you serious money. We’ll talk about that more later on in this article.
- You can add drops of essential oil if you want your clothes to smell a specific fragrance like lavender or mint. One thing you must know, though, is that too many essential oils on your dryer ball can cause a dryer fire. To prevent this from happening, all you have to do is wait for all the clothes to be completely dried before adding essential oil. Afterward, add a drop or two of these oils to your wool dryer balls and run the dryer in no-heat mode. Your clothes will smell awesome for longer.
- It is vital to know how to dispose of trash properly. And with wool dryer sheets, you are sure to help the environment since these dryer balls can be composted at home, or you can even give them to your municipal facilities to do the composting for you. Since they are made from natural materials, they are eco-friendly. In addition, they will not be extra trash compared to plastic balls that can’t be composted. Eco-friendly materials are always the way to go.
- Wool dryer balls often come in a cotton bag that can be used for other purposes. And since these bags are reusable, you don’t have to throw them away when you’re done with the dryer balls. Instead, you can put your laundry in these bags or use them for some other purpose. Plus, the cotton bag that comes with the wool dryer balls is prettier than the boxes that contain dryer sheets.
Do Dryer Balls Really Work?
Simple answer, YES!
When you opt for wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets, you are making an excellent decision of using an alternative that is safer, better, and more economical.
Don’t get me wrong, dryer sheets are also good and have a lot of benefits. The only problem is and one of the most significant differences is that dryer sheets contain fabric conditioners. These conditioners lighten clothes as they are drying by releasing chemicals that make the fibers of the clothes softer. However, not all skin types are allowed to come in contact with these chemicals. A lot of these fabric softeners can cause skin irritations, which may result in allergies and infections. If left untreated, blisters can occur and can be very painful.
Wool dryer balls are very safe to use since they are naturally made and contain no harmful chemicals of any sort that can harm even the most sensitive skin. Not just that, they are also very cost-effective since a single dryer ball can be used for up to 1,000 loads of laundry. In addition, they can be reused more than once, so you save money by not having to throw them away after just one use. A usual box of dryer sheets will last about 200 loads for $10. That’s already $50 for dryer sheets. Talk about a lot of money for the same benefits.
How to Use Wool Dryer Balls
The most effective way to use wool dryer balls is to include them in your laundry load before hitting “start” in your dryer. However, before you give in to temptation and start juggling these dryer balls like toys (which I’ve often done, to be honest), let’s look at exactly how to maximize these fluffy balls to their full drying potential.
- Open your dryer. Make sure it is clean, and no lint is accumulated in all the areas of the dryer.
- Put in your wet clothes. It is better to put them one by one instead of cramming your laundry load inside all at once. This will prevent clothes from tangling, making it easier for them to dry.
- Throw in 2-3 wool dryer balls into your laundry. You can estimate how many balls you have to put for each laundry load depending on how many clothes are in the dryer. For regular-sized loads, 3 balls are enough. For heavier loads, like with bath towels or bed sheets, you can include up to 8 balls.
- Turn the dryer on and watch the magic happen.
How Long Do Wool Dryer Balls Last?
As I have mentioned before, each dryer ball can be used for up to 1,000 loads of laundry or 2-5 years of use. So they are indeed very efficient and inexpensive if you think about how much laundry you can use for each wool dryer ball. And the good thing is you don’t have to buy them often since they can be used again in your next laundry and the next.
It is also very easy to know when to replace them since they will look dingy once worn out and need to be composted.
Can You Refresh or Recharge Dryer Balls?
Absolutely. And it is effortless to do too. All you have to do is follow these procedures and have your worn-out dryer balls refreshed in no time.
- Wash your wool dryer balls thoroughly in your clothes washer using the gentle cycle in hot water. In this way, you will not only remove lint and fibers that have accumulated in the wool dryer ball, but this will also rehydrate your dryer balls. When you use wool dryer balls often, they can be over-dried and will be less effective. Washing them in hot water will rejuvenate them and make them better at absorbing moisture.
- The next step is to dry your wool dryer balls in the dryer using high heat. You can either choose to run them alone or with a laundry load. Just don’t expect them to help make the drying process faster just yet, since they themselves are wet. It is best to wait until they are fully dry and run them alone first before including your laundry to get the best result.
- After they are good and dried, it is now time to use the wool dryer balls again. This time they are fresh and will be looking as if they’re new.
Still having doubts? Here are some questions we’ve been asked:
Are wool dryer balls better than plastic dryer balls?
Plastic dryer balls, or plastics in general, often contain chemicals that can harm people in the long run. Wool dryer balls, on the other hand, are hypoallergenic and free of chemicals. Also, since plastics can’t be composted, they can contribute to the world’s waste, making it bad for the environment. So why use something synthetic when you can have a naturally made product like wool dryer balls?
Do wool dryer balls leave lint on clothes?
That depends on the quality of the wool dryer balls you have purchased. The more expensive kind is better, and they don’t leave lint on your clothes after the first two to three loads. Also, try looking at companies that have great reviews from customers since they are usually the ones who are more meticulous with their products.
If, in any case, you do see lint accumulation in your clothes when using your wool dryer balls, it means the dryer ball is starting to unravel because of over-use. This is the best sign to replace the balls. You’ll then know when to move to a new set.
Are wool dryer balls loud?
Not necessarily. They do sometimes make noises, but you can minimize the sound these dryer balls usually make by using multiple layering techniques or putting the balls in between the layers of your load of laundry. In this way, you can also lessen the drying time since the dryer balls are evenly distributed in the dryer. In addition, they don’t make those banging sounds a lot, unlike plastic and rubber dryer balls, and are very easy to use.
Summary
Using wool dryer balls is an excellent way to dry your clothes faster, more thoroughly, and for a lesser cost. Compared to dryer sheets, they are less expensive and can last longer since they can be used for a long time and reused again and again.
Are you now convinced why wool dryer balls are better than others? If the answer is yes, then you can share this great news with your friends and families and let them know about the wonders these fluffy, dryer balls can do for your laundry!
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