Today’s question is from Dina:
Just wondering if anyone has ever used wool dryer balls? They are supposed to cut drying time in half, eliminate static, and soften
clothes naturally. Do they really work? Or, are they are too good to be true? -Dina
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I love this idea! We had switched to Method softener, but I still hate paying the money for it, even using it sparingly. I found this great tutorial on how to make them yourselves with some yarn. I plan to try this out over the next week and then compare them with my fabric softener.
I bought several 100% wool sweaters from the thrift store when they had their 50% off day. I was determined to make my own dryer balls. I finally did. I started by cutting off all of the seams. Then sitting there looking at what would have been a pile of waste I decided it looked like potential. I knotted together all of the longer pieces from each sweater. (one rope per sweater) Then I took one sleeve from each sweater and balled it up. I then used the rope I had made to bind the ball. I never sewed a thing. The ball is totally made of the wool sweater. Sure it doesn’t look as perfect as the store bought ones and I could still cover it with more wool if I wanted, I still have 90% of each of the sweaters left. 🙂 Anyway, I washed and dried them in the pantyhose style like the videos I watched had shown and they felted themselves together, the ends stayed tucked in and they work great.
I love our dryer balls- I made some out of wool and bought some out of wool. I also use tennis balls if the kids steal the wool ones (a regular occurance). They really do knock down drying time, but I still have static if I have synthetic fabrics in with the dryer balls so I hang those. (It seems like the synthetics dry super fast anyway).
We like ours. I ordered them from Azure standard. I don’t know that it cuts down on drying time, but we only have minor static some of the time, and we’re very happy with them.
Question for those that have made wool dryer balls. I use the plastic dryer balls and I like them. I never used the wool ones but I want to try them. I am going to look and see if I can make one. The Thrift store here ( Salvation Army) has Fridays $1 a clothing item or Sat $.50 for the color of the week. I don’t think I have any thing that is made of wool. I will try to find a wool sweater and take it apart to make the dryer balls. My question is: 1. do I unravel the sweater and make a ball, 2. can I cut into strips and make a ball, or 3. use the sewing machine to make balls with the sweater into twoparts first have scraps as the core and lastly sew part of the sweater as a cover to make the ball and sew shut? I think number three would be the fastest for me but I am not sure if this would work well.
I found a wool sweater with a hole in it in closet and made some balls….I recommend you use end of sleeves to “wrap” the ball then just sew sides…most of articles i saw said make strips of sweater and roll but if you use the sleeve as outer layer the interior can be any which way.
I can’t imagine how you can make your dryer balls from wool sweaters and have them turn out right or hold together well. If you want to make your own you should buy some balls of wool roving, Using about 2 oz, start wrapping as tightly as possible. You will get a ball about the size of a large soft ball. Put this down in a sock or nylon stocking, pushing down as tight as possible and tie a knot. Wash in hot water for several minutes. Throw in dryer still in the sock until dry. This will felt the balls and you are good to go. This is by far the best way. You can buy roving from any fiber festival or go on line and do a search for roving. This is the processed wool people use for spinning. Good luck.
Oops, I meant wool, not wood!
Wow, I must be the only one that has never heard of wood drying balls. All I’ve seen are the vinyl ones with nubbies all over. I use them and I think it does reduce drying time.
I’ve been using wool dryer balls for about a year. I think the clothes are much softer, although they do have more static. I haven’t noticed shorter dryer time.
Is there a way to eliminate all the static?
I have used two large wool dryer balls for about a year now, and I will probably buy a couple more pretty soon and monitor drying time to see how efficient using four at a time is (supposed to be 50% less time). We have a dryer that has a moisture sensor so that clothes rarely get static, which is caused by over-drying. I can’t really say whether the dryer balls increase softness because I started using the dryer balls about the same time I switched from standard laundry detergents to Charlie’s Soap. Charlie’s Soap not only cleans better but also softens the laundry–no extra fabric softener to purchase! If you want scented laundry, you can scent the dryer balls with fragrant oils.
I’m reading all these posts about fabric softeners and dryer balls making your fabrics softer and maybe I have been missing something, but I do not use either one and my clothes always come out soft. I think the fabric softeners and possibly the dryer balls are a gimmick and waste of money for making fabric softer. I suggest you do your own experimenting to see if they make any difference by trying a load with and one without. As for static, I use the “less dry” setting on the dryer and don’t over dry my clothes to save on dryer heating costs and to have less static. If some of my clothes come out with static I run a metal clothes hanger across them and the static is gone! Hanging things on metal hangers also takes out the static.
Since I use vinegar as our fabric softener, and vinegar and bleach mixing makes a toxic and smelly chemical, I stopped putting the vinegar into our “whites” load. My husband VERY quickly noticed that his undershirts were itchy. He is particularly sensitive to textures, but he went from not ever noticing his undershirts to scratching all day long.
Now I wash the whites with bleach, then run an extra rinse/spin cycle just with vinegar.
You can make a simple “batch” of fabric softener with 1 16 ounce bottle of hair conditioner you like the smell of, 3 cups of vinegar and 6 cups of water…mix together (I use a big vinegar bottle for the batch) and use as you would regular fabric softener. I use it in the downy balls. I just have regular “dryer balls” that do help make things “fluffed up” but don’t appear to do to much for static….I may have to try an aluminum foil ball.
Recipe came from http://www.ehow.com/how_2268787_homemade-liquid-fabric-softener.html
I have an old beach towel, my dryer towel, that I keep in the dryer. It helps cut the drying time. I also shake all the clothes before putting them in the dryer, this helps the heat get to them easier, it is worth the time. Also if you smooth the clothes especially permaprest they will wrinkle less.
I make/sell my own and started when we switched my daughter to cloth diapers. I love them!! I use about 6 per load to really notice a difference. It does not cut my drying time in half, but maybe a good third. Our clothes are at least as soft if not softer with them. We do still have some static but I’m ok with the little we get. Mostly in the winter.
If you want to make your own, I would recommend wool batting or roving over yarn so that it doesn’t unravel. Unfortunately it’s more expensive that way. If you buy them, I would look at the weight more than size. Since wool can absorb up to 30% of it’s weight, the circumference of the ball is not thought to be as important. Hope that helps!
I love my wool dryer balls. I save a ton of money plus I’ve noticed a real difference in my kids’ skin since we eliminated fabric softener. I agree with the other readers about switching to a natural detergent. Since I started using soap nuts, we haven’t had a static problem at all.
I bought my wool dryer balls from a Mom at http://www.WoolDryerBalls.com 6 years ago and we LOVE them! They are still working strong in my dryer after all these years and hers are best priced.
I love Margery’s idea for making your own from a sweater. My daughter has a consignment shop that has very reasonable prices and I plan to pick up a wool sweater their to make some of these balls! This also sounds like a great way for the creative people to make some extra money! Thanks for all the ideas…there are several I plan to try! : D
For a year and a half I have been using dryer balls I made by winding wool yarn and felting it. We don’t pay utilities, so I don’t watch my dryer closely enough to know if they shorten drying time. As far as softness, they are just as good as dryer sheets, minus the artificial smell. There is a little bit of static, but it doesn’t bother me.
I have 4 wool dryer balls, and they do soften our clothes just as well as fabric softener. I haven’t noticed any decrease in drying time, though. Static has not been a problem for us.
I tossed the rubber ones, they just made a lot of racket. Am using the free & clear due to skin sensitivities, but would like to try vinegar. How much do you use for a large load?
I just use about the same as softener. Maybe 2-3 tablespoons?
I have not used the dryer balls, but we have a whole house humidifier and I think it substantially cuts down on the static. I don’t use fabric softener, just detergent, but my clothes rarely have static when they come out of the dryer. I also have hard wood floors on my first floor (where my laundry room is, but that room has vinyl), I have often wondered if the hard wood helped cut down on static as well. Fabric softener is terrible for towels – makes them less absorbent and I also think it can gum up your washer and leave a residue – but that’s just my opinion.
I have never tried wool, but I use Nellie’s brand dryer balls. I used to use 1/4 c. of vinegar in the washer and it worked great, but I always had one pair of fleece pajama pants that was full of static . I don’t use the vinegar anymore, just the dryer balls, and no more static cling. I don’t know about drying time, I haven’t timed it, but our clothes seem just as soft as with the vinegar.
I have never tried dryer balls… I only use the dryer for short bursts to fluff clothes after they are about 95% dry from line/dryer rack drying. I have never had a static problem doing it this way… yeah – some of the jeans can get a little “stiff” – but my kids don’t seem to complain 🙂 We don’t use fabric softener very often – due to costs…
I love my drying racks – just the cheepy ones from Walmart or Target worked for many years so far – and it says a HUGE amount on the power bills!!
For those still using liquid fabric softeners or dryer sheets, please read the following. These are some of the most toxic substances you can bring into your home and are especially dangerous for babies and small children. http://www.world-wire.com/news/0205210001.html
For those who are mentioning using white vinegar in with the wash (in a downy ball or whatever), do any of you have a high efficiency washing machine? We just replaced our washer about 2 months ago with a new high efficiency LG. I’m afraid to try vinegar in the compartment for fabric softener.
Emily,
I have an HE machine and NO problems using Vinegar. Actually it helps with the slight musty smell you can sometimes get with HE machines.
I’ve been using vinegar in my HE machine for about a year now with no problems. I agree with Lori seems to help with the musty smell.
2 1/2 years- no problems!
3 years, no issues!
Thanks ladies!!
I’ve been told by some that you should _only_ use vinegar as a softener in He machines. A friend bought a new one and spent MONTHS going back and forth with repair people trying to figure out the problem. Finally one mentioned that they’re not really designed to use “real” fabric softener. I was already using vinegar before we got our He, so I don’t know personally though.
out of curiosity how much do Norwex dryer balls cost?
one set of two is $19.00 – they seem pricey at first but they last forever! and you will never have to buy dryer sheets again.
I’ve been using the dryer balls for over a year now and will never go back to those costly dryer sheets. For the most part it eliminates static. Ocassionally, one or two will get wrapped up in a piece of clothing, and things get static-y because they weren’t able to bounce around the dryer drum. Because of this, I plan on buying a couple more. I use four, but think I need at least 6 to keep this from happening. You can buy them on Etsy with essential oils put into the balls, for those that like the scent you’d get from dryer sheets. The smell goes away in a couple of months, though, so if you really need the scent you can re-scent them with more oil on your own.
I quit using softener and drier sheets. I put some white vinegar in my old Downey Ball and it does great. I also use my signal for the end of the load when I do actually use my drier–taking them out promptly reduces the static a lot!
I have three that I’ve used for about 4 years now. I love not having to buy fabric softener sheets! They do tend to have static issues, like others mentioned, but not to the degree that I would stop using them.
I don’t know about The product you mentioned but several people mentioned hives with fabric softener. If you use liquid free and clear softner you might find it works. Helped with my kids hives. Do not use the box dryer sheet free and clear. They are often set on the shelves next to the fragrance kind and Are no longer free and clear. The company is aware of the on shelf issues but it’s up stores where they place the bottles. I tied vinegar and didn’t work.
I would love to know how to make yoru own so they don’t unravel.
I found a DIY:
http://goodmama.typepad.com/goodmama/2008/05/make-your-own-wool-dryer-balls.html
I just bought some dryer balls from Raising Green Kids. I use the laundry mat, so I wanted to cut my dry time since I pay for it. I wouldn’t say these cut dry time in half, but they have seemed to be helping. I don’t use fabric softener, and I haven’t noticed a difference in softness. I don’t think they help a bit with static, though.
Before the laundry mat we had a washer but no dryer. I would occasionally use fabric softener since they never were machine dried and would get very crunchy.
Now that we go to the laundry mat, I just run my clothes for 1-2 dry cycles (about 10-15 minutes) and then hang them up to air dry at home. Saves money and static. The few minutes in the dryer eliminate wrinkles. I rarely iron – and only occasionally use the Downy wrinkle spray. I do pay to dry the whites, towels, and baby clothes all the way dry. I found that fewer clothes in the dryer (I split my loads in half when I put them in the dryer) and more dryer balls (4-6 per load) help with the dry time. Hope that helps!
I have 6 wool dryer balls from Buddah Bunz. I Love them for softening the clothes without harsh chemicals, but they don’t really do anything to get rid of static.
I’ve been using the Norwex dryer balls. I do think they help reduce the dry time, but I still have quite a bit of static in the winter time. So much so that I just went and bought a box of dryer sheets because it’s annoying. The previous poster is right, I really don’t have problems with static with natural fibers, but I do with synthetics.
I’ll have to try the vinegar rinse and safety pin trick. I’d really rather not have to use dryer sheets, but I hate static.
I hang all of our fleece to dry. I bought a metal drying rack for $20 years ago and have extra hangers for fleece tops.
Me too. Fleece takes no time to air dry. I have enough space to air dry everything, have only used my dryer once in the past two years and never have static. It takes close to 24 hours for heavy things like jeans to dry though, so I do a load every day or two and keep up. We live where it is very dry and used to get shocks from the carpet before I started air drying downstairs in winter.
I use them instead of dryer sheets because my husband, manly man that he is, insists that his clothes aren’t clean unless they “smell” clean. Into one or two of the dryer balls (I use 6) I put a few drops off essential oil (currently using lavender, but i switch it up every now and then) and that gives them a nice scent that isn’t too strong or reeking of chemicals. I’ve noticed that they’ve cut my drying time, but not -quite- by half, and that the essential oils made a big difference with the static as well. Now if only they didn’t drive my dogs crazy! ^_^
I use dryer balls due to cloth diapers, and we have little to no static on our clothes. Definitely much better than when I simply used nothing in the dryer. I made them myself using fisherman wool yarn.
I will mention that if you buy them online make sure that they use yarn for the core and not a tennis ball. My mom has a friend who purchased some online not knowing the core was a tennis ball. It broke a piece in her dryer as a result of the core being the tennis ball.
I haven’t used the dryer balls, but am considering making some from some of my husband’s old sweaters. I don’t have a static problem, as I do every rinse cycle with vinegar in the washer. I highly reccomend that if you are not into fabric softener.
Forgot to mention that I don’t have a static problem with natural fibers, but synthetics are very staticky.
I love my wool dryer balls! I think my dryer is dying, and they have helped cut down on drying time. That’s very helpful with my cloth diapers, as they don’t air dry quickly enough.
I air dry the majority of our clothes, but I toss them into the dryer on the air/no heat cycle for a few minutes to soften things up. The dryer balls work well for this. Rough, crunchy jeans become wearably soft with the dryer balls. I use 4 dryer balls.
Best part? No rubbery smell! I wouldn’t even try those rubbery dryer balls because they smell. I feared they’d scent the whole load in a hot dryer.
Interesting, I’ve never even heard of this
I’ve wondered about this too – haven’t used them but I do the spin cycle a second (sometimes even a third time) on my washer and it *significantly* reduces the amount of dry time.
I use aluminum foil as a antistatic ball, it works great. Just be sure it is clean and make it as round as possible to prevent snags.
I use foil as well. I have a couple of balls the size of a quarter that I replace every few months. Works great!
I have a set of three wool balls. I originally bought them to help with drying my cloth diapers. I use them in every load of clothes that I dry. I do think they help with drying time and softness – even better is no reoccurring softener costs.
I bought a skein of wool yarn and made four balls. I like them! I try to pull out fleece and things like that which will dry quickly because that is what gets staticky. I think they help soften, and maybe a little with static. Not sure about drying time. They like to hide in clothes sometimes. 🙂 I used a 40% coupon buying the yarn and it didn’t take too ling to make them… I’m thinking I ought to make some more! 🙂
I would love to make them…did you use a tutorial?
Yup! This one: http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-wool-dryer-balls/
Ladies, I have just discovered the key to eliminate static cling. For years I have been using 1/4c of vinegar in the fabric softener disp. of my washing machine and that helps control static cling and soften clothes. But I still always had alittle bit of static. I recently saw an article about using safety pins in the dryer to get rid of static and let me tell you, it works. Just take a old towel, sock, rag, whatever, and clip on one or two safety pins with it and throw it in with your clothes to dry and you will not have static cling. I don’t know the science behind it, I just know it works. So adding the vinegar to your wash load and the pins to your drying load will take care of softness and static. I don’t know about drying time.
Very interesting! I have plenty of pins, so I’m going to try this.
The pins would be a better conductor of electricity than fabric and would probably discharge every time they hit the side of the dryer. I’ve also heard of people putting some crumpled tin foil in the dryer. My guess is that it would work the same way.
I just tried this with four loads today – it worked wonderfully!!
Thank you!
I have just used the rubber dryer balls. I’m sensitive to wool so haven’t tried it. I will say that using white vinegar instead of fabric softener works great for reducing static! My husband forgot some in a load of my son’s clothes, and I knew right away when I pulled them out of the dryer.
I’ve used the same set of wool (yarn) dryer balls for about three years. Static was a problem at first, but now that they’re worn in, I have no static problems.
Although they were made with the same yarn and in the same way, some of the dryer balls came apart. I solved that problem by keeping a piece of old panty hose on as a cover.
for Amanda L. – try using Ecos laundry detergent to wash your cloth diapers…it is an all-natural product that uses coconut oil as a natural fabric softener. It is very economical – I have three kids and a husband and do at least one load of clothes per day. I’m working on my third bottle for this year…I do have a front loader so you use less there but it is good stuff. Didn’t use it when I was using diapers but would imagine it would be great…
oh yeah – I buy it at Sam’s….
As in, 3 bottles in 11 days?! Or did you mean for 2011?? How big and how much are these bottles
Lisa probably means 3 bottles in a year. I buy it at Sam’s for about $14 a bottle. It is 210 oz and that is 210 HE loads. Hope this helps.
yes, Lesley is right – third bottle for 2011 – I started using it in March 2011 and I know what I have left in this third bottle will last until March 2012…so that is three bottles in one year. Not bad! And the only time I ever get any static-y laundry is in the driest part of the winter when I wash the kids “fuzzy” blankets and then over-dry them. Even permanant press shirts that my husband wears don’t get static-y….
I love the Ecos detergent as well. The large bottles last a long time. I have 3 daughters and a husband and do about 8-10 loads of laundry a week. One bottle lasts us 6 months.
I have 12 of them and I use them 6 per load for every load we dry. They are THE BEST THINGS EVER! The wool dryer balls elminates the need for any dryer sheets or softener. We don’t buy either of these chemical laden products anymore and save money and have less toxins. Actually I find they worked BETTER at preventing static than dryer sheets ever did for us.
ADVANTAGES
1. Elminates Static Totally
2. Cuts Drying Time by Fluffing the Laundry in the Dryer
3. Saves Money -no purchase of dryer sheets or softeners / less dryer time means lower electric bill
4. Natural Wool Balls Last for YEARS
DISAVANTAGES
1. You have to keep up with them. There are always some in the laundry basket and some in the dryer. That is why we have 12 so that at least 6 are readily available for each load that we dry.
2. Can be expensive when purchased up front.
We bought our dryer balls from http://www.roadtripzzz.etsy.com and I can honestly say they are one of the best household investments we have ever made. These are handmade from a stay-at-home mom. They are sturdy and rugged and will last for years. We have already got our money back in savings from not buying dryer sheets and the electric saved on drying time over just the past year of using them.
I would highly recommend dryer balls for everyone.
What do you mean about needing to keep up with them? I’ve been thinking about starting to use them instead of the plastic/rubber ones I have, because my clothes have been so clingy.
I think she means that it’s hard to get the clothes out of the dryer without pulling out the dryer balls too. I seem to always have at least one ball that is “lost” in the clothes as I pull them out. It doesn’t take long to fish it out, but I can see the benefit of having extras to just throw in the dryer.
I use dryer balls. They’re not wool, but I do like them a lot. I don’t have a problem with static, but two other factors that also seemed to help was that we got a whole-house humidifier, and also, I use vinegar in place of fabric softener (I hadn’t used anything before the vinegar).
I chose the dryer balls partly to move towards all-natural, partly because it’s cheaper (in the long run, anyway!), and partly because 2 out of 4 people in our house are really, really sensitive to any chemicals in scented detergents/products.
These are the ones I use: http://www.amazon.com/Dryer-Balls-Anti-Static-Technology/dp/B001G8PYQK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1326308084&sr=8-10
Oh also I don’t use fabric softener in the wash also because of allergies. I put white vinegar in the downy ball so that things will rinse out better and be softer, I am currently without a dryer but when it worked I used tennis balls for drying, they help the clothes get more air circulation and fluff somewhat in the dryer and sound like a small racket ball game. Strangely relaxing once you are accustomed to it.
Tennis balls are great for refluffing pillows!
I have not used wool dryer balls before, but I have used plastic dryer balls (Nellie’s brand) and I have had a great experience switching. These do not soften clothes, but they do reduce static cling. Feels good to save money, become more efficient and have a positive impact on the environment!!
I’ve used and sell wool dryer balls, and they really do work wonderfully to soften clothes and shorten drying times substantially. I personally don’t think they work so well for eliminating static, but that’s just my opinion.
I use the Norwex dryer balls as well. It has helps with the static and also cut down on the drying time. I have not been disappointed with them and love that I don’t have to use or buy fabric softener anymore!
I also heard how wonderful wool dryer balls were, so I ran out, bought wool & made some. They worked ok in the summer, but winter in the midwest gets so dry, that the static was unbelievable! I couldn’t even pull clothes apart. I guess they do soften the clothes, but I wouldn’t say any more then white vinegar in the rinse cycle does, and they certainly don’t do what we need them to do in the winter, or if a load gets over dry. Hope that helps!
@ Tracey, I was going to mention white vinegar too. I read about it over on Fat Chick Fed Up and have been loving it ever since! I also use it in my dishwasher where you would traditionally put “Jet Dry”. It makes the glassware sparkle!
Yes, if the clothes aren’t 100% cotton, the static in the winter is OUTRAGEOUS! Even with dryer balls.
I also use dryer balls and vinegar. For most loads, it is a great combo. Saves drying time and chemicals in my clothes but I still have trouble with my blankets sticking together. No amount of vinegar will help them. 😀
I just recently read somewhere that pinning safety pins to 2 separate items in the dryer eliminates static! I plan to do this as soon as I get some safety pins.
I use a soap nuts based liquid and vinegar in the washer and still have static but less than when I did not use vinegar. I used to use dryer balls (not wool) and they did help some but then our clothes started smelling strange from the dryer balls so got rid of those. I plan on getting some wool dryer balls soon and trying the safety pin trick.
Is it possible to pin safety pins to wool dryer balls?
I attached 2 safety pins to each of my wool dryer balls and they’ve cut down on static dramatically.
I haven’t personally used them, but my friend uses 8 balls and she LOVES them. I’m thinking of purchasing 3-4 to start and see how it goes. I can’t imagine not liking them…
I have a set of Norwex Dryer balls that I’ve used for about 2 years. They definitely cause the laundry to have LESS static than if you had put it in with nothing. I honestly don’t know about cutting drying time in half–I just set the timer for whatever setting is appropriate (towels, delicates, regular, etc) and forget about it. My clothes are almost always totally dry (jeans or tiny socks seem to be the things that don’t get dry–someone explain that to me!) when my cycle is done.
I started using them because my son has really sensitive skin. He actually gets hives from scented fabric softeners! For my family, dryer balls are just a bonus. Our detergent options are so limited (I use Norwex detergent for his clothes and I’m going to try making my own when that runs out) and fabric softener is something we just can’t use. I think the dryer balls help a little–I don’t think our clothes are static-y and I haven’t used any fabric softener for a looooong time!
The active ingredient in traditional fabric softener is formaldehyde. It irritates my skin and my sinuses besides the creepy factor of knowing what it in it.
That’s not true at all.
Wikipedia has a nice description (and history) of the ingredients and what they are used for in fabric softeners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabric_softener#Composition You can also look at the material safety data sheets for each specific brand to see what the “dangerous” ingredients are (for example: http://www.amfreescs.com/SPRING_FRESH_FABRIC_SOFTENER_SHEETS.pdf). If formaldehyde were in the softeners they’d be listed here.
Don’t rely on wikipedia -It is fed by whatever info someone wants to add. If you have concerns about ingredients then obviously read the container before making the purchase.
LOL about the tiny socks! I would love to know the answer as well!!
I think they are so tiny that they get caught inside of bigger clothes and don’t seem to dry as well…I have them same problem except when all the socks big and tiny are in a load together…then they all seem to get dry…
Try placing tiny sucks on lingerie bag so they can’t get tapped by other clothes…works for me so far…jeans are still the mystery.
Try placing tiny sucks on lingerie bag so they can’t get trapped by other clothes…works for me so far…jeans are still the mystery.
I’m so glad you asked this question because I have wondered this for the longest time! I’m looking forward to reading all of the answers.
I have never used the wool balls, but my new thing is doing a spin/drain cycle after I was the clothes. It takes so much extra water out that the drying time is half of what it used to be.
Just an idea 🙂
That is a great idea! I will try that one. Thanks.
I’m going to try this, thanks!
My washer has an “extra spin” setting that runs clothes through an extended spin…. really cuts down on drying time!
I made six wool dryer balls from one of my husband’s sweaters that became moth-eaten. I made them the size of tennis balls. I cut the covers from the knitted wool fabric and used the remaining sweater to make long thin strips. I wound the strips for the ball core and then put the covers on. (My kids think they are cute and fun to play with, too!) They were free to me except for the time and a bit of thread.
I really enjoy using them in the dryer. I do find that it softens the clothes and significantly reduces static. On very dry days in the winter there is some static, but I do not find it bothersome. I still use fabric softener (about 1/4- 1/3 the amount) with sheets and towels.
I have found that now I prefer *not* to use commercial softener because I find the artificial perfumed smell of the chemical fabric softeners to be bothersome. We have become used to having our clothes not to smell like chemical perfumes.
I use them because we do cloth diapers. We can’t use the fabric softener with them. I don’t notice a difference in softness with them compared to traditional softeners. I am not sure about the drying time because we moved and had a new dryer about the same time as we started using them. I will say that my clothes are full of static and I am trying to figure out a way to help that. I use them out of necessity and think they do work on the softener side.
If you leave the load a little damp that will help with the static.
I discovered that when you use natural laundry soaps (seventh generation or others) you actually don’t have static-y (sp??) clothes accept on the dryest of winter days, I don’t even use dryer sheets now! I have decided that the regular laundry soaps add something to make our clothes static-y so we have to buy the dryer sheets:-)
I agree with the regular detergent adding stuff to make clothes static-y. I use the Norwex detergent and I only have static on really dry days. I don’t use fabric softener – which is suppose to be horrible for your dryer.
I have never used wool dryer balls, but I do use Norwex dryer balls. And they do cut drying time down, as well as act as the fabric softener. You can find a local consultant on their website, http://www.norwex.com – or visit rebeccapohle.norwex.biz to buy directly from my consultant (who i also work with part time)