As surprising as it is to me, there are still plenty of people who don’t really know what dryer balls are or why you’d want to use them! So when I decided to create my own set of wool dryer balls to put in my online shop, I figured I would need to put together a blog post at some point to help explain what I think is so great about them.
And since my set of wool dryer balls is now officially available in the By Jillee Shop (and it’s 30% off during our Black Friday Sale, going on right now!), it looks like the time has come for me to write that post! ;-) So today I’ll be sharing a list of some of the many benefits there are to using wool dryer balls when drying your laundry, along with a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up from using them myself!
But first, for those could use a quick overview or refresher—what exactly are dryer balls?
What Are Dryer Balls And What Do They Do?
Dryer balls, which typically come in sets, are designed to go into your dryer with your wet laundry. As they tumble around in there amongst your clothes and linens, they create pockets of air that wouldn’t form otherwise, and that helps the drying process along.
But what sets dryer balls apart from something more traditional like dryer sheets? Read on to learn about the many unique benefits they offer!
6 Good Reasons To Use Wool Dryer Balls In Your Dryer
1. For Faster Drying Times
As dryer balls tumble around your dryer, they separate the items and create pockets of air. These air pockets allow for improved airflow throughout the dryer, which can help your laundry dry up to 25% faster than it would without dryer balls!
2. To Save Energy (And Money!)
When your laundry dries faster, that means your dryer is using less energy, and that’s good news for both the environment and your wallet!
But your monthly power bill isn’t the only place where dryer balls can save you money. You’ll also save money because you won’t have to buy another dryer sheet for at least three years (at least according to my calculations!)*
*According to this NPS article, the average American family does about 300 loads of laundry per year, and dryer balls have an expected lifespan of around 1,000 loads. So 1,000 loads divided by 300 per year equals 3.33 years’ worth of laundry.
3. For Softer Clothes
Another great thing about dryer balls is that they manually soften fabrics without any chemicals or other additives. The friction that the felted wool produces as it tumbles around with a load of laundry helps to gently smooth rough fibers and soften fabrics.
Not only does this make your clothes more comfortable to wear, but it can also help your clothes and linens last longer. Fabric softeners (both the liquid kinds and the ones infused into dryer sheets) work by depositing a thin layer of chemical softener onto fabrics, and those layers can build up over time. Fabric softener buildup is particularly problematic when it comes to towels, as it can drastically reduce their ability to absorb water.
4. To Avoid Wrinkles
Dryer balls are also helpful for preventing wrinkles from settling into fabrics, particularly when drying smaller loads. Dryer balls help separate the items as they tumble around, making it much less likely that anything will get trapped against the sides of the dryer drum for any length of time. And more movement within the dryer means less time for wrinkles to develop.
5. For Less Noise
While I’m normally all about substitutes and homemade solutions, there’s really no alternative dryer ball that’s as blissfully quiet as wool. While almost any spherical object could theoretically help separate items in your dryer to help them dry faster, most of them would make a massive racket while doing so!
Alternatives like plastic dryer balls and tennis balls make a lot of noise as they bounce around inside a dryer. But felted wool isn’t rigid, bouncy, or heavy, making it the ideal material for something that’s made to tumble around the inside of a metal drum. :-)
6. For Natural Fragrance
And last but certainly not least, wool dryer balls are the perfect delivery system for introducing natural fragrances into your laundry! Traditional dryer sheets rely on synthetic fragrances, but with wool dryer balls, you can make your laundry smell nice naturally with just a few drops of your favorite essential oil or oil blend.
I love to do this with my own laundry, and I even took it a step further by creating my own blend of oils with a clean, “fresh laundry” scent! My new Freshly Washed blend smells of sunny citrus with a hint of fresh mint, and it smells just as good in a diffuser as it does on clean clothes and linens. :-)
Using essential oils to add natural fragrance to your dryer balls couldn’t be easier. I just put 3-4 drops onto one of my dryer balls before I start each load, and my laundry comes out smelling heavenly!
(And for more laundry hacks that utilize natural essential oils, be sure to check out this post!)
How To Use Wool Dryer Balls
Using dryer balls isn’t exactly complicated—just toss a few of them into the dryer along with your wet clothes! I usually use between four and six at a time (closer to four for an average load and closer to six for large loads.)
For those who live in a dry climate like I do and struggle with static buildup in your dryer, I suggest soaking your dryer balls in water and then squeezing out the excess moisture before putting them in your dryer. This will will help maintain enough humidity in your dryer to prevent static issues without increasing the overall drying time.
New Laundry Essentials: Now Available In My Shop!
The new laundry products I’ve mentioned throughout this post are available now for 30% off during the Black Friday Sale in the By Jillee Shop (see below):
- Wool Dryer Balls – Made from 100% organic New Zealand wool, this set of six colorful dryer balls comes with a reusable cotton drawstring storage bag.
- Freshly Washed Essential Oil Blend – A fresh and clean blend of citrus oils and peppermint formulated specifically with laundry in mind.
- Laundry Kit – This handy kit features a set of wool dryer balls, a bottle of Freshly Washed Essential Oil Blend, AND my laundry methods eBook How To Wash Everything!
Do you have a favorite tip, trick, or hack related to drying laundry?
Black Friday Sale!
The Black Friday Sale has officially begun over in the By Jillee Shop! Take advantage of these great deals all week long:
30% Off EVERYTHING
75% Off eBooks (Just $5 Each!)
Makeup Remover Cloths: Buy 3 Packs, Get One FREE
Sale ends 11/30/20 at 11:59 PM MST. No coupon codes necessary, discounts reflected in the price.
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