100% wool dryer balls are growing in popularity to the point where I have even seen them at my local dollar store, and for good reason. They can save you money in laundry costs.
If you are someone who uses dryer sheets, these wool balls are a great alternative that removes static from your clothes and can decrease drying time by around 30-50%. So, you save money by not having to buy dryer sheets, as well as on electricity. All you do is toss them into the dryer with your clothes!
"Per Toner, “Dryer balls excel in reducing drying time due to their ability to create space between clothes. This separation facilitates better air circulation, leading to faster drying and potential energy savings.” | bobvila
I have had mine for many many years now, and they are still in great shape. When or if they do ever break down to the point of being unable to use, the wool is biodegradable.
Just make sure that what you buy is 100% wool. If you are crafty (and have access to wool) you can also make your own fairly easily.
The link provided doesn’t actually lead to a study or anything. It just leads to a website that repeats the same claim about dryer efficiency.
Here’s a link to a consumer review org that actually tested it with standardized loads and measured drying times. They don’t work, takes just as long and cost the same in electricity.
https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/laundry-and-cleaning/dryers/articles/dryer-ball-review
It’s sad that nowadays most “reviews” are just going by feelz and not by numbers. The placebo is strong with this category.
They can save you money in laundry costs.
Want to know a secret how to really save money? Don’t use a Dryer.
Haha sadly, hanging your laundry outdoors is illegal here(also, it would freeze in winter), and indoors it takes forever to dry ╥﹏╥
My town in Alberta, Canada. It actually used to be banned in a lot of Canada, like all of British Columbia, and Ontario. Old-fashioned people think it makes a neighborhoods look “trashy” and start going on about property value.
It’s sort of like how a huge amount of apartment buildings don’t allow anything on balconies because it’s “unsightly.”
Haha as a german I have no idea what this is and why you would need it
WÄSCHESTÄNDER
Forbidden mozarella
I switched to dryer balls several years ago and haven’t looked back. I do still have an old box of dryer sheets that I sometimes use with extremely static-causing things but the balls are usually enough. Some people like to soak a few drops of essential oil into the balls as well if you like a little fragrance.
I haven’t noticed any issues with the balls banging into more delicate clothes. If you worry about delicates or piling, I would recommend line drying or using a garment bag to wash and dry them. For piling you can also use a fabric shaver designed to trim them off.
But ultimately, clothes just wear out especially when washing, piling and fading are signs of wear. Clothes I want to preserve I wash on delicate, use the fancy detergent (Woolite), try to skip a wash or two by just hang things to “air out” a bit between washes, and hang to dry.
Just adding a tip related to the natural lifespan of clothing!
Machine-drying destroys clothes. Hang-dry your stuff (if climate and living space allow), or at least just your nice clothes, and they will easily last decades.
This is assuming they are properly made clothes from the start, but it’ll also expand the life of random polyester crap as well. Just not as dramatically.
