Dryer balls: something I've come across time and time again when perusing cloth-diapering blogs, yet not something I've ever used. Here's the little I do know about them.
Plastic Dryer Balls: I've seen these at the grocery story in the laundry section. They come in a package of two, they're blue and they look like they belong in the aisle with the pet toys. Seriously. The package says they naturally soften clothes (by pummeling them around, I suppose?) and will decrease drying time up to 25%. I've never even been moderately tempted to buy any, maybe because I don't use
fabric softener and I'm perfectly happy with the softness of my clothes without it and maybe because I'm skeptical.
Wool Dryer Balls: I've also come across dryer balls in green living blogs because they also supposedly soften clothes, require less drying time and decrease static electricity. Living in a dry climate we do have some static once in a while but it seems to go away after I fold the clothes. I've never dealt with "fabric cling" but that could be because I wear jeans and yoga pants and uh, little else. Since I can make them myself or maybe because they look like giant colorful
Christmas ornaments or toys, I am tempted to try wool dryer balls. I'm not sure if they do anything different or better than the plastic balls but they are more earth friendly and cost-efficient if I make them myself.
Aluminum Dryer Balls: When searching "dryer balls" I also came across a site that claims that aluminum dryer balls are the way to go: easy to make from heavy duty aluminum foil and a great way to cut down on static cling. I can see how aluminum might help to cut down on static electricity and apparently they aren't any more difficult to make than balling up some tinfoil into some tennis-ball sized forms. Because I use only
Thirsties Duo Fab Fitteds with Cooper right now, if I am using the dryer, it takes about an hour. In the summer, thanks to the hot sun and dry air in Colorado, my diapers actually dry faster outside, especially if I turn them inside after about half an hour. If dryer balls can help cut down on the time my diapers are in the dryer, that would be great. And from what I understand, they soften clothes and diapers by the motion and gentle pounding they create. Do you use dryer balls? Which kind do you use and how well do they work? Should I give them a try. Tell me what you think and Happy Holidays!
As others have confirmed, dryer balls really do work! It’s just through mechanical action rather than chemical action. For the user who made her own, how did you do it?
We just started using them, but I think I need more to see the impact on dryer time though. I definitely love them though and love that there is alternative for cloth
Elizabeth,
I use some EverydayLiving brand dryer balls. They do work well with sheets, towels, and fluffy items such as comforters. I think you’re on the right track that they do pummel as the items dry. I use the dryer balls in combination with unscented fabric softener and I will often use dryer sheets anyway to encourage the sheets and towels to be soft. I would agree with you that the fabric softener and dryer sheets would not be ideal supplements to the dryer balls with the Thirsties diapers because of the reduced absorbency and warranty voiding that it would cause. I just purchased 2 of the Thirsties Duo Diapers for my son, who is due on 1/28. I will try the dryer balls per your suggestion as I will need to wash these a number of times before he arrives.
Thanks for the blog entry!
Kathryn
I am interested to try dryer balls as I am just getting into cloth diapering with my first little one due in 4 weeks! :) Thanks for this post and a special thanks to the commenter above who shared the link for $3 wool dryer balls!!!
I have always worried they would come apart in the dryer and shed all over my clothes…
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