Did you know that wool dryer balls can be used instead of fabric softeners and dryer sheets? They not only make doing laundry easier and less expensive, but they also use fewer harmful chemicals, which is good for the environment.
Consider this your introduction to wool dryer balls. In this article, we’ll take a look at what wool dryer balls are, how to use them, and how to clean or recharge wool dryer balls.
To demonstrate the use of dryer balls, consider a large load of damp bath towels in the dryer. When you press “start,” that big ball of wet cloth will bounce around and remain together for a time until the layers are dry enough to separate and warm air can circulate. This delays the drying process and wastes both time and energy.
Now, imagine six wool balls bouncing about in your next load of laundry, making their way through the layers of cloth, separating them so the heated air can flow properly right away. Because they are made entirely of wool, they naturally wick moisture away from the garments, producing fluffy, soft laundry free of static cling.
Dryer balls are great for speeding up the drying time of your clothes, but they also get dirty over time. How do you clean them? And what happens if you don’t? Let’s find out.
*This post contains affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
What Are Wool Dryer Balls?
Dryer balls are objects that resemble tennis balls and are usually made from 100% tightly compressed wool. These wool dryer balls are thrown in the dryer with your clothes, and due to their ability to tumble between layers and separate fabrics, they aid in preventing laundry from forming clumps in the dryer.
With increased warm air circulation, as a result, drying time may even be shortened. The dryer balls’ motion against materials can also soften clothing, reduce wrinkles, and reduce static buildup.
What Are Wool Dryer Balls Made Of?
Wool dryer balls are made from 100% wool yarn or wool fabric strips. Other dryer balls can also be made from plastic or rubber, but they are not as delicate on the fabric as wool dryer balls.
How Are Dryer Balls Used?
Use wool dryer balls to bounce their way through wet layers of garments that would otherwise clump together. Warm air can dry your garments faster since the layers of clothing are separated.
Wool dryer balls also add an additional layer of drying by absorbing moisture. These dryer balls’ natural bounce also ensures that your clothing is static-free after a tumble in the dryer. This makes the subsequent folding process a lot easier. If you add a few drops of essential oils onto the dryer balls, you can also make your laundry smell nice.
Wondering how many balls to add to your load? Three balls are enough for light to moderate loads. 6-8 balls for standard loads, 8-12 balls for extra-large loads. The drying process is sped up as you add more balls.
What Are the Benefits of Dryer Balls?
Dryer balls are not only useful, but they also have some impressive benefits:
- They Save Money
- They Cut Down On Drying Time
- Moisture absorption and improved airflow
- They Stop Static Cling
- They Help Reduce Wrinkling
- They are 100% Natural and Eco-Friendly
- They Last a Long Time
- They Can Be Composted
Why Do Dryer Balls Need to Be Cleaned?
Over time, wool dryer balls can accumulate some lint and fiber buildup, which should be removed to improve their effectiveness. If you notice that your old dryer balls are not as effective anymore, it might be time to clean them.
What IS “Recharging” Dryer Balls
Recharging is just another way of saying that you should clean up and give your wool balls more fluff. To recharge your dryer balls, you’ll need to rehydrate them by adding warm water. This will revive over-dried wool fibers, improving their ability to absorb moisture while drying.
How Do You Clean Wool Dryer Balls
It is very easy to clean wool dryer balls; you only need to follow the steps below.
Washing Wool Dryer Balls
You can either wash your dryer balls by hand or with the washing machine. Just remember to use warm water when washing the balls. If you wash them by hand, allow them to absorb the water and then squeeze the water and filth out. Repeat the steps until they are clean.
If you want to throw them in the washing machine, use hot water and a gentle cycle to wash the dryer balls. This will rehydrate your dryer balls in addition to cleaning them considerably by eliminating some of the fiber and lint buildups that may have collected. Reviving over-dried wool fibers will improve their capacity to absorb moisture while drying.
Either way, washing them by yourself or with a full load works. Simply check that the washer’s settings are suitable for the entire load.
Drying Wool Dryer Balls
Next, put your clothes dryer on high heat and run the dryer balls through it. You run a separate load or a full load when drying the balls.
However, keep in mind that because they are wet, they won’t contribute to a faster drying load. In fact, given how saturated they are, they might cause the load as a whole to dry more slowly.
Before using them in a load where you want to speed up the drying time, you’ll want to ensure they have been completely dried.
Ready For Use
Now that they’ve been recharged, your dryer balls are ready to use! Simply throw them into the dryer with your next laundry load, and they’ll be as good as new.
When to Clean/ Recharge Wool Dryer Balls
When your wool dryer balls start to appear a little worn out or when you find that you are not getting the same drying results as you were before, it is time to recharge them.
Wool dryer balls will eventually begin to tear, pill, and shrink. Once they start to lose their efficacy, even after you’ve tried to recharge them, you’ll know it’s time to replace them.
How Often Should You Clean/ Recharge Wool Dryer Balls?
I would advise recharging them approximately every 100 loads. The majority of wool dryer ball producers claim that their products will last for at least 1000 loads. This implies that in their life cycle, you’ll only need to recharge them ten times.
Dryer Balls FAQs
Are All Types of Dryer Balls the Same?
No. Some dryer balls are made from rubber or plastic, and others are made from natural materials like wool. Dryer balls made of plastic or silicone appear to harm more delicate materials. Because wool balls are smoother, they won’t pill or harm clothing.
Which Is Better- Dryer Balls or Dryer Sheets?
Dryer balls effectively shorten the drying period, which can result in long-term savings on gas and energy use. Whereas the drying time is unaffected by dryer sheets. Unlike dryer sheets, dryer balls can be used again and again, benefiting the environment and saving you money.
Where to Store Wool Dryer Balls Between Loads
It’s important to store your wool dryer balls in a well-ventilated area. You can store your dryer ball in the dryer between laundry loads or in its original packaging, casing or bag.
How Many Dryer Balls Should You Use?
Three balls are enough for light to moderate loads. Toss 6-8 balls in the dryer for standard loads and 8-12 balls for extra-large loads. The drying process is sped up as you add more balls.
Can Wool Dryer Balls Bleed Color Into White Clothes?
No, the wool dryer balls’ color won’t transfer. You can color-coordinate the dryer balls with your loads if you have clothes that bleed (like dark denim or red shirts) and are worried about the fabric dyes transferring between loads. Use a darker color dryer ball for darker loads, and save a lighter color dryer ball for your white sheets or towels.
Do Wool Dryer Balls Leave Any Lint?
With brand-new dryer balls, this is possible, but it should stop after a few loads at most. To fix the problem, simply dry them with a load of used towels.
Are Wool Dryer Balls Safe to Use on Baby Clothes and Diapers?
Wool dryer balls are safe for babies and are the best choice for their delicate skin. Wool balls can be used for baby laundry and cloth diapers. Dryer balls are completely natural and made entirely of organic wool. They are also additive- and chemical-free.
Are Wool Dryer Balls Good for Pet Hair?
Yes. Wool dryer balls are anti-static and can be used to remove pet hair. It can also be used to remove lint and fuzz.
Do Wool Dryer Balls Reduce Static Cling?
Yes. Wool dryer balls are known to reduce static cling.
What to Do if There Is Pilling
Small, hard balls of lint that accumulate on the surface of materials, such as clothing, are usually referred to as “pills,” and the action that creates them is known as “pilling.”
If your dryer ball starts pilling, you can try to regenerate them; however, if their effectiveness is worn down after you’ve tried to recharge the balls, it might be time to replace them.
What if I Have a Wool Allergy?
The majority of the time, wool dryer balls are hypoallergenic, which means that they are not likely to trigger allergic responses and are completely safe to use. Dryer balls are a fantastic solution even for people with sensitive skin because the wool is not in contact with the skin, and they do not shed or pill.
Do Wool Dryer Balls Cause Itching?
It’s possible that you, like many other people, are sensitive to the short, bristly fibers found in wool and that they itch and irritate your skin. Most of the time, the skin irritation caused by wool is actually caused by a substance called lanolin, which is found in wool.
Although dryer balls are made from wool, the lanolin is removed from wool dryer balls during production. So it is unlikely that the dryer balls will lead to itchy or irritated skin.
How Do I Dispose of Old Wool Dryer Balls?
Your dryer balls can be composted because they are made entirely of wool. Add them to your compost so they can decompose, benefit the environment, and avoid being disposed of in landfills.
Leave a Reply