Dryer balls

[Poohforyou]

Trader Joes has these lavender dryer sachets that I love. Between them and the white vinegar I use in the washer my clothes come out fluffy and smelling great. The bonus with the sachets is that after using 8-10 they can be opened and sprinkled on the rug as a carpet deodorizer.

 

[redandblue]

try googling dryer balls. People make them out of wool, I went and bought the wool but still need to make them. You need wool roving and string and then tie the balls do a few loads with them stuffed into a nylon then they are good to go. They are supposed to naturally reduce static, reduce dry time and won't be loud.

 

[threecrazykids]

I use the Norwex ones. They work GREAT! The blue ones are made of super hard plastic type material...the Norwex ones are more rubbery feeling and don't leave the blue marks inside the dryer.

I have tried both kinds and the Norwex one's beat the blue ones hands down.

 

[bettymae1121]

I don't use softener and I don't use dryer balls. I do add vinegar to the "softener" dispenser of my machine, supposedly that's supposed to help soften the fabric naturally. I just toss stuff in the dryer and not worry about it. I do use 1/2 a dryer sheet when drying my bed sheets in the winter though, otherwise the static cling is horrific, though in winter the rest of my laundry doesn't seem to need it.

 

[SandrA9810]

I am so tired of dealing with static on the sheets. One night after turning the lights off, I had a sparkling show as I pulled the blanket up over me and got comfortable. Then there's the jackets and after pulling them off my hair stands on ends from the static in that.

I used to always use dryer sheets, but they just seem more expensive now. And wasn't sure if the dryer balls were worth it. Maybe it's time to try it.

 

[danetter]

I made mine out of fishermans 100% felted wool yarn that I bought at Joann's. I love them and they have cut down the drying time especially with my towels. Just roll the yarn into a ball to the size of a tennis ball. Felt the ball about 3x(roll ball into 3 size stages/starting with about about a pingpong ball size-wash and dry, then roll a little bigger, wash/dry, then roll to tennis ball size and wash/dry. The ball is now ready to stay in the dryer.

 

[indimom]

I started using them due to allergies. I think they work well.
The clothes feel just as soft as they ever did. We lost the great smell, but that's what was setting off the allergies, so no choice there.
I do notice a bit more static in the winter months, but it's not bad. No static at all the rest of the year.

 

[Colleen27]

I use felted wool dryer balls along with vinegar in the washer's softener dispenser. It isn't as "foolproof" as dryer sheets - some especially static-prone loads like our fleece blankets still come out with a bit of crackle in the winter months - but I'd put it at about 90% effective. Not perfect, but good enough to be an acceptable trade-off for the environmental dubiousness and recurring cost of using dryer sheets.

 

[MEM]

I made mine out of fishermans 100% felted wool yarn that I bought at Joann's. I love them and they have cut down the drying time especially with my towels. Just roll the yarn into a ball to the size of a tennis ball. Felt the ball about 3x(roll ball into 3 size stages/starting with about about a pingpong ball size-wash and dry, then roll a little bigger, wash/dry, then roll to tennis ball size and wash/dry. The ball is now ready to stay in the dryer.

I'm going to try making some this weekend, since my old blue spiky PVC ones have cracked and fallen apart. I saw some instructions on-line for making them out of an old wool sweater - might try that since it will mean no OOP expense.

 

[2binak]

Dh picked up a set 2 years ago at WalMart (Mainstays brand) because DD developed eczema & we were told we couldn't use fabric softener because something in it irritates eczema. We've used them ever since and think they work just as well as dryer sheets, if not better. We have noticed that drying times are less & clothes are sometimes fluffier than when we used dryer sheets. There are times when the clothes have a bit static to them, but it doesn't last beyond folding the clothes.