I’m not typically a fan of fancy dryer sheets, dryer balls or color catchers. I have my washing machine, dryer, detergent, the occasional dryer sheet, and that’s just about all I need. My
laundry routine was never something I put too much thought into. However, with the state of the environment becoming more and uncertain, I decided to do some research into being more sustainable around the home. One of the first things that came to mind was laundry.
After opting for a
greener laundry detergent, I thought why stop there? I began to realize how wasteful it is to have to run the dryer three times just for one load of laundry. On top of that, I’ve never really been satisfied with how my clothes look after being dried, always a little wrinkly and never soft enough.
Curious for a way to step up my laundry game while helping the environment, I did some research and discovered wool dryer balls, which have become wildly popular as a sustainable alternative to dryer sheets. Here’s what I learned about these clever laundry accessories
What are wool dryer balls?
Wool dryer balls are exactly what the name suggests. They are balls made from 100% cruelty-free wool, and they’re intended to replace dryer sheets in your laundry routine. They utilize the natural power of wool to soften fabric, decrease static and wrinkles, and cut drying time by up to 30 percent.
What are the benefits of wool dryer balls?
Dryer balls have the ability to lift and separate clothes to help them dry quicker – which helps you to save energy. I tried
Nellie’s Lamby Wool Dryer Balls, which come in an adorable reusable metal tin that doubles as a piggy bank (where you can stash every cent you save on dryer sheets!).
Although pricier than a typical package of dryer sheets, dryer balls can be used load after load, and will save you a lot of money in the long run. Besides this perk, Nellie’s dryer balls are free of chemicals and toxins that you’d find in conventional dryer sheets, so they’re safe for everyone.
How to use dryer balls
It couldn’t be any easier. Just remove the balls from the package and toss them in the dryer with your load of wet laundry. Run the dryer as you normally would – and that’s it! You can add small amounts of
essential oils to the dryer balls for a hint of your favorite scent, if you’d like.
Do dryer balls really work?
If you haven’t caught on to my newfound obsession with this product, let me make it clear. I will never do a load of laundry without my wool dryer balls again! Not only are my clothes now drying in just one or two cycles, they’re completely wrinkle free, smell fresh and are softer than ever. My favorite part is that you can leave them in the dryer until you’re ready to dry your next load. These can be reused for up to 1000 loads, and they only need to be replaced when they start looking scraggly.
Not to mention – it feels great knowing that when it’s time to replace them, they can be composted as a completely waste-free product.
Featured product:
