For years, I’ve been hearing about how fabric softener is so bad for your body and clothes, but figured there really was no alternative so just tried to use less of it. They wouldn’t sell fabric softener if it was bad for you, right?
Then last December, I learned aabout wool dryer balls, which are supposed to be exactly that – an organic, safe way to replace dryer sheets.
I was intrigued enough and decided to finally give them a try. Why not aim for fewer chemicals in my clothes?
Sidenote: When I lived in Australia, I was shocked to learn they don’t use dryer sheets. It’s apparently an American thing!
For quick reference, using wool dryer balls is supposed to:
- reduce static
- cut drying time
- no added chemicals
- cut costs (the balls last a long time!)
I’ve been using wool dryer balls for almost a year now and quite honestly, I’ve found this all to be true. The balls are still holding strong, so I haven’t had to buy fabric softener at all.
(Well, I don’t know about cutting drying time due to my family’s tendency to overload the dryer, but that’s not going to be solved with a dryer sheet either.)
How I use wool dryer balls
Honestly, I intimidated to switch from dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener because I really didn’t want to waste money, but it really is a simple switch!
- Put 4 wool dryer balls into my dryer.
- Optional: Add 5 drops of essential oils to each ball (I prefer lavender).
- Add your regular load of clothes.
- Run your dryer cycle as usual.
Easy peasy!
My favorite realization was that since wool dryer balls are scentless, I could add a few drops of essential oils to the dryer balls directly, which makes the dryer load smell fantastic!
(Essential oils aren’t considered chemicals, right?)
The only downside I’ve found using wool dryer balls is that they sometimes hide in sheets or roll under a bed, etc., which can be a nuisance to track down sometimes. But, small issue IMO!
Interested in trying dryer balls for yourself?
These are the wool dryer balls I have, but there are so many options out there to choose from.
I love that this is a 6-pack so I don’t have to keep track of all 6, since I only need 3 for a load of laundry. And, these are organic.
It’s impossible to cut all toxins out of our lives, but I figure every little bit counts – especially when it comes to our kids! These would also be good for baby clothes too!
Do you use wool dryer balls or have you ever heard of using them in place of fabric softener? I’d love to hear how your experience has gone, and why or why not you chose to use them. Do you use them any differently than I do? Please, comment below! Thanks!
Working at Walmart says
Keep up the good work.
Debbie says
Thank you!
Molly says
We love our dryer balls! I only have 3 so far but was thinking about getting more. I found some on an etsy shop that were made local to me with yarn scraps, so contributing to zero waste as well! I’ll have to try the essential oils in them. Great tip!
Debbie says
I used to only use 3 but then read that for larger loads, you should use 5-6. It seems like every one of our loads these days is large, so I just stick with 5-6 🙂 Enjoy those essential oils. I’ve only tried lavender and eucalyptus so far (scents that apparently mosquitos don’t like).