Since I have made the switch to using wool dryer balls, instead of dryer sheets, my pocket-book is much happier, and so is my energy bill! I love my wool dryer balls with essential oils and I know you will making the switch too!
What Are Dryer Balls?
They are a 100% natural replacement for dryer sheets made from wool. You can purchase them already felted and ready to go, or you can make them yourself.
Why Use Wool Dryer Balls?
- They can cut your drying time in half
- They help reduce static
- They save you money on your energy bill
- They are chemical-free, unlike dryer sheets
- They can be re-used over-and-over again
- They increase the fluffiness of your clothes
- They are safe to use with cloth diapers
Adding in Essential Oils
I love to lightly scent my clothes, so I add 3-4 drops of my favorite essential oils to each dryer ball. This usually lasts 2-4 loads before I have to add more! Here’s a few essential oil recommendations; it’s fun creating combinations that make your clothes smell so wonderful:
CLICK HERE to see where I get my essential oils at a discount
- Lemongrass
- Lavender + Lemon
- Wild Orange
- Peppermint + Wild Orange
- Tangerine
Where to Buy Wool Dryer Balls:
I love Woolzies (click here to see them) in XL. I use all 4 in my laundry and right now they are 62% off on Amazon!!
Dryer Balls are Easy to Make:
ITEMS NEEDED:
- Recycled wool sweaters
- Wool Yarn
- Knee High Nylon
Step 1) Save the money and go buy a few wool sweaters from Goodwill. Then go to your nearby craft store and get a big roll of wool yarn.
Step 2) Cut the wool sweaters up in scrap pieces and ball them up in your hand. Then take the wool yarn and start wrapping it around the scrap wool until you have a large softball-size bundle of yarn. Some people make them the size of tennis balls but I say go BIG! I also think you need 4-8 of them to really notice a difference. So, make a bunch!
Step 3) Then when you’re done rolling them into balls, tie a knot, then throw the ball in a knee-high nylon, or in a sock. Tie off the end with a rubber band (a hair rubber band) and run them through a hot wash cycle and then a hot dry cycle. This makes the wool felt together.
Step 4) Then take them out and you’re done!
How to Use Your Dryer Balls:
- Add a few drops your favorite essential oils to each ball.
- Toss in the dryer with your wet clothes
- Re-use over and over and over again!!!!
How many do you toss in your dryer for each load? I only have one and my clothes are still really staticky?
Hey Connie! I toss 4 of the XL Woolzies (linked to them) in my dryer.
Thanks for posting about these. I have a ton of wool (I’m a knitter) that is just taking up space so these will be perfect!
How long have you been using the ones pictured to be felted that well? I make and sell them and have done the hot wash/dry up to 3 times and sometimes they still fall apart. I’m going bananas over trying to figure out how to get them to felt correctly.
The ones pictured are purchased. My homemade didn’t look so pretty 🙂 My homemade ones lasted nearly 4 years though and then I purchased these.
I just did one hot wash and one dry. Ate you using 100% wool?
Do you worry or have had an issue with the oil leaving any stains on your clothes?
I have the same concern!!!
As long as you’re using absolutely pure essential oils, there’s no reason for concern. They are not like other oils such as vegetable oil or olive oil and will not stain. Even when dropped on paper, pure EOs will evaporate completely, leaving no residue at all. If you’re concerned about the purity of your oils, do the paper test. It will take several hours to dry out completely. 🙂
What Kristie said is absolutely correct but if you’re still concerned, you can either allow the oil to dry on the wool balls before tossing them in the dryer or you can run them in the dryer for a few minutes before adding your clothes.
I recently made my wool dryer balls and we have been loving them. I also made some for gifts for Christmas. I made mine with just yarn but made the gifts with sweaters and then yarn wrapped around the outside. I went through some trial and error with getting them to felt without coming all apart. But it was worth it (“I will not let these balls defeat me” was my motto). I love using them, I only have 4 but they do seem to significantly reduce static and help with drying time.
Jerri Ann,
To felt my wool balls instead of just washing in a hot load of laundry I actually took the balls in the knee hi’s and put them in a pot of water and put it on to boil for a while. Push or squeeze out water in the sink. Then run them in the dryer a hot dryer and load of clothes good with towels to get them felted. It has taken me 3 times easily to get them felted properly and I don’t take them out of the knee hi until I feel confident that they have felted. I have made quite a few and they have come out very nice and secure. Good Luck!!!
Thank you for posting this! I made them and they still haven’t felted! Gonna try this!
Hi, I have just read your post above, when you say you have easily done this 3 times, do you mean the whole process of boiling, squishing water out, putting in hot cycle of dryer with towels x 3 times? also, do you place 1 ball per high nylon or a couple in per high nylon please?
Thankyou.
Hi,
I am constant user of wool dyer balls. I have used these for past few months and I love their performance. Check them out hopefully you guys will like them too
http://www.woondryerballs.com
I love my dryer balls have made some I use when we are in Florida didn’t know you could use old wool sweaters what a good idea because wool yarn is exspensive!
Hello! I was hoping you would address the question regarding the oils leaving stains on the clothing. This is a concern for me also! Has anyone had a problem with this happening??
Thanks!
Marianne Tolar
I have had no trouble with any staining. Let’s see if anyone else responds on this for you also.
Hello,
When i first started using my woolzies with oils i did notice a few spots during a load. I’m not completely sure it was the essential oil but that was my #1 suspect. So i was thinking that i threw the balls in pretty quickly after adding oil and started it. The next time i added the oil and waited a few sec to make sure it was absorbed before i tossed them in. I haven’t noticed any since then. I hope this helps.
Loving my woolzies
I just used them for the first time and the same thing happened. Glad you mentioned to wait a bit before using. I just noticed a few of the clothes have spots. The oils I use are 100% pure so based on previous comments I think I’m using the correct oil but maybe put the clothes in too soon or used too much oil.
I work at a lavender farm and I know for sure that lavender essential oil does not stain.
Hi! Do you know anything about the safety of using essential oils on the dryer balls with an infant in the house? Thank you!!
I have made these. make sure it is non washable wool yarn, the others will not work. It took about 3 times of hot water and drying to get them to felt but they have now. I found the darker coloured yard felted faster then the lighter. Hope this helps.
I have been making different colors what I was wondering is colors like red, dark blue, green will the color run or this is not a problem.
Thanks
I love this entire idea, but I am concerned with using wool as some of my family members are allergic to wool. Any thoughts on this?
The wool will not have any effect on the clothes you are drying. Its main job is just to help eliminate the static from your clothes.
I am allergic to wool and have been using wool balls to dry my and my families clothes for the past 3 plus years with out any problems.
I use 6 in a load and though I find it helps with drying time, there is still a lot of static. I literally cannot handle my clothes clinging to me so I had to go back to dryer sheets but I use all natural ones now. Any tips to reduce the static?
Nikki – I’ve read / heard putting a safety pin on each corner of a wash cloth and throwing it in the dryer with the wool dryer balls takes care of the static issue 🙂
Nikki, I have tried everything that I have read about. The only thing that seems to work consistently, is just to not over dry your clothes. Take them out a couple of minutes before they are completely dry. I wish there was a magic cure, but I haven’t found it yet 🙂
I heard that a ball of aluminum foil in the dryer helps. It does seem to work. As time goes by it breaks down and bits of aluminum foil have to be picked out and thrown away (they don’t cling though!). I use vinegar in most wash rinses (just put it in the softener receptacle). I never use softener or dryer sheets. I don’t always use the foil but if I have some fleece I will, and then usually leave it until it breaks up.