Using wool dryer balls in the dryer are a great natural alternative to chemically laden dryer sheets. Dryer sheets may contain a plethora of chemicals to decrease static, soften laundry, and smell good. The worst of these chemicals are Benzyl acetate and Dichlorobenzene. Many of the other synthetics are generally considered not as harmful in small amounts, but to someone with breathing or skin sensitivities they can still be a concern.

A high quality dryer ball is made completely of wool roving wrapped tightly into a tennis ball size or slightly larger. Poor quality dryer balls may have various fillers in the center which will not perform as well.

Decreased Laundry Drying Time

Wool is particularly absorbent and therefore initially absorbs much of the moisture from your wet laundry at the beginning of your drying cycle. Removing excess moisture from the load helps to decrease the overall drying time. Faster drying saves valuable time and energy. Who doesn’t want to save on their power bill?

Softens Laundry and Decreases Wrinkles

As the wool dryer balls tumble around with the laundry, the moisture contained in the dryer balls is gradually released. This helps the various pieces of laundry to dry evenly without over drying and wrinkling while softening the laundry. Wool dryer balls may develop some pilling after several loads of use. They may not look as nice and new, but don’t worry! Pilling actually softens laundry better due to a larger surface area. Wool dryer balls are also much quieter and gentler than plastic dryer balls.

Decreased Static Electricity

The gradual release of moisture throughout the drying cycle will keep the overall humidity inside of the dryer slightly elevated helping to reduce static electricity. Humidity is an enemy of static electricity! If you want added help with static, simply secure a safety pin to each dryer ball.

Scented Laundry with Essential Oils

While someone with sensitivities may prefer their laundry unscented, the rest of us do generally prefer everything to smell lovely. Simply add a drop of your favorite essential oil to each dryer ball and toss in the dryer. I prefer lavender as it is simply heavenly. There are so many essential oils to choose from that there is a natural scent for just about anyone.

How Many Wool Dryer Balls to Use

For small to medium loads use 3 wool dryer balls. For large to extra large loads use 5-6 wool dryer balls. A well wrapped wool dryer ball will last for thousands upon thousands of loads of laundry.

Where to Get Wool Dryer Balls

Many people make their own wool dryer balls, but they can also be purchased. If you buy them, make sure they are 100% wool and do not contain fillers. Many of the good quality wool balls I found online were from New Zealand and not made in the USA. I was excited to find a local company, Echoview Fiber Mills, that processes local wool and makes several natural products right here in North Carolina. I am not an affiliated with Echoview Fiber Mills and have not received any type of compensation for sharing their wool dryer balls. I am just in love with this company’s story. They even ship their products in all eco-friendly packaging.