The Ultimate Guide To Using And Caring For Wool Dryer Balls

I bought200 wool dryer balls. And they were not returnable.

You should have seen my husband’s face when I told him how many hundreds of dollars I spent on dryer balls made from our own sheep's natural fibers. It wasn’t woolly great, my friends.

Thankfully, I was not only able to sell them, but I'm now an expert on how to use, care for, and store wool dryer balls. Here is the ultimate guide:

Jump to:

• What are wool dryer balls?
• How to use wool dryer balls
• Benefits of wool dryer balls
• Comparisons: dryer sheets, tennis balls, and plastic dryer balls
• How to care for wool dryer balls: washing and storing
• Specific concerns: lint, pilling, smell, allergies, skin irritation
• Best dryer balls

What are wool dryer balls?

As the name suggests, wool dryer balls are made of 100% wool and are shaped like tennis balls. They are extremely durable and the felted wool will not unravel for many years. In fact, they can work their magic on thousands of loads of laundry.

One of my customers nicknamed them "amaze balls". She was genuinely surprised by how much they reduced her drying time.

For example, if it normally takes you an hour to dry a load of towels, it will only take about 45 to 50 minutes with the addition of dryer balls. Test it for yourself! You will be amazed.

What are wool dryer balls made of?

Wool dryer balls are made of 100% wool. They are completely natural and eco-friendly.

How do wool dryer balls work?

If you throw a pile of wet clothes in your dryer machine, everything clumps together until the items are dry enough to allow air circulation. But if you add a few dryer balls to your laundry, they will happily bounce between and separate the pieces of clothing so hot air can immediately travel amongst the layers of clothing. Wool dryer balls also absorb excess water as they tumble around with your laundry.

The result: Your drying time will be 20% to 25% faster. The wool balls also retain the heat from the dryer further quickening the drying process.

How to use wool dryer balls

It's easy to use wool dryer balls. Just open your dryer machine and add a set (three or more) to your laundry. Now turn on your dryer and let those "amaze" balls save you energy.

If your dryer doesn’t have a sensor that automatically turns off the machine when your clothes are dry, keep an eye on your load to ensure you don’t over-dry your clothes. This can not only wear out your clothes faster but it can cause static cling.

PRO TIP: Do not cram your dryer full of clothes. Leave some room for the wool balls to do their magic.

How many dryer balls should I use?

It depends on your dryer and the size of the load. Never use less than a set of 3 balls. I prefer to use 6, especially for large loads of laundry. But you can use more than that especially if you do a lot of extra-large loads. The more balls you use, the less time your laundry takes to dry. Isn’t that woolly awesome?

Can I add essential oils to wool dryer balls?

One of the many benefits of wool dryer balls is that you can use your favorite essential oils to give them a natural scent. However, proceed with caution. Only use a few drops of essential oils per dryer ball and then let the oil dry (you don’t want any oil stains on your fabrics) before using it in your laundry. You should also use caution when choosing which essential oils to use in your dryer. In some cases, heating essential oils to a high temperature in a clothes dryer has caused fires. But don’t worry. I have been using essential oils in my laundry for more than 10 years and have never started a fire. But, I wanted you to be aware that it is possible. Please read this article from Emma Loewe, Senior Sustainability Editor at mindbodygreen, which says:

"Different essential oils have different flash points. The flash point is the temperature at which enough of that oil has vaporized into the air that it could ignite. Once oils are exposed to temperatures that exceed this flash point, they become a potential fire hazard. This is why it's important to check on the flash point of any oil before popping it directly into a hot machine."

So, which essential oils do I use? Sandalwood, geranium, lavender, and cedarwood are all safe for the dryer. Emma recommends avoiding oils that have low flash points (closer to 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) such as the mint family, citrus family, and eucalyptus.

Benefits of wool dryer balls

Save money $

Not only will you reduce your energy costs (about .10 per load, which works out to $36.5 per year if you do a load a day), but you will also save money on dryer sheets. A dryer sheet costs about 0.12. If you use one per day, you would spend $43.8 per year. Switch to dryer balls and you can save a total of $80.3 per year. Admittedly, that may not sound like a lot (you may want to save even more money by making your own laundry soap), but there are many more reasons to choose dryer balls.

Less energy use

If you save just 10 minutes on every load of laundry you dry and do one load a day, you would save 550 watts (depending on the electricity use of your dryer). That’s a savings of more than 200 KW of electricity each year. Now imagine if every person in North America switched to dryer balls. Since there are over 126 million households in the US alone, we’d save millions and millions of KW of energy. Let’s hear it for dryer balls and the little sheep who grow them!

Faster drying time

If it normally takes you an hour to dry a load of towels, it will only take about 45 to 50 minutes with the addition of dryer balls. Test it for yourself. Do an equal load of towels with and without dryer balls and time the difference. You'll discover that wool dryer balls will shrink your drying time by 20% or more.

When you're waiting impatiently for your favorite pair of jeans to dry, you’ll appreciate those extra 10 or 15 minutes you’ll save by using dryer balls.

Eliminate static cling

You would think all that bouncing around would contribute to static cling, but by preventing your clothes from rubbing together, you also prevent static electricity from building up.

Wool also absorbs and holds onto excess water elevating the humidity levels in your dryer and limiting the chance of static electricity.

What do I do if I have static cling?

Whatever you do, do not over-dry your clothing! If the air becomes too dry, it will cause static.

If you have problems with static, try spraying your wool dryer balls with water before starting your next load to ensure the humidity remains high. This will not increase drying time.

Synthetic materials such as polyester can also cause static. Try hanging them to dry or stopping the dryer prematurely and letting them air dry.

In some cases, the balls can become so dry they can’t absorb humidity. You can restore them by placing each ball in the bottom of a clean sock and washing them in hot water on a gentle cycle. Dry them on high heat. This will regenerate the wool.

Reduce wrinkles

One surprise benefit of using wool dryer balls is that my clothes have fewer wrinkles. This is most likely because of how they keep clothing from clumping together.

100% natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic

Made of 100% wool, dryer balls are a renewable resource, unlike disposable products such as plastic dryer balls, single-use dryer sheets, and traditional fabric softeners and conditioners.

Since we wear our clothes all day and then sleep all night in our sheets, what we choose to wash and dry them with affects our health. For example, disposable dryer sheets are covered in harmful chemicals, which can get absorbed into your clothes and hence your skin.

Check out the Environmental Working Group’s review of Bounce Dryer Sheets, which scores a D for high concern for our health and the environment. Wool dryer balls are a better alternative that will also save you energy.

Reusable (1000 loads or more!)

I’ve had the same dryer balls for years and their drying magic has not worn off. Some say after 1,000 loads you may need to replace them. Still, this is much better than toxic dryer sheets.

I couldn’t find an exact number as to how many dryer sheets end up in the landfill, but the global liquid softeners and conditioners market size in 2018 was estimated at 16.53 billion USD. If one dryer sheet costs 0.12, that’s billions of toxic dryer sheets that end up in our landfills every year.

Big deal, you may think. It’s just a dryer sheet. But it’s not. In addition to the harsh chemicals and the artificial fragrances used in these products, dryer sheets are coated with other environmentally harmful chemicals.

Compostable

Don’t throw those wool dryer balls in the garbage. Use them in your compost. Plants love the water retention abilities of wool.

Can be naturally scented with essential oils

Most laundry products smell nice, but are synthetic perfumes good for our health? The International FragranceAssociation (IFRA) lists 3,059 materials that are reported as being used in synthetic fragrance compounds. Of these 3,059 ingredients, some have evidence linking them to health effects including cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies, and sensitivities. Is any of this true? I don't know. But if you want your clothes to smell nice, why not try a few drops of your favorite essential oil instead? I love lavender essential oil.

Remove Pet Hair

Wool dryer balls separate the items in your laundry so air can circulate evenly between them, which helps loosen pet hair. Here is an article from USA Today, which confirms that wool dryer balls remove pet hair and offers some other suggestions to help remedy this problem.

Comparisons: dryer sheets, tennis balls, and plastic dryer balls

Are wool dryer balls better than plastic dryer balls or tennis balls?

Plastic dryer balls and tennis balls are both made of plastic which, once heated, can release harmful chemicals. Wool dryer balls are made of 100% wool and are completely natural. They are also much gentler on clothing and make less noise bouncing around the washing machine than plastic balls.

What is the difference between wool dryer balls and dryer sheets?

Traditional dryer sheets are coated with artificial fragrances and other environmentally harmful chemicals. Disposable dryer sheets are also not reusable. Billions of them end up in our landfills every year.

Wool dryer balls, on the other hand, are made of 100% wool and are completely natural, reusable and compostable. They also have the added benefit of reducing your energy usage by speeding up the drying process.

How to care for wool dryer balls: washing and storing

Do you need to clean wool dryer balls before you use them?

It is not necessary to wash your wool dryer balls before using them. But if you want to wash them, you can do so in your washing machine. It is recommended to place your dryer balls in a clean sock and wash them in hot water on a gentle cycle. Dry them on high heat.

How to wash wool dryer balls:

You can wash your wool dryer balls with your next load of laundry. Place each ball in the bottom of a clean sock to prevent them from banging around in the washer. Wash them in hot water on a gentle cycle to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned without damaging the wool.

After washing, dry them on high heat. This process can also help to re-felt the wool, making the balls more durable.

Remember not to use fabric softener or dryer sheets when washing and drying your wool dryer balls, as these products can coat the wool and reduce its natural ability to absorb excess moisture and control static.

How to store wool dryer balls:

Wool dryer balls can be stored in any well-ventilated area. Remember, wool needs to breathe, so avoid storing them in plastic. Instead, consider a breathable fabric bag or a wire or wicker basket.

If your wool dryer balls have picked up any scents from your laundry, storing them in a well-ventilated area will also allow any lingering smells to dissipate.

Lastly, keep them out of direct sunlight to prevent any potential color fading.

How long do wool dryer balls last?

Wool dryer balls last for many years. However, after 1,000 dryer loads, they may look scraggly and unravel.

When should wool dryer balls be replaced?

Eventually, your wool dryer balls may start to unravel. Mine haven’t yet – even after using them for five years. When they do, it is time to replace them.

What should I do with my old dryer balls?

Use them in your compost. Plants love the water retention abilities of wool.

Specific concerns: lint, pilling, smell, allergies, skin irritation

Should I only use the dark brown dryer balls with dark-colored loads and light, cream dryer balls with light-colored loads?

We have one black sheep in the family and she produces beautiful, chocolate brown dryer balls, which you can use in any colored laundry load. There is no risk of the color transferring to your favorite white T-shirt.

Do wool dryer balls leave lint?

Wool dryer balls should not leave any lint on your clothing. If this does occur, it should stop after a few loads or you should try a different brand of dryer balls.

Can I use wool dryer balls with baby clothes or cloth diapers?

Wool dryer balls are the best choice for baby clothes and diapers. Made of 100% pure wool, they are completely safe and non-toxic.

Help! My wool dryer balls are pilling!

Your wool dryer balls may start to pill over time (bits of lint attaching to them). You can remove the pills or leave them. It won’t affect their effectiveness.

Do wool dryer balls smell like sheep?

Wool dryer balls do not smell like sheep. The wool used to make dryer balls has been thoroughly washed and cleaned. Wool dryer balls smell just like any other wool product such as a 100% wool yarn or a 100% wool sweater.

Can I use wool dryer balls if I’m allergic to wool?

Wool dryer balls will not shed or pill onto your clothing. If you have an allergy to lanolin, it has already been washed away during the cleaning of the wool itself. If it is the bristly wool fibers that cause an allergic reaction, don’t touch the dryer balls directly. Use gloves or a cloth instead.

Can wool dryer balls make you itch or cause skin irritation?

Wool dryer balls are safe for people with sensitive skin. They do not cause skin irritation or cause you to itch because they don't shed or pill onto your clothing. However, if you are sensitive to the bristly wool fibers, you may want to wear gloves while handling the dryer balls themselves.

Best dryer balls

Here are some of the top-rated wool dryer balls available on Amazon:

Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls - Award-WinningThese XL 100% natural New Zealand wool dryer balls come in a pack of 6 and feature cute animal faces.Amazon.comRAYTRADE XL Wool Dryer Balls:These dryer balls are made of 100% organic New Zealand wool and they also come in a pack of 6.Amazon.caAmazon.comLypumso Wool Dryer Balls:This cute pack of 6 organic wool dryer balls comes in different colors.Amazon.caAmazon.com

I hope this guide to using wool dryer balls has encouraged you to get a set of wool dryer balls of your own (just maybe not 200 of them!). If there is something I missed, please leave your question in the comments below and I will be happy to answer you.

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