Learn how to use wool dryer balls to freshen up your laundry and keep it static free, the all natural way!
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Ahhh laundry. You either love it or you hate it. Laundry is a part of our everyday routine as homemakers, so why not make sure you’re making the most of it?!
I love finding ways to simplify my homemaking routines. Make them a little more old-fashioned. And more natural! And hey, even more efficient!
My laundry routine is no different!
Enter: wool dryer balls.
If you’ve heard the buzz about wool dryer balls and you’re wanting to learn how to use them or even what in the world they are, then you’re in the right place!
This post is everything you need to know about wool dryer balls.
RELATED: Laundry Routine Tips for Homemakers
What do dryer balls do?
Dryer balls are baseball sized, wool balls (although they can be made from other material, but wool is best) that are added to the dryer with your wet laundry to help the laundry dry faster.
The dryer balls tumble between the layers of clothing and fabric, separating the clumps, preventing static and wrinkles, AND softening it all.
When used over time they can help you save money by allowing each load to dry more efficiently. They help your clothes dry better! And they make them less static!
In addition, you can add essential oils to the balls to act as an all-natural, laundry scent booster. This is MY favorite thing about them!
Essential Oils on Dryer Balls
I’ve never been a fan of scented dryer sheets. I’ve actually never been a fan of any kind of laundry scent boosters OR very scented laundry detergent.
I’ve just never liked the after smell of any of these products that are suppose to boost the scent of your laundry. It always gives my laundry a musty, dingy smell, with a little bit of the scent. Not to mention the unknown chemicals that are in them.
Am I the only one?!
Anyways, I love that using wool dryer balls with essential oils doesn’t do this! Just a fresh, essential oil smell, the all natural way.
To use essential oils with your wool dryer balls, simply add 5-10 drops of your favorite oils to each ball (I like the Serenity blend by DoTerra, or Lavender, but I’ve used just about any good smelling oil I have on hand) and add them to your load of laundry like normal.
You can add essential oils with each load of laundry for an all-natural, laundry scent booster. I recently bought a big pack of essential oils on Amazon. No they are not from the two well-known essential oil companies, and I am totally okay with that! I’m excited to try these new scents out on my dryer balls.
P.S. the smells last! I have pulled towels out of the closet that were washed and dried a week prior, and the still have a lovely, essential oil smell.
How to Use Wool Dryer Balls
To use wool dryer balls, you add 3-4 dryer balls to your wet load of laundry in the dryer, and let them tumble with the clothes. You can also add 5-10 drops of essential oils (as mentioned above) to each ball, to make your laundry smell amazing and fresh.
I feel pretty ridiculous typing up a whole post on this because its really SO SO simple. That’s ALL you do!
You will find that your clothes dry quicker when using your wool dryer balls, so be sure to keep an eye on the loads to make sure they aren’t drying TOO quickly (and wearing out or shrinking).
Here are a few answers to other questions you might be wondering about using wool dryer balls.
Are you suppose to wet wool dryer balls?
There is no need to wet your wool dryer balls. They can go in DRY on top of your wet load of laundry, and set your dryer settings like normal.
How many wool dryer balls do you use at a time?
You can use 3-4 wool dryer balls at a time, per load of laundry. Simply add your essential oils to your 3-4 balls, toss them on top of your wet load of laundry, and start the dryer.
How long do dryer balls last?
Wool dryer balls will last up to 1,000 loads in the dryer. Of course you’re probably not going to be counting;) you will know your dryer balls have run their course when they start to become very frayed and frazzled looking. As if the wool is starting to unravel from the balls. At this point, you can replace them!
How do you recharge wool balls in a dryer?
Recharging your wool dryer balls helps remove any lint build-up and extra fiber, and helps rehydrate any balls that have been over dried. You can recharge your balls about every 100 loads. To do so just wash the on a gentle cycle, and then dry them on high heat.
I went about a week recently where I couldn’t find my dryer balls (they were at the bottom of my laundry basket under some mismatched socks LOL). I am not kidding, my laundry took much longer to dry! I had to start a new drying cycle more than once to get the loads completely dry.
Wool dryer balls make SUCH a difference in keeping our clothes soft, static-free, and smelling good. And they really, truly, reduce drying time!
Are you ready to start using your own now?! Order some today!
HERE is an inexpensive and reliable option for wool dryer balls on Amazon. I have also purchased mine from Grove Collaborative before and been very happy with them! You really can’t go wrong with whichever ones you purchase.
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