Let's start with the basics and benefits. Wool dryer balls are, just what their name implies, wool balls meant to go into your dryer to hep reduce wrinkles and static just like a dryer sheet.
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Big Picture Benefits:
- Cheaper than using dryer sheets
- Free of harsh chemicals
- Shortens drying time
- Reduced electricity use by shortening drying time
- Environmentally responsible in production
- Compostable after full use
- Scents can be customized with essential oils
- Reduces wrinkles and static
Let's break it down by the numbers. In a typical large load of laundry I use 5 to 6 balls per drying cycle. I'll typically use 2-3 for smaller loads. The set that I bought here contained 6 dryer balls for $16. By comparison to the cost of dryer sheets with Aldi brand:
$16 = 6 wool balls = 1000 loads of laundry (roughly, mine have lasted WAY longer)
Aldi dryer sheets = $1.99 per box = 80 loads (if you only use one per load).
For that same 1000 loads of laundry, you would need 12.5 boxes of dryer sheets. So the total cost for 1000 loads with Aldi brand is $25. Name brands like Bounce are about double the cost of Aldi dryer sheets.
$16 for wool vs. $25 to $50 for dryer sheets. Your call.
And since saving money is a big part of why I write this blog, can we just talk about electricity saving for just a minute?
In our home we do roughly 15 loads of laundry a week. I know that seems like a lot, but that's for two adults, one toddlers, towels, cloth diapers, and dog blankets. Dolly the basset hound is an old girl, and well, when you get old you tend to lose your grip a little bit. So making it outside in time only happens on good days.
By using wool dryer balls we have cut our drying time nearly in half. Seriously! Next to line drying, which sorry, I'm a busy mom and I just haven't made that switch yet, this is the best way to lower the amount of energy used by your dryer.
It might just be me. I might just be hypersensitive to chemicals now that I use far less than I used to, but dryer sheets smell and feel chemically to me. Yes, I know they are loaded toxic chemicals, and yes that might be the reason they smell and feel chemically. Still, that chemical smell and feel just doesn't compare to the fresh feeling and perfectly blended scents ( thank you lavender and lemongrass) that my clothes now have when I open that dryer!
If you're looking for some nice blends of essential oils to try on your wool dryer balls, give these blends a try:
- Lavender and Lemongrass (my fave!)
- Lavender and Sweet Orange
- Ylang Ylang and Vanilla
- Rose and Lavender
One or two drops per ball really does the trick!
And talk about chemicals?!?! Read this short article from the National Institute of Environmental Health Science about how dryer sheets affect your indoor air quality, and I promise you'll never go back.
So go get your wool dryer balls, and enjoy your new cheap and easy, chemical free, low energy use, delicious smelling balls!
And as always...
When in doubt, fling it.
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