The dryer cycles off, and you reach inside the drum, expecting to pull out fluffy, dry clothes. Instead, you're finding your bedsheets entwined with your pillowcases, while the duvet has more damp spots than dry ones. Dryer balls work to create the opposite effect: separating fabrics, preventing static cling, softening clothes, and shortening drying times.
But what are dryer balls, and how do they work? In this article, you'll find answers to both questions and learn how to care for these laundry balls.
Dryer balls are laundry balls made to tumble through wet laundry while the dryer runs. Most dryer balls are 2.5 to just over 3 inches in diameter, though some smaller ones can be under 2.5.
The mechanism is simple. Without dryer balls tumbling through laundry, wet clothes can wrap around one another. Moisture that should be dried by the warm air from the dryer’s blower gets trapped between clothes, extending drying time. Dryer balls bounce and roll between these fabric layers. Their constant movement helps stop the items in the dryer from bunching together, giving the air inside the dryer more room to circulate throughout the load.
[Photo by FotoHelin from FotoHelin Images on Canva.]
Wool dryer balls are densely felted laundry balls made from wool fibers. They're softer, springier, quieter, and generally more helpful when you're drying laundry than rubber or plastic dryer balls.
What are wool dryer balls popular for? They usually last a long time, so you can use them for multiple cycles over 2–3 years before needing to replace them. Because wool balls leave clothes fluffier than non-wool options, they're the ideal choice when you're trying to soften percale bedding or other types of naturally crisp clothing that you'd like to make softer over time. They also reduce static cling and, to a noticeable extent, prevent laundry from wrinkling.
Many of the best dryer balls online, including Doze Wool Dryer Balls, are made from 100% pure New Zealand wool, which is preferred for its soft yet durable fibers. Doze's dryer balls are also hypoallergenic. They contain no plastic shells, dyes, fragrances, or synthetic fillers, and are suitable for people with sensitive skin.
[Photo by Africa images on Canva.]
Like wool balls, rubber and plastic balls separate clothes as the drum turns. They usually have spikes all over their surface area that help keep the laundry load from clumping.
They're durable too, but their spikes may stain with repeated use. They also tend to make more noise when knocking around in the dryer and may not prevent static cling as effectively as wool balls.
Not all plastic and rubber dryer balls can be used on high heat. Some may degrade under high heat and could cause a bit of damage to the dryer drum or ruin your clothes. Check the manufacturer's instructions before using them on high heat.
Dryer balls have several upsides:
If lint from towels and bedding sticks to the ball's surface over time, roll a lint roller over its surface to remove the lint. You can pick off large lint clumps by hand as well.
Typically, the best way to wash wool dryer balls is to:
The exact timeline may vary from household to household, but it's generally recommended to wash dryer balls every 100 loads.
Don't use fabric softener or detergent unless the manufacturer says it's okay. Fabric softener leaves a lubricating, water-repellent coating on the wool fibers. That can make the dryer balls less absorbent, so they hold and release less moisture during the drying cycle. In turn, they may become less effective at helping with static. Meanwhile, detergent residue can interfere with how the wool fibers absorb and release moisture, and could weaken the fibers over time.
Rubber and plastic dryer balls may have different washing and temperature requirements, so check the instructions on the packaging before washing them.
A cotton bag, like the one Doze provides, helps wool balls breathe. If you don't have a mesh bag, a plastic vented container or a storage basket can work well.
Store plastic and rubber balls in a clean, dry jar or basket. You can technically keep them anywhere they won't get lost, but don't cram them into a tight container or place heavy items on top of them, as doing so can bend their flexible spikes.
Doze’s dryer balls can last up to 1,000 loads. Since you'll most likely not keep track of how many loads you've used a ball for, a more dependable way to know when you need to replace it is to check for signs that it's wearing out. Inspect wool dryer balls every three to six months. If you notice any losing its shape or pilling significantly, it may be time to retire it.
Plastic and rubber ones tend to wear out more quickly. Signs of wear include cracks, splits, warping, and damaged spikes.
Dryer sheets work by transferring some of their chemical coating onto fabrics. That coating makes clothes feel smoother and reduces friction between garments. If you use dryer sheets, you may have noticed that some of your clothing items that are meant to wick away moisture, like towels and duvets, appear to be less absorbent than they should be. That's due to the chemical coating.
Dryer balls are a reusable alternative to dryer sheets. They perform the same function, but without coating your fabrics with counterproductive chemicals. So you generally don't need to use dryer balls with dryer sheets. If you're after the fragrance from dryer sheets, get unscented wool dryer balls and add two to three drops of essential oil to each ball you want to use. Let all balls dry fully before putting them in the dryer.
Dryer balls don't have any downsides when they work as expected, and you maintain and store them properly. It's advisable to get wool dryer balls. They're quieter than rubber and plastic ones and particularly helpful for students drying dorm bedding in shared laundry rooms and apartment residents doing laundry in communal facilities.
No, wool dryer balls won't ruin your dryer when you use them as intended. They're softer than plastic and rubber balls, so their tumbling shouldn't damage the dryer drum. Don't overload the drum so tightly that the load cannot tumble properly.
Tennis balls were the go-to before dryer balls became a part of laundry routines. Unlike dryer balls, tennis balls aren't made specifically for laundry, and their dyes may transfer if they aren't colorfast. They may also be noisier than wool dryer balls.
Dryer balls do what their name hints: drying laundry. Each tumble between clothing items helps keep the fabrics separated. Their good work can reduce static and speed up drying times. Don't have any yet? Add a set (or two) of Doze Wool Dryer Balls to your cart.
