this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2024
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Wool Dryer Balls (slrpnk.net)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Blair@slrpnk.net to c/zerowaste@slrpnk.net
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100% wool dryer balls are growing in popularity to the point where I have even seen them at my local dollar store, and for good reason. They can save you money in laundry costs.

If you are someone who uses dryer sheets, these wool balls are a great alternative that removes static from your clothes and can decrease drying time by around 30-50%. So, you save money by not having to buy dryer sheets, as well as on electricity. All you do is toss them into the dryer with your clothes!

"Per Toner, “Dryer balls excel in reducing drying time due to their ability to create space between clothes. This separation facilitates better air circulation, leading to faster drying and potential energy savings.” | bobvila

I have had mine for many many years now, and they are still in great shape. When or if they do ever break down to the point of being unable to use, the wool is biodegradable.

Just make sure that what you buy is 100% wool. If you are crafty (and have access to wool) you can also make your own fairly easily.

https://youtu.be/de644Zwtnbg

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[–] andrewth09@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The link provided doesn't actually lead to a study or anything. It just leads to a website that repeats the same claim about dryer efficiency.

[–] Blaat1234@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago

Here's a link to a consumer review org that actually tested it with standardized loads and measured drying times. They don't work, takes just as long and cost the same in electricity.

https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/laundry-and-cleaning/dryers/articles/dryer-ball-review

It's sad that nowadays most "reviews" are just going by feelz and not by numbers. The placebo is strong with this category.

[–] liam070@sopuli.xyz 15 points 3 months ago (4 children)

They can save you money in laundry costs.

Want to know a secret how to really save money? Don't use a Dryer.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Haha sadly, hanging your laundry outdoors is illegal here(also, it would freeze in winter), and indoors it takes forever to dry ╥﹏╥

[–] watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Illegal? Where? How?

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 10 points 3 months ago (2 children)

My town in Alberta, Canada. It actually used to be banned in a lot of Canada, like all of British Columbia, and Ontario. Old-fashioned people think it makes a neighborhoods look "trashy" and start going on about property value.

It's sort of like how a huge amount of apartment buildings don't allow anything on balconies because it's "unsightly."

[–] watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 3 months ago

Oh no, laundry! People live here, disgusting!

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Oh, it's dictated by the landlords? Or a HOA (landlords++)?

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago

Well for apartment buildings and empty balcony rules, yes, its the landlords.

For the outdoor laundry, its bylaws. Basically what happens is nosy neighbors report you, then a bylaw officer comes by and tells you someone made a complaint. It's called a "Nuisance and unsightly premises bylaw."

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 months ago

What !?

Until now I never considered that it would be made illegal to hang your clothes.

This is distopia material.

[–] lemming741@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

cries in tropic

[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Hang dryer gang reporting in

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

also helps to live in a place that's regularly above 20° and sunny

[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago

I just hang stuff indoors when it's no longer good enough weather to effectively hang dry outside. Works well enough

[–] TheDuffmaster@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

I have issues with sun bleaching when I hang dry, although I like close to the equator. Is there things you can do to combat sun bleaching when hanging outside to dry?

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Haha as a german I have no idea what this is and why you would need it

WÄSCHESTÄNDER

[–] Caitlyynn@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 months ago

Me sitting next to mine:

What do you mean saving electricity??

[–] CodexArcanum@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I switched to dryer balls several years ago and haven't looked back. I do still have an old box of dryer sheets that I sometimes use with extremely static-causing things but the balls are usually enough. Some people like to soak a few drops of essential oil into the balls as well if you like a little fragrance.

I haven't noticed any issues with the balls banging into more delicate clothes. If you worry about delicates or piling, I would recommend line drying or using a garment bag to wash and dry them. For piling you can also use a fabric shaver designed to trim them off.

But ultimately, clothes just wear out especially when washing, piling and fading are signs of wear. Clothes I want to preserve I wash on delicate, use the fancy detergent (Woolite), try to skip a wash or two by just hang things to "air out" a bit between washes, and hang to dry.

[–] SoJB@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Just adding a tip related to the natural lifespan of clothing!

Machine-drying destroys clothes. Hang-dry your stuff (if climate and living space allow), or at least just your nice clothes, and they will easily last decades.

This is assuming they are properly made clothes from the start, but it’ll also expand the life of random polyester crap as well. Just not as dramatically.

[–] AceQuorthon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 months ago

Forbidden mozarella

[–] HEXN3T@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I had assumed these were scam products because my not-so-cool extended family used them.

Apparently not.

[–] DavidP@midwest.social 8 points 3 months ago

They work very well. We've been using a set for four years now.

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 8 points 3 months ago

I used these (and the plastic/rubber ones with little nubs on them) for awhile at my last place. The laundry room had a linoleum floor that was easy to keep clean, so when the balls inevitably went a-rolling after getting caught in a blanket or towel it wasn't a big deal. Laundry at the current place is in a basement... yeah, the first time one of the wool balls got away it was pretty grody even though the floor was swept regularly. The plastic ones were easier to clean, but without a utility sink handy they became a pain to use. We eventually gave up and went back to dryer sheets. 😕

[–] CallMeButtLove@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

I use these and like them but they definitely don't get rid of as much static as dryer sheets. Not enough for me to switch back to those, but the balls leave something to be desired.

[–] baggins@beehaw.org 5 points 3 months ago

Used these for a few years now. Excellent piece of kit.

[–] 667@lemmy.radio 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Do these help prevent piling?

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I could be wrong, but I believe pilling is most commonly caused by friction (for example, where your legs rub when you walk), so one thing that would help is not washing clothes that tend to pill with clothes that have hard things like zippers or buttons. The balls might help by cutting down on the time the clothes rub together with the air-gaps they create, but I am not sure.

I have been told before that you can remove pilling with a razor, but please look it up before you try haha.

[–] 667@lemmy.radio 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Depending on material, I get piling all over some of my shirts. One could use a safety razor or something to address piling, but they also make an application-specific piling “shaver”. I should get one haha

[–] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

They're pretty good. I have one and it's super quick to shave off the fuzz. There's a little collection chamber for it and everything so it doesn't get all over my couch.

[–] Shadow@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 months ago

Turn your clothes inside out and button / zipper them up fully before washing should help.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

We have these. They're kinda lame. I still use fabric softener sheets.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

How do these compare to those balls that are supposed to soften fabrics without adding liquid fabric softener to the wash? Do wool ones do that too?

[–] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They cam do that a little bit when they are new. Wool has lanolin on it, which can soften fabrics, and decrease static, but it wears out over time. You can "refresh" them by just re-adding new lanolin.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 1 points 3 months ago

Good to know. Thank you!

[–] shamalow@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Do these help without a dryer too?

[–] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 months ago

Yes, but throwing them at clothes on a clothesline is exhausting