Dryer Balls: What They Are and Why We Love Them

Here at janegee we are always looking for ways to be kind to the planet while making our lives easier. That’s why we think wool dryer balls are the best thing ever!

These cute, handcrafted, felted woolen balls are designed to replace chemical-filled dryer sheets or liquid fabric softeners while cutting down drying time, softening and fluffing fabric, and reducing static. They are handmade by women in Nepal using 100% premium New Zealand wool. They will not unravel and will last for years!

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about these magical wool balls.

How do they work?

As the wool balls tumble around in your dryer they soak up excess water, keeping your towels, sheets, and clothes separated from each other so that the heat can reach more surface area and dry them faster. They also bounce around amongst your laundry and help to naturally soften and fluff everything.  They are great for keeping your bed sheets untangled during the drying process as well as helping keep pet hair off of clothes. They are even great for fluffing down feather quilts and jackets!

Our wool dryer balls are much quieter and more gentle on clothing than the plastic dryer balls with the nubs. These plastic balls can also emit a gross plastic-y smell when heated, which doesn’t help the freshness of your clothes.

How long do they last?

Our dryer balls will last over 1,000 loads. For most people this is around 2-5 years, but it depends on how much laundry you do.

Are they safe for children and pets?

Our wool dryer balls are absolutely safe for baby’s and pets! We say pets because you’ll find that the balls may go missing if they fall out of the dryer. They make great cat or dog toys!

How do I use them?

For small and medium loads simply put 3 wool dryer balls in with your clothes. For larger loads you may want to add an additional ball or two.

Can you add scent to them?

Yes, you can! We like to put our favorite essential oil on them to gently scent our clothes as well as give an antibacterial boost. You could choose from lavender, lemon, grapefruit, orange, rosemary…or whatever scent takes your fancy! Simply add 3-5 drops of oil to each ball, let them dry for about an hour (you can also quick dry them alone in the dryer), and then toss them in with your laundry. Refresh the dryer balls every 4-5 loads, but you may need to do this more often if you like a stronger scent. Even if you don’t add an essential oil to your dryer balls, they will still leave your laundry smelling fresh and clean.

Now, just toss them in the dryer and let them do the work! We hope you love these wool dryer balls as much as we do!