Dryer balls, what are they and how do they work?

[Amys1st]

I read time and time again about dryer balls. What are these and do they do like tennis balls do?

Help me here...:

[LovemyBoo]

They look like this, dryer balls.

I have four of them. They work like tennis balls, perhaps more effectively because of the little bumps on them. They help separate the clothes in the dryer, keeping them from flopping around in one big lump so they dry more efficiently.

I use all four of mine most of the time and hardly ever use dryer sheets anymore. I have to use sheets for fleece because I live in a very dry area and if I don't the static is terrible. With all my other loads I just use the balls. Low static, soft enough (I was never big on soft, I use the sheets for static), and it cuts about 10 min or so off my drying time.

When I do use a dryer sheet I rip off about 1/4 of a sheet and throw it in with the balls and it works well. So I'm using much less of the sheets than I had been.

Overall they've been a good investment for us.

[philomom]

Yes, love those dryer balls.

[chel]

I was told aluminum foil wadded into a ball gets rid of static? Do these balls do it better?

[Amys1st]

are they ok w the cloth diapers?? I have pockets inserts and the diapers plus wipes in there.

[momaste]

I use them with my prefolds. I don't know if they do much good, but I use them anyway.

[Amys1st]

I think I will try and order them!

[Nitenites]

Originally Posted by chel

I was told aluminum foil wadded into a ball gets rid of static? Do these balls do it better?

Um, yeah. I tried the aluminum foil.

Did. Not. Work.

[oneKnight]

I've used tennis balls, but I got them 3/$1 instead of these bumpy ones "as seen on TV" that I saw somewhere for like $9.

[paschallraschalls]

I've tried the tennis ball thing, and maybe it was because I bought cheap tennis balls, but they smelled awful (think:rubber, or new shower curtain) and made my clothes smell that way.

I have also tried foil balls. They worked for a while, but after a bit, they started releasing foil sliver into the clothes.

Do the store-bought dryer balls reduce the static at all? With cold weather coming on, I would love to find something that reduces static TIA

[kyndmamaof4]

I just wanted to let you know, that I looked on target.com, and I saw that they are made from PVC. I am positive that they omit some kind of toxic chemicals...all PVC does. I would think twice before I dried my clothes with these chemical balls.

That's my .02 cents...

OK, here is the link for the ones they sell in target...

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0009IB6T2

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by kyndmamaof4

I just wanted to let you know, that I looked on target.com, and I saw that they are made from PVC. I am positive that they omit some kind of toxic chemicals...all PVC does. I would think twice before I dried my clothes with these chemical balls.

That's my .02 cents...

OK, here is the link for the ones they sell in target...

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0009IB6T2

well I am glad i didnt buy them yet because this kills the deal. I will stick to a quarter of a fabric sheet from 7th generartion......

[kyndmamaof4]

I've also heard that white vinegar in the rinse cycle works well...I haven't tried it, but it might be worth a try...

[zeldabee]

I use dried lavendar in a little cloth bag. You can buy little bags of lavendar at Trader Joe's, which I have done, but I've also used the lavendar from my patio pot. I hate dryer sheets--don't like the residue they leave on my clothes, and I hate the smell.