[VeganCupcake]

I've seen various kinds of dryer balls around that claim to reduce static and fluff up clothes, as well as reduce drying time.

I'm wondering if they work. I've heard mixed reviews. I'm not so concerned about drying time, but I worry about static!

TIA!

 

[twopinknoblue]

They do make clothes soft and reduce drying time. But, depending on the weather outside, they do nothing for static. I find that in the summertime when the weather is humid (as it is here ALL summer long) I don't have much problem with static, but on cooler drier days I do.

 

[sandy'smama]

they sort of work... they fluff up clothes nicely, especially if partially line dried but I did not find that they reduced the drying time at all.
I do not think they are really worth the money. I do not use the fabric softener at all and the small difference that the balls make in softness if you machine dry from start to finish is not worth nearly £10.00 IMO

 

[fremontmama]

I bought a couple at our local grocery store and they reduced drying time from about 50min on high heat to about 30min on high heat. I dont really care about static or fluffing, so I havent noted the effects on that. We're line drying now, so it's not relevant for the summer, but in the winter, I think it will make a difference for us.

 

[friendly fire]

they are too pricey in stores but i bought four on ebay for 10 dollars.....do they work? well enough i suppose but there's still static....i was trying to jam my toddlers arm through his shirt sleeve the other day and one was lodged in the arm....it was just sorta funny....

 

[reducereuserecycle]

my mom loves hers...i still worry about heating plastic around my clothes, so i don't have any.

 

[VeganCupcake]

Update:

I didn't buy dryer balls because we live in such an arid climate and I was still worried about static. But I did get Static Eliminators through Gaiam.com and they have worked really well--no static so far!

They're a set of two tubes of fabric that apparently have a carbon fiber woven in them (I sound a bit kooky to myself describing them that way). They say they last about 500 loads. I think they were $20 or something.

We have a brand new dryer, and I didn't want to gum it up with dryer sheet goo, and every load thus far has been done with the eliminator things. I'm happy with them.

 

[kleines]

I use dryer balls and they work really well for us. I have to use four to get the desired effect though. I too worry about the plastics heating up though. I guess it is better than the chemicals in the dryer sheets and the waste (+ what they do to my cloth diapers)! I have been on the look out for an alternative, I need to check out the Gaiam static eliminators!

 

[kaia8]

Have to second VeganCupcake's review of the Static Eliminator - I bought mine with the coupon here, and it's surprisingly effective! I didn't have high hopes, but I thought, what the hell... I hate the feel and smell of dryer sheets. It totally works.