Is it possible to reduce wrinkles, make laundry softer AND save electricity by cutting down on clothes drying time … without using a liquid fabric softener or dryer sheet?
Yes. And it all comes down to simple handmade balls made of felted wool.
Instead of plastic dryer balls that leave a residue and odor, wool dyer balls are all natural. And they are very easy to make. As a woman’s who is pretty devoid of crafting talent, even I could make them in about a half an hour.
All you need is wool yarn, wool roving (only if you choose), some socks, a washer and a dryer. Here’s the step-by-step process:
Step 1
Wind 100 percent wool yarn around your pointer finger and thumb about twenty times. Slip the yarn off your fingers and continue to wind yarn around this to make a yarn ball that’s a little smaller than a golf ball.
Step 2
If you only have wool yarn, continue to wind the wool yarn around the ball until it’s the size of a tennis ball. If you have wool roving, tightly wrap it around the yarn ball until it’s the size of a tennis ball or softball.
Wondering what in the heck wool roving is? It’s wool that’s been washed, combed, and carded and is ready to be spun into yarn.
Here are my little wool yarn balls … both uncovered and covered by wool roving.
Step 3
Once you’ve got several wool balls wound and packed tightly, put them in an old sock. I used old, stretched out pantyhose for mine, but by the time I finished the felting process, the wool fibers fused to the pantyhose and I now have felted wool/pantyhose dryer balls. I warned you I was devoid of crafting talent!
Anyway. Tuck your wool dryer balls into socks or pantyhose. Tie a knot tightly in the sock so your wool ball stays in the shape of a ball.
My wool roving yarn balls are ready to be stuffed and tied into old pantyhose.
Step 4
Stick your socks/pantyhose full of dryer balls into your washing machine. To conserve electricity and water, put a load of laundry in with the balls. Wash with HOT water. After the wash cycle is over, put the dryer balls in the dryer and dry on high. Repeat the hot washing and drying process.
Three wool yarn balls are ready to be felted! They’re headed for the washer and dryer.
Step 5
Untie the knotted sock or pantyhose. Or, if the knot’s too tight and your socks and pantyhose are old, cut the dryer balls out. Voila! Felted wool dryer balls.
My finished product. Because of my pantyhose fusing problem, I have two-tone dryer balls for now.
Step 6
Whenever you’re drying clothes, pop your wool dryer balls in with your wash. They’ll bounce around and soften your fabric while cutting down on drying time.
Talk back
Do you already use wool dryer balls? Are you pleased with how they work? If you choose to make your own, please leave a comment telling me how your process worked. (Am I the only one to have pantyhose fuse onto their dryer balls?)
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Today I’m linking up with:
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Right after Christmas I decided to make dryer balls for all birthday gifts. Have finished three bunches. They are wonderful. Wasn’t quite sure to the size, but judging by your directions, mine are a good size. I used panty hose with mine, but happy to say I did not have a problem. I also add a little essential oil and that makes the laundry smell great
What a great idea Hilary! I never heard of those!
This looks like a great project! I too am “accidentally green”; it’s a natural bi-product of living a frugal lifestyle. :) Pinning this.
Thanks so much i love this! I also am accidentally green and actually happier to be it.
I love my dryer balls! I’ve been using them for about 9 months now, and my four-year-old loves to dig them out of the clean laundry for me! I’ve never used the wool roving, so you can see what they look like with just wool here: http://www.dejongdreamhouse.com/2012/11/wool-dryer-balls.html
Btw, when the balls get small, as they will over time, you can just cover them with more wool and felt again.
Thanks so much for commenting, Jen. I’m glad to hear that I can cover over the balls with more wool and felt again. I appreciated your post. (And I agree with you – our laundry is so much softer now!)
When using these, does the wool “fall off” and cling to dark colored clothing? Making a lint like mess all over them?
I’ve been using my dryer balls with every load of laundry for the past three weeks – and I do a LOT of laundry – and I haven’t noticed any wool lint on dark clothing. My lint screen is covered a lot more, but my clothes seem to be fine.
Do these prevent static? I tried the plastic balls in the past and they did not prevent static so I switched back to dryer sheets. But I would prefer something more natural. I have also tried the clothes pin method also.
In the warmer weather months the wool dryer balls do prevent static, Heather. I live in Ohio where it’s cold in winter, hot and humid in the summer and somewhere in between in the spring and fall – now that I’ve been using these for a year I’ve learned that my laundry is static-free in the spring, summer and fall. But boy, has there been a ton of static this winter!
What a great tutorial, Hilary. I have just started making them, too (http://thankfulexpressions.blogspot.com/2013/10/felted-dryer-balls-do-it-yourself.html), and didn’t think to put yarn in the center. Mine are all roving.
I live in Vermont and, you’re right, they don’t alleviate the static in the winter months! Whoa!
Glad to have found you (via Simple Foody), I’ll stop by again. :-)
what if people are allergic to wool ? Do the wool balls affect that ?
Wool dryer balls don’t shed, and the wool doesn’t come in contact with your skin, so it should be just fine. I do have a sensitivity to wool, and haven’t noticed any problems at all after using my wool dryer balls for the past 18 months.