If you want to delve into the world of wool dryer balls, you might still have some burning questions you need answered. Such as, how to use wool dryer balls.
To use wool dryer balls, put 3-6 dryer balls in your dryer with your wet laundry. If it’s a large load add more. Dryer balls need space to bounce around, so the clothes will dry better and faster if you don’t overfill your dryer.
Other than how to use wool dryer balls, there are a lot more things you might want to know about them. This post will cover how to use dryer balls and five other frequently asked questions about dryer balls. Keep on reading to learn everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
How to Use Wool Dryer Balls
First things first, let’s talk about how to use wool dryer balls and go over a little bit about how they work.
Wool dryer balls are very easy to use, all you have to do is dump 3-6 dryer balls into your dryer with your load of laundry.
The dryer balls will bounce around in the dryer and separate and soften your clothing.
Since they work by separating the clothing, your dryer balls need room to bounce around in the dryer. So, it’s best if your dryer is only filled to about half capacity so they have room to do their thing.
There is a small amount of upkeep required when using wool dryer balls. All you have to do is every couple hundred loads of laundry just put them through a wash cycle. If you do this, they should last around 1000 loads of laundry.
The hardest part about using dryer balls is they sometimes get lost in your clothing during the drying process. I can’t tell you how many times I find them stuck inside a sleeve of a sweater.
But, as you can see, there’s nothing to using wool dryer balls except leaving them in the dryer to do their thing.
Now that we’ve covered how to use dryer balls, let’s move on to the other frequently asked questions that first-time users have about wool dryer balls.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Store Wool Dryer Balls?
Wool dryer balls don’t require much special storage. Usually, I just leave them in the dryer in between loads.
In general, wool dryer balls need to be stored in a cool dry place. This ensures that your dryer balls won’t get moldy or mildewy.
Since the dryer is made to dry, it’s a nice dry place to keep your dryer balls in between loads. Dryer balls are usually sold in a canvas bag which is also a great place to store your dryer balls.
How Often Should You Wash Wool Dryer Balls?
Wool dryer balls don’t require very much upkeep. The only thing you need to do is wash them every once and a while.
After a few hundred loads, dryer balls can start to loosen up or get stiffer. If you find that the texture of your dryer balls has changed from how they were when you first got them, you might need to wash them.
All you have to do is throw your wool dryer balls into the wash just like any other load. No special treatment is needed.
Then, just throw them in the dryer. This quick wash acts as a ‘recharge’ of the wool dryer balls and will keep them working well for future loads to come.
Do Dryer Balls Remove Pet Hair?
Wool dryer balls can help with removing pet hair. Because they’re made out of wool, they’re kind of sticky to other fibers.
This stickiness grabs onto other kinds of fiber which can help gather in pet hair.
If you wash a wool sweater or a garment that is kind of sticky, these pieces of clothing can also attract pet hair.
However, some users report that dryer balls can also leave a white residue on their clothing which is especially noticeable on dark-colored clothing.
This white lint from dryer balls is more likely to occur once your wool dryer balls start getting older. If you notice this white lint, try putting your dryer balls through a wash cycle.
This can help re-felt the dryer balls which may help with the wool residue on the clothing.
Do Wool Dryer Balls Help With Static?
Wool dryer balls help with static a little bit, but they don’t remove it completely.
If you absolutely hate static on your clothes, I’ve found a little trick that some people use to help get rid of static electricity.
Take a safety pin and pin it to one of your dryer balls. This little bit of metal will help discharge the static electricity in your laundry.
Some people also say you can wad up a ball of aluminum foil and put it in your dryer. This has the same effect as the safety pin but In my opinion, it seems like it could have the potential to leave pieces of aluminum foil on your clothes if it starts to break down.
Another way to help prevent more static electricity is to use dryer balls and dryer sheets together.
Can You Use Wool Dryer Balls and Dryer Sheets Together?
There’s nothing wrong with using dryer balls and dryer sheets together. However, there’s no need to use them both.
Dryer sheets can help reduce static electricity more than dryer balls do, but, a big reason for switching to dryer balls is to get rid of one-time use dryer sheets and the chemicals they use.
Dryer balls also help decrease drying time which dryer sheets don’t do.
If you want a better breakdown of dryer balls vs dryer sheets, we’ve got a post dedicated to just that.
Wrap Up
Alright, time for the breakdown.
Wool dryer balls are easy to use, you just need to throw 3-6 balls in the dryer depending on the size of a load of laundry.
They require very little upkeep and need to be washed every couple of months to give them a recharge.
Dryer balls can help remove pet hair because of the stickiness of the wool. But, wool can sometimes leave a white lint on darker-colored clothing.
Dryer balls can help reduce static in the dryer but they won’t remove it completely. However, if you pin a safety pin onto one of your dryer balls, this can help discharge the static in the dryer.
Lastly, there’s nothing wrong with using dryer balls and dryer sheets together but you don’t need to use them both.
Hopefully, that’s everything a first-time wool dryer ball user could possibly want to know about dryer balls. If you want to know more, we’ve got plenty of other posts about wool dryer balls for you to check out.
Now, get out there and go make something awesome!