Dryer Balls?

[aquacycle]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with Dryer Balls, and if you would recommend them? I know they're supposed to minimise creasing and cut down drying times, but do they actually work?

Thanks all,
Chris

 

[pulsator]

We have them at home and my mom seems to like them. They fluff things up a bit more, I don't think they help decrease drying times though. There are a few cons to consider:
-Until they are warmed up, they are very loud, lots of banging around in the dryer.

-They have a tendency to get stuck in sleeves and pant legs, it's annoying to have to find them again after each load.

-They don't last all that long before they start to crack and lose some of the little spines which end up in your laundry or wedged into small openings in the dryer.

I personally don't like them and think the dryer does a fine job without them. The only time I could see them being helpful is when drying something that needs fluffing up like a down comforter or pillows. Even then, tennis balls won't crack and fall apart.

 

[aegokocarat]

if you ask me, i recon they damage your dryer and make excess noise.
also the tips of them burn and go black, thus leading me to say that they also would damage your clothes.
save your money and your dryer

 

[mark_wpduet]

I've never used them; someone told me that tennis balls do the same thing, so I used those sometimes. Brand new and clean. I actually bought a new can and ran them through the washer before I started using them in the dryer. It does help some things from balling up, but not totally and they can be a little loud.

 

[ozzie908]

I use them

To remove lint and dog hairs from items I have line dried, I put items and the balls on the Air Fluff cycle and they remove the hairs etc a treat You do have to ignore the noise though !

Austin

 

[mayguy]

I used them, and the ones I used is from Norwex. They hold up very well and they are about 1 1/2 years maybe 2 years hold, and nothing broken off..

We have a cat, so I think it does do well. As one pointed out, it may get caught up some where in the pants or something and won't do the job anymore.

 

[hoovermatic]

I have been using them for the last 6 years and I do think they are good at helping to fluff things up a bit more however I line dry virtually everything inside or out and put things through the dryer for a short time on a low heat to finish/air/fluff them up only. I have tried using them to dry things as a replacement for softener and got the impression they are pretty much a gimmick.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Dryer balls are great for pillows and down coats especially in the washer on the gentle cycle to help clean cuffs.
It doesn't add any more fluff to the load while drying, but it does keep light loads in the dryer from sticking to the baffles in one spot causing longer drying time.

 

[summerluvin_ca]

I use them and I make them

The dryer balls that you are speaking of are the pvc ones. They are essentially emitting fumes on your clothes because of the plastic deteriorating.

I make wool dryer balls which work amazingly. They drastically cut down on drying time because the wool is absorbant. They essentially bounce around and tumble alongside your articles increasing the air flow around and through the clothes. They naturally soften fibres and in some locales they are also known to decrease static cling without the use of fabric softeners. In the cloth diapering community, many moms use them as a green alternative. The ones that I make are the size of a softball and I generally put 4 in a load. They are not loud at all because it is just felted wool.

Tennis balls do work like the pvc ones, but they will also deteriorate with use. A hint though, when drying towels and sheets...throw in pillows to help them not tangle up and essentially do what the dryer balls would.

 

[iheartmaytag]

My dryer must be a girl, or a politician--no balls.