Save Money On Dryer Balls With This Genius Laundry Day DIY

By the time you prep, wash, dry, and organize your clothes, you can easily spend more than four hours weekly on laundry. But dryer balls can reduce your garment's drying time, saving you more than a few moments on this necessary chore. And if you're someone who appreciates DIY projects, then you can create dryer balls yourself. The best part is you probably have everything you need already in your house. 

The most common material for this project is wool. Yes, dryer balls come in plastic and rubber, but synthetic materials can leach harmful chemicals, especially when heated. Wool dryer balls are quieter, wick moisture away from clothing, and speed up drying time.

But why should you be using wool dryer balls? For starters, they bounce around your dryer, helping air circulate. They can also reduce the incidence of static, which means you can ditch chemical-laden dryer sheets. Dryer sheets also contain fragrances that can trigger allergic reactions, but dryer balls make them obsolete. You'll also eliminate unnecessary waste, as these balls last upwards of five years. Here's how to add them to your clean laundry routine. 

To begin this inventive hack, gather old wool sweaters, scarves, gloves, coats, and more — anything of the sort you're not wearing anymore. If you don't have anything around the house, you can always find items at your local thrift store. Just be sure to clean all fabrics first. 

Next, cut your clothes into strips, wrapping these pieces around each other until a ball forms. Keep wrapping until the result is roughly the size of a tennis ball, making several of them in the process. When you're done, place these dryer balls in pantyhose, tying them off individually. Put them in a pot of water and bring that to a boil. Then, remove the pot from the heat and let them steep until the water cools. Remove excess water, heat them in your dryer, and repeat the process until your ball is the desired size.  They'll shrink as it's part of the felting process. 

You have to boil your dryer balls to keep the strips of fabric together. The process of felting ensures that the wool fibers are securely intertwined, preventing your DIY dryer balls from untangling in your laundry. But why can't you use cotton for this project? For starters, felted wool offers waterproof properties that you can't get from other natural materials. Other materials would offer a soggy mess. Additionally, mold loves organic materials. You don't want to risk nasty spores forming in your dryer balls if they're prone to retaining moisture. This is what makes water-resistant options — such as wool — the best choice.  

As with any hack that involves appliances — and expensive ones — it's important to ask if there's any potential harm. The short and simple answer is no. DIY wool dryer balls won't affect your dryer, regardless of whether it's gas or electric. Just remember that they are a little noisy, which means you should be mindful if you have shared walls. 

To keep your dryer balls fresh, it's important to clean them. You don't have to do anything special; you can pop them in with your clothes when you do the laundry. However, make sure to use a mesh bag, protecting them in the wash. If your dryer balls are looking a little worse for wear — with lint and pet hair on them — they might not repel static as well as you'd like. To handwash them, soak them in soapy water, wring them out, let them soak again, and rinse them in cold water before scrubbing away any debris. Too much lint won't necessarily affect drying time, but it may prevent the wool from absorbing moisture from the air. Follow these handwashing tips to reduce static cling and keep your dryer balls looking and working their best.