I Tested Dryer Balls Against Dryer Sheets: There Was An Obvious Winner
Confession: I have been doing laundry the exact same way for probably twenty years. I grew up with that familiar orange box of dryer sheets sitting on the shelf and I never really questioned it. But lately I have been trying to reduce the amount of waste I create, and those single use sheets are getting harder and harder to justify. I heard people raving about wool dryer balls so I finally decided to buy a set and put them to the test.
The Difference In Drying Time
The first thing I noticed when I switched to dryer balls was that my dryer buzzed a lot sooner than usual. The wool balls work by bouncing around and separating your wet clothes which helps the hot air circulate through your dryer much better. With dryer sheets, my clothes tend to ball up and stay damp in the middle even after a few cycles. With the balls, my heavy towels were completely dry on the first cycle. It was honestly impressive to see how much energy and time this simple change saved me.
Dealing With Static
I was worried about static cling, because that is the main reason we use dryer sheets in the first place. And I have to be honest and say the sheets still win in this category by a small margin. The chemical coating on the sheets is very effective at killing static, and nothing can really replace that. The wool balls did a decent job, but I did still notice a little bit of cling on my synthetic gym clothes. It was not a dealbreaker for me, but it was noticeable.
How My Towels Felt Afterwards
This was the biggest surprise for me. I learned that dryer sheets actually coat your fabrics in a thin layer of wax or fat to make them feel soft. And that coating can actually stop your towels from absorbing water effectively. After a few washes with just the wool balls, my bath towels felt fluffier and they actually absorbed a lot more water. It felt good to know I was getting the residue off my fabrics and letting them do their job.
The Noise Factor
I have to mention that the wool balls are not silent. For the first ten minutes of the cycle it sounded a bit like I had left a pair of tennis shoes in the dryer. It is a soft thumping sound as they bounce against the metal drum, so just be aware of that the first time you use them. It quiets down once the clothes fluff up, but if your laundry room is right next to a bedroom or a nursery you might find the sound a little distracting.
How Laundry Smells
If you love that strong artificial "fresh laundry" smell, you might be disappointed at first by your dryer balls. The wool balls are completely unscented so your clothes just come out smelling like clean fabric and hot air. But I actually found I preferred this neutral smell. If you really miss the scent you can put a few drops of essential oil right onto the wool balls. It gives your laundry a nice light fragrance that feels much more natural than the heavy perfumes in the sheets. Just stick to one or two drops, don’t overdo it.
The Savings Add Up Quickly
With how much laundry I do, I used to buy a new box of dryer sheets every month or two, and that cost really adds up over a lifetime. A set of high quality wool dryer balls costs about the same as two boxes of sheets but they last for over a thousand loads. You can just leave them in the dryer and use them over and over again. It feels way better to buy something once that i can use multiple times, instead of having to buy new dryer sheets over and over again.
No More Looking For Trash
One benefit I did not expect from swapping to dryer balls was simply not having to hunt for used dryer sheets. I used to find them stuck up the sleeve of a shirt or clinging to a pant leg while I was folding laundry. Once, they even fell out of my clothes in public, which was super embarrassing. With the balls there is zero trash involved and no risk of dryer sheets clinging onto your clothes. You open the dryer door to clean laundry and just throw your dryer balls back in the drum.
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After running these tests I can confidently say I am converting to the dryer balls. They save energy and money and they are much better for drying my towels. I might keep a small box of sheets tucked away for those super static heavy loads in the dead of winter, but for everyday washing the balls are the clear winner. It is a simple swap that makes doing laundry just a little bit greener and faster.
Bliss Donahue-Power
