Does anyone use laundry balls? Can you

**Judi Dial** · 04-01-2009, 10:47 PM

tell me about them if you do or have in the past please?

Thanks.

Judi

**MrsAJS** · 04-02-2009, 01:10 AM

I bought some laundry balls on clearance at Rite Aid for $3 and LOVED them. But after a few weeks my husband noticed one had a a crack in it and he was afraid of it deteriorating more and somehow ruining the dryer. He liked them too, but was disappointed in the quality. We did use them frequently (2-3 times a day) and he is going to look for another set with a more durable plastic. I really did like them over dryer sheets. With the dryer sheets some of the laundry would still have static. I never noticed that when using the balls. I hope the next set we buy will last a lot longer and I can stop buying dryer sheets altogether.

**Judi Dial** · 04-02-2009, 07:44 AM

MrsAJS,

thanks! I heard about them in an ecoliving book. The ones I was wondering about replace laundry detergent, and I'd never heard of such a thing. I'd heard abou the dryer balls, but not the others.

Seems I need to do a bit of research!

Thanks again --

Judi

**Natalie** · 04-02-2009, 08:32 AM

I love the dryer balls, too. But their falling apart is not what I want to happen to the dryer. Mine cracked, too. I've gone back to the good old tennis balls. Noiser, but they do the same thing, and last longer.

I know a lady who has a washer ball. Can't really tell if it does any better. It just lifts, or keeps down the laundry in the washer. Nothing comes out of hers, never needs filled...

**2ndGenGranola** · 04-02-2009, 09:11 AM

I loved my dryer balls but so did the kids. Mine had disappeared long before they cracked.

**MoonMommy** · 04-02-2009, 09:41 AM

There was a thing on the idealbite website about making your own dryer balls out of yarn. They say it was even better for the environment because it isn't plastic. They also suggested tennis balls.

**MoonMommy** · 04-02-2009, 09:41 AM

Oh, I should add, that I have some that I bought really cheap as well, but I am not sure that it helps to reduce my dry time.

**englishcottage1** · 04-02-2009, 10:12 AM

I bought the dryer balls from a home and garden show about two years ago, I think they were about $14.99, but at that time they were new so therefore not as cheap as they are nowadays, but I have to say I still have the original set from two years ago. I have bought a pair from BB&B because I figured this first pair wouldn't last as long as they have, so I do have another pair for backup, but as of yet, they are still working properly and don't look all that worn.

The only down side of the dryer balls is that I find they are a little loud so doing a late night dryer run is something I try to avoid. I hang out clothes as much as I can so I use them mostly in the from october to late april, maybe that's why they have lasted two years

I am interested in the washer balls, I have not heard of them? I am also interested in the one for the fabric softner for when I hang out clothes, does anyone use those?

**MrsAJS** · 04-02-2009, 10:13 AM

I've never heard of ball for the washing machine. I can't imagine not using some sort of detergent.

I hadn't heard that you could use tennis balls for the dryer either! Thanks for sharing. I will give that a try.

**MoonMommy** · 04-02-2009, 01:49 PM

http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/...-bouncing-ball

just in case you were interested.

**Natalie** · 04-02-2009, 06:20 PM

With the washer ball this one lady has, you still have to use detergent. The ball just makes things move around better, like the dryer balls do.

**craftypam** · 04-02-2009, 06:46 PM

I'm not sure of the washer balls you are all talking about; but the one I have is like laundry detergeant in a ball and you put it in the washing machine and it slowly uses the detergeant. Since I have so much laundry detergeant stockpiled I haven't gotten around to trying the ball yet.

**Judi Dial** · 04-02-2009, 06:48 PM

What I found when I researched the laundry balls was that they were probably a scam. The tests conducted with them didn't get clothes any cleaner than clothes washed with no soap at all. I read two or three studies after the initial spate of answers this morning. So I decided against them.

The dryer balls seem to have merit although the major problem with them is that they are apparently loud. Wool washer balls would likely solve that problem, so that's what I'll go look for.

Thank you one and ALL!

Judi

**Grainlady** · 04-04-2009, 01:46 PM

One satisified customer here! When we first moved into our home 3 years ago, our yard was a huge undeveloped mud hole and I had to use the dreaded dryer (didn't have my clothes lines up yet). LOVED the dryer balls when I used them. They shortened drying time by 25-50% - but did little to nothing for static. (You can control static using other non-toxic methods besides fabric softeners.) The shortened time was a HUGE plus in my books. I NEVER use fabric softeners (sheets or liquids) other than vinegar in the rinse of the bath towels and the kitchen towels.

My first set of dryer balls were the elipitcal Nellie's Dryer Balls (got them at a thrift store but they usually run $20); and they quickly cracked - so don't spend anymore money than necessary for them. I switched to the inexpensive ones and they work just fine. Dryer Balls aren't guaranteed to last a lifetime - just so many loads...

Recently, hubby was at ACE Hardware (during their 20% off sale - all you could fill in the paper bag) and he got the new anti-static variety of dryer balls (has some 1-inch pink foam dots on the blue balls). I did a test with them for the anti-static control when I washed my two fuzzy robes (100% polyester) and dried them by themselves in the dryer. Worked great for static, compared to the regular dryer balls. Then I washed our microfiber winter blankets, and the anti-static balls really worked well in that dryer load.

It's suggested you may need to use more than 2 anti-static balls for large loads or loads that contain a lot of synthetic fabrics.

You can also use tennis balls (which was the first ones I tried), but they put off some toxic smell I couldn't stand.

Here's a homemade version using WOOL yarn:
http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-wool-dryer-balls/