Dryer balls are an alternative method to keep clothes soft and static-free instead of adding fabric softeners to laundry or using dryer sheets.

You can find a variety of dryer balls on the market. There are balls made from PVC that look like a little hedgehog to wool felted balls. Some people even swear by adding used tennis balls to each dryer load to speed drying and reduce wrinkling.

If you choose a 100 percent natural wool ball as the method of softening clothes, you can avoid introducing chemical residue and fragrances to fabrics that can be harmful to sensitive skin. Wool dryer balls help to keep clothes separated in the dryer allowing the heated air to circulate better and dry items more quickly. The wool balls also capture static and make clothes more static-free. After a few uses, you will see pilling on the surface of the balls. This is not attractive but it will not reduce the effectiveness of the dryer balls.

Making your own felted wool dryer balls is simple and a great way to use up leftover 100 percent wool yarn. You can even recycle wool sweaters that are no longer wearable. Homemade felted wool dryer balls are also much less expensive to make than to purchase.

Project Metrics

Working time: 30 minutes

Total time: 2 hours

Skill level: Beginner

What You'll Need

Supplies

100 percent wool yarn or 100 percent wool fabric strips

A small amount of cotton string

An old sock or pantyhose

Hot water

Tools

Clothes Dryer

Instructions

Go for 100 Percent Wool The fabric or yarn to make dryer balls must be 100 percent wool or other animal hair (cashmere, alpaca) that will shrink or felt when exposed to hot water. The natural hair has barbs that latch onto each other to create a more solid finish. This will provide the density you need for the ball to hold its shape. The natural fibers also help to control static much better than synthetic fibers.