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Dryer Balls: The Healthy Alternative to Toxic Dryer Sheets

Hola friends!

In Part 1 and 2 of this series, we talked about how to make your own laundry detergent and the importance of adding vinegar to your laundry. 

 Continuing on with Part 3 lets green up your laundry with a switch to wool dryer balls!

Dryer balls are an awesome trade for your dryer sheets! They have been gaining significant popularity which is no surprise. Conventional dryer sheets contain artificial fragrances or other toxic ingredients know to cause skin irritation and respiratory health problems. Wool dryer balls, on the other hand, are biodegradable, naturally antimicrobial, and free of chemicals or dyes.

 3 Awesome Reasons to Use Wool Dryer Balls and Ditch the Dryer Sheets
1. They shorten drying time by up to 20%, which means saving energy and money.
2. They are a Zero Waste option. They replace the disposable sheets and last up to 1,000+ loads
3. They soften laundry naturally without chemicals.


How do Wool Dryer Balls Work?
Wool Dryer balls bounce around inside the dryer, allowing hot air to circulate which reduces drying time.

I used to dry my clothes for 60-70 mins and now I am down to 40-50 mins.I save an average of 1,500+ mins of dry time a year!.That is pretty crazy if you ask me!

How to Use Wool Dryer Balls:
For a small load you can place 2-3 dryer balls in with the load. For larger loads you can use 4-6. Personally I just toss in whatever I can find because odds are I don't have all 6 of my balls by my dryer because life happens!

Most people like the fragrance of conventional dryer sheet. So to achieve this goal you can add a few drops of essential oil (see notes below) to 1-2 wool balls. I personally don't add anything to mine.

 Dryer ball mistakes to watch out for!!
 It took me forever to figure out how people achieved no static with these balls. But I'm here to let you in on the secrets no one told me.

1. Don't over dry. I recommend only drying for 50 min then working your way down.
2. Don't over load your dryer. As in don't jam pack it full of clothes because they need room to move for the air to circulate
3. Don't over heat. I run my dryer on the medium heat instead of the normal/ high option.
4. Put a few safety pins on the dryer balls. In theory it helps ground them when they touch the metal drum.
4. Use a vinegar in your wash cycle. (I cover those details in Part 2)

Once dryer is done I take my dryer balls out and place them in a basket on top of my dryer for the next load.

Where can I purchase Wool Dryer Balls?
I purchased my set of 6 through Amazon a few years ago. If you live around Central ND you can get a set at Magnolia Wellness and Detox Spa in Rugby.

If you are feeling really crafty you could make your own! Check out this post from The Domestic Wildflower which has directions to help you out!
Until next time, happy trails my friends!
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