Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Dryer Balls

I like using dryer sheets because they can't be beat for preventing static cling. There are some loads, however, that I can't use dryer sheets in (towels, diapers, etc.) (Did you know that dryer sheets reduce the absorbency of such things as towels and diapers? I suppose less absorbent towels wouldn't be the end of the world, but woe to he who messes with the absorbency of my cloth diapers!)

So in such loads, I use tennis balls! They do everything that dryer balls are supposed to do, at 1/4 the price!

I know some people use dryer balls exclusively, but for those of us who prefer dryer sheets and don't want to spend close to $10 for a pair of dryer balls that we'll only use once in a while, tennis balls are a much less expensive alternative. (Just be sure to use clean ones!)





This post has been inspired by Works For Me Wednesday, hosted by Rocks In My Dryer. Check out this week's list for more great tips and tricks.

7 comments:

na said...

I just had a reader ask me about the dryer balls...I will have to try this out!

Superchikk said...

I didn't know about that. I will definitely try that out. I don't use dryer sheets on my son's laundry due to his sensitive skin, and sometimes there are pockets of dampness. I'll bet the balls will remedy that problem.

But, how do you keep your towels and stuff from being staticy? I've had a lot of trouble with static this winter.

Jennifer said...

From The Creek: I'm glad this sounds useful!

Superchikk: The balls will definitely remedy the damp problem. As for the static problem, here's a link to an article with some suggestions: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/no-more-static-cling-how-to.html

Thanks for visiting!

Unknown said...

Thanks for this tip! My mother-in-law just purchased some dryer balls and loves them but now that I know tennis balls work too, this less expensive solution work for me!

Jerralea said...

I'm amazed -- who would have thought?

Anonymous said...

I only use dryer sheets in the lighter laundry--never with towels or jeans or khakis. And I don't ever have a static problem with them. Maybe it's because they have their own load??? I don't know.

Jennifer said...

My mom the textiles major explained to me that static is caused primarily by man-made materials (such as polyester); natural materials (such as cotton) won't have as much static, if any. (I'm sure Wikipedia would have a more detailed explanation.)