Okay, let the crude jokes begin.

Now to the real question. Has anyone here ever tried or regularly use dryer balls? I remember hearing or reading about them seemingly years ago, but never really paid attention. They supposedly shorten drying time a bit, plus have the benefit of taking the place of fabric softener sheets. Or is it all a bunch of hooey?

We have, they definitely beat up the clothes, though. It depends on which garments you're planning to use them.

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Mischievous and Deceitful
Chicanerous and Deplorable

In my experience, all they were were noise makers. I went back to dryer sheets for static control.

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Have tried them a couple of times over the years. Never noticed any difference in drying time.

Definitely does not replace dryer sheets (which gently coat you clothes with slick stuff).

I got a cheap set of "all wool" ones from a local big-box store (as opposed to the "fancy" ones from a vendor at the state fair). They work OK, I haven't noticed them beating up clothes. Still get some static buildup/cling on nylon/poly clothes (like Under Armour shirts) especially in the winter.

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Zoidberg
In my experience, all they were were noise makers. I went back to dryer sheets for static control.

I have used the wool or whatever they are made of, not the harder rubber balls with spikes on them.
Had them for several years now. The ones I use came in a 3 pack, I lose one every once in a while, then several weeks or months later I find on in blankets or sheets, LOL.

Dave

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Welcome to Dave's BBQ!

Many have eaten here....

Few have died

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

I use a pair of the spiky plastic ones.
I use them to try and keep the clothes and things like sheets from getting as twisted up.
I used to use tennis balls, but those make a lot more noise.
I found the pair I have on half off at the grocery store and decided to give them a go.
I throw a dryer sheet in and leave it for a long time. I don’t replace every load.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Thank you all. If I were to try them, I'd probably opt for the wool ones, if only for the banging/noise factor. Dumb question time. As far as their usefulness as static control, is something added to the balls to do that? While we're regular users of the Bounce Free and Clear (or store equivalent), I don't believe I've ever added fabric softener per se to a load.

I use the all wool ones. I stopped using dryer sheets. They knock out the static electricity.

We've been using them for years, and our laundry nanny swears by them.

Get the expensive wool dryer balls, she says they work *much* better than the plastic ones, even the best plastic ones. The unprinted tennis ball style also works better than the cheap spikey plastic ball ones, but both of those don't last very long, so I think it's actually more cost effective for the long haul to go w/ the good stuff.

For drier balls, however, the laundry nanny has no opinion; but I've heard that leaky people find Poise Daily Liners work almost as well as Depends Shields for Men, for about 30% less, at big box/warehouse club prices. All bets are off if you choose generic/house brand pads, or go w/ Amazon Basics. Laundry nanny doesn't care which one is used, only that one is used....
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I use the wool ones - they work better than nothing, but not as well as a dryer sheet - but since they live in the dryer, no problem with remembering to use them. I can live with the small amount of static they don't get.

I use the wool type. Can't say I've had any problems with them. The "spikey" ball were definitely harder on my clothes.

I use the spiky plastic ball type, and haven't really noticed them being hard on my clothes, BUT... I use a lot of them, and also aluminum foil balls to control static.

Note that the purpose of the spiky plastic type is to reduce drying time and to fluff your clothes, but obviously won't do anything about static or the scent of the clothes... so I'm using dryer sheets as well, particularly for the scent. (The water here has a distinctly slight fishy odor to it, that unfortunately there's not a whole lot you can do about, and if you don't get the clothes into the dryer relatively quickly from the washer, they'll additionally have a mildewy odor too.)

So far as the intended purpose of reducing the drying time, I can say that the spiky plastic balls definitely do their thing! Drying time for a big load can now be really short, like 10-20 minutes or so.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

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cbelt3
I use the all wool ones. I stopped using dryer sheets. They knock out the static electricity.

Ditto.

Vinegar in the rinse water also helps.

been using these for a year and half.
No more static, dryer sheets. I'd guess they save 5 to 10% of dry time depending on what you're drying. We have a gas dryer if that makes a diff. Haven't found they beat up clothes, but plush towels a bit.
Not heard them make any noise. Course, they get stuck in contour sheets, pillow cases .....

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!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.



Nobody remembers their first download, but everyone remembers their 1st LP.

Wool ones. I've banned fabric sheets from the dryer, the coating they give off clogs the filter screen.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Necessary for some things like garments, socks, or towels that lose their ability to diffuse water or sweat when they're exposed to the chemicals in dryer sheets. They work, too, you just need to load all of them into the dryer - at least a dozen or so - to cut the static down and any stray fibers picked up.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/01/2022 07:54PM by bfd.

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wurm
Okay, let the crude jokes begin.

From the other room: "Where are the dryer sheets?"

Me: "You want drier sheets? Stop wetting the bed!"


(Yeah, I'm super helpful to have around the household.)

Got it. Thanks, everyone. I think it'll be worth a shot to try some wool ones.

Appropriate that this product comes in a two-pack.

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NewtonMP2100

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

No jokes about Schweddy Balls yet? You people disappoint!

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It is what it is.

Hi everyone,

One thing I would like to see is actual scientific tests of various types of dryer balls and whether or not they are effective in shorter drier times, softer clothes, reduces static, etc. Seems like there is a ton of anecdotal reports but the closest thing to a scientific review that I could find is from Popular Mechanics and Electrafix.

[www.electrafixbc.ca]

[www.popularmechanics.com]

Robert

Do any of the aforementioned serve to reduce the amount of cat fur that sticks to fleece fabrics? I would gladly pay a few dollars for something to that end.

science?!??!??! we don't need no stinking science!

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!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.



Nobody remembers their first download, but everyone remembers their 1st LP.

.....don't lick.....

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

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Robert M
Hi everyone,

One thing I would like to see is actual scientific tests of various types of dryer balls and whether or not they are effective in shorter drier times, softer clothes, reduces static, etc. Seems like there is a ton of anecdotal reports but the closest thing to a scientific review that I could find is from Popular Mechanics and Electrafix.

[www.electrafixbc.ca]

[www.popularmechanics.com]

Robert

As you can imagine, there are quite a few "real world reviews" on YouTube. While not scientific, they do make some interesting points. I think it will be a cheap enough experiment.

My father insists on using them, my mother says they are useless pieces of junk that make noise and have no constructive purpose. But he is holding firm.