DIY Wool Dryer Balls
by
Far From Normal
(IC: blogger)
Why should you make your own dryer balls?
They replace your dryer sheets- You know those chemical laden waxy things?? Throw them out. You don’t need them any more! These help with static cling with out the yuckiness. You can use them with towels too, and they don’t get that waterproof thing going on.
You can make them smell however you want!- Even if you don’t use essential oils for anything else you can get a scent you love to use on your dryer balls. I have some I use in our clothes that I fragrance with peppermint. I have another set that goes in with sheets, blankets and towels that I use a lovely lavender blend on.
They cut drying time!- Who doesn’t want to save a little energy. These little balls can help cut drying time about 25%! Yep saving you time and electricity… pretty great right?
They replace your dryer sheets- You know those chemical laden waxy things?? Throw them out. You don’t need them any more! These help with static cling with out the yuckiness. You can use them with towels too, and they don’t get that waterproof thing going on.
You can make them smell however you want!- Even if you don’t use essential oils for anything else you can get a scent you love to use on your dryer balls. I have some I use in our clothes that I fragrance with peppermint. I have another set that goes in with sheets, blankets and towels that I use a lovely lavender blend on.
They cut drying time!- Who doesn’t want to save a little energy. These little balls can help cut drying time about 25%! Yep saving you time and electricity… pretty great right?
2- Skeins of 100% wool yarn. It has to be wool- not a blend, all wool. (You can find the brand I used on Amazon)
This process is pretty simple. It’s easy to do while you’re watching tv or a movie… just make sure your cats aren’t around… they like to “help.”
Slide your fingers out and switch directions and wrap the yarn around the center of what was around your fingers. You should end up with something that looks kind of like a bow.
Now kind of tuck the fold in the loop parts to start forming a ball and wrap the yarn around the whole thing.
Once you have a ball shape established just keep wrapping tightly changing directions every several wraps
Now I made mine about the size of a tennis ball. Some people prefer them a little smaller. When you are happy with their size go ahead and snip off your yarn. Now tuck the end of the yarn into the ball using the tip of your scissors.
Repeat until you have all your balls made. Then put them into your pantyhoes tying knots in between until they're all in.
You can toss as many as you want (I use 2) into the dryer with your clothes and let them do their thing.
Enjoyed the project?
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Published February 12th, 2017 8:33 PM
Comments
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5 of 27 comments
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Lynne Lowden on Mar 05, 2017I see the pics but no instructions about how to keep them from coming apart when you use them. Won't the oil catch fire in the dryer?
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Nelly Galdamez-Villablanca on Mar 17, 2017When you "felt" them, they won't come apart. That's why it has to be made of wool.
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Lynne Lowden on Mar 18, 2017Maybe I missed it but I saw nothing about felting the balls or why they were wrapped in hose. And I would still think the oil would catch fire? Doesn't wool get staticky when dried without fabric softener?
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Catherine on Dec 02, 2021
When you initially wash them in the hosen, it keeps it all together and the initial washes do the felting work.
The essential oils won't catch fire in the dryer - they will evaporate before they do that. You're only using drops of oils that add the aroma, which is really less than what's on a commercial dryer sheet.
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Gina Valdez on Mar 22, 2017
Don't use them with towels. Towels need to be dried without any softener so they will stay absorbent. Fluffy towels don't dry you as well - nor the dishes.
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