Softer wash
What are dryer balls and how do you use them correctly?
The dryer balls, made from 100% sheep’s wool, are intended to replace conventional fabric softeners
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Fabric softeners give off a pleasant scent and make textiles supple. Unfortunately, they can also cause allergies and reduce the absorbency of towels and sportswear. The use of dryer balls should be a sensible alternative. But how do the balls made of felt or plastic actually work?
According to that Federal Environment Agency Fabric softeners used to contain “a certain type of cationic surfactants, which have been largely replaced by other substances with a lower risk potential since 1992 because of their insufficient biodegradability and their particularly high toxicity to aquatic life”. However, it is still a chemical that should be used sparingly. The question arises: What comparable alternatives are there that can make textiles softer? One possibility is the use of so-called dryer balls.
What are the benefits of dryer balls?
Granted, spraying a fresh scent like fabric softener dryer balls Not. However, they bring many other advantages:
- In the dryer, they ensure that textiles are separated more easily during the turning process – this should keep the air inside circulate better can.
- This in turn means that the fibers can straighten up faster and better and the laundry with it softer and more supple will. Without the addition of fabric softeners.
- Dryer balls made of natural fibers (e.g. sheep’s wool) are able to store heat and release it evenly to the textiles so that they can be dried dry faster.
- This in turn shortens the running time of the dryer. Depending on the type of dryer, the amount of laundry and the degree of moisture, you should use between 25 and 40 percent save energy can.
- Another plus is that textiles with down filling (such as jackets, blankets or pillows) should be given more volume by adding dryer balls.
Felt or plastic dryer balls: which is better?
Dryer balls are made from a variety of materials, such as wool or plastic, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Felt dryer balls
- Advantages: The white felt balls are made of pure sheep’s wool and are therefore a natural product that is processed unbleached. In other words, you will look in vain for chemicals here, so the dryer balls should also be suitable for allergy sufferers. In addition, the soft materials can be used to dry sensitive fabrics.
- Disadvantages: Although felt dryer balls can be reused, they only have a limited shelf life – after about 100 drying cycles, the balls are no longer usable. Apart from that, the sheep’s wool used for this often has long transport routes behind it and does not always come from species-appropriate and sustainable animal breeding.
Plastic dryer balls
- Advantages: In contrast to the felt balls are Plastic dryer balls significantly more durable. Due to their special feel (there are fine nubs on the surface), in particular non-sensitive textiles such as towels should become particularly soft and supple in the tumble dryer.
- Disadvantages: The plastic balls are relatively heavy and therefore not only very loud in the tumble dryer, but also wear out textiles faster. In addition, the chemicals in the plastic, such as plasticizers or UV stabilizers, can dissolve due to the effects of heat.
Another note: Adding tennis balls to the tumble dryer is not recommended, as they can stain fabrics and contain chemicals that dissolve at high temperatures.
Quantity: How to use dryer balls correctly
Regardless of which material you choose, it is advisable to put several balls in the dryer at once: four balls are sufficient for smaller amounts of laundry, up to six balls can go in the dryer for larger ones. Because the fact is that more balls also separate more textiles from each other and thus accelerate the process – and save energy. After the laundry has dried, you should store the felt balls open so that they also dry. Do not keep them in closed containers.
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