What Do Dryer Balls Do & When to Use Them vs. Dryer Sheets
You’ve probably either heard of or used dryer sheets now and then to help your clothes feel softer and smell fresh. But have you ever seen a laundry room full of spherical wool balls or rubber balls and wondered what they are? Well, they’re dryer balls!
If you’ve never seen or heard of dryer balls before, we’re going to talk about why you should work them into your laundry routine. They can help you become more sustainable in your daily routines while still helping to keep your laundry feeling soft.
Read on to learn about some of the differences between dryer balls vs. dryer sheets and when you might look to use each of those tools for laundry!
What Are Dryer Balls vs. Dryer Sheets?
Dryer balls, or laundry balls, are spherical objects often made of wool, rubber, or plastic. They are an alternative to dryer sheets as a laundry item that can help prevent static cling and wrinkles while reducing the drying time.
Dryer sheets, on the other hand, are single-use sheets that are typically designed to soften clothes. They also usually have scents meant to help extend the fragrance of your clothes and other laundry items.
How Do Dryer Balls Work?
Dryer balls absorb heat from the dryer and moisture from washed clothing, which helps garments to separate better in the dryer. Your clothing will experience a better flow of warm air, reducing the time needed for drying while also helping to prevent clumping and wrinkling of your items.
How Do Dryer Sheets Work?
Dryer sheets work to neutralize the attraction between positive and negative electrons in fabrics that cause clothes to stick together, so they help prevent static. Additionally, heat helps to warm and release the liquid softeners and fragrances in dryer sheets when they are placed in the dryer.
How Long Do Dryer Balls Last?
Most dryer balls are good for 1,000 loads of laundry which, depending on family size and how often you do laundry, may last you anywhere from 2-5 years. Yes, that means dryer balls are reusable.
Some dryer balls, like wool may also be rechargeable. For most items, like wool dryer balls, the recharging process is generally simple: start by running them through the wash in warm water on a gentle cycle, then run them through the dryer on high heat. Be sure to follow the guidelines on the laundry care label before running wool, plastic, or rubber dryer balls in the wash.
How Many Dryer Balls Should I Use?
The number of dryer balls you should use depends on the size of your laundry load. However, as a general rule of thumb:
- Small to Medium loads: 2-3 dryer balls
- Large loads: 5-7 dryer balls
- Extra-large loads: 8-12 dryer balls
The idea is that the more laundry balls you use, the less time it takes to dry. But whether dryer balls truly and effectively shorten drying time is still largely up for debate. Plus, you don’t want to lessen the effectiveness of multiple dryer balls if you only need to use a couple!
Why You Should Use Dryer Sheets
Dryer balls are an exciting laundry option. However, dryer sheets are a proven and tested option that have assisted laundry users for years. Here are a few reasons why you should opt for dryer sheets vs. dryer balls.
1. When You Want to Soften Clothes
Remember that while both dryer balls and dryer sheets can help prevent static cling and wrinkling of clothing, only dryer sheets actively soften your clothes. Alas, when you need to add a sweet-smelling fragrance to your towels and soften them as well, you’re going to reach for the dryer sheets.
Before using dryer sheets or fabric softener of any kind, it’s important you know how to wash and dry different kinds of fabrics. It’s also wise to strip your laundry now and then to help remove the buildup from detergent, fabric softener, body oils, and more.
2. When You Want Your Clothes to Smell Fresher, Longer
Since dryer sheets usually contain fragrances or scents that can help make your clothes smell nice, you can use them if you want to extend the lifespan of those sweet smells. ARM & HAMMER™ offers multiple lines of dryer sheets that can accomplish this task, including:
- ARM & HAMMER™ Odor Blasters™ Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets use Odor Blasters technology to help fight deep and pesky odors on clothes and come in Fresh Burst™ and Fresh Botanical scents.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Clean Scentsations Fabric Softener Sheets have a vast scent portfolio, with some dryer sheets giving your clothes a tropical smell and others delivering wafts of a day out by the ocean.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Essentials™ Fabric Softener Sheets have fragrances inspired by nature that help to freshen clothes while also working to soften and reduce static cling.
If you prefer to use dryer balls but still want to extend the fragrances on your clothes, you’ll need to pair them with an odor-fighting detergent or another additive. Consider using an in-wash laundry scent booster! You can choose from various lines of ARM & HAMMER™ laundry scent boosters and incorporate them into your laundry routine before using the dryer balls later on.
3. When You Want Scent Options
Dryer sheets offer laundry users vast scent portfolios, so you can find the sweet smell you’d like for your clothes. Some people with sensitive skin may hope to avoid using products with ingredients that could irritate their skin. While dryer balls are certainly an option in this case, you have some options in the dryer sheet department, as well.
For example, ARM & HAMMER Free & Clear Fabric Softener Sheets still work hard to soften clothes and reduce static cling, but they do not contain any perfumes or dyes that might otherwise irritate. And don’t forget to use a detergent that looks out for your sensitive skin, like ARM & HAMMER™ Free & Clear Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent!
Know When to Use Dryer Balls or Dryer Sheets for Desired Laundry Results!
Everyone has different priorities in the laundry room. What matters is that you know these priorities when deciding whether you want to use dryer sheets or dryer balls. It’s also necessary that you use all resources at your disposal to get your desired laundry results!
No matter which option you choose, ARM & HAMMER™ laundry products work overtime to help provide you with clothes that smell good, feel good, and last long!
