1. They stop static cling.
2. They perfume your clothes.
The first purpose is useful. The second, not so much. We take it for granted that every product we use gives off a scent, but do you honestly need your clothes perfumed over and above the scent they get from detergent and fabric softener (if you use it)? And that comes in addition to your deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, hand cream and so on…
When you smell perfume on your clothes a week after you washed them, it is because the chemical that gives off that scent is still in the fibers. Dryer sheets are one source of chemicals that is easily avoided.
A year and a half ago, I bought dryer balls. They somehow, magically, stop static cling. Can’t quite figure how they do it, but they do – and they don’t add any chemicals to my clothes while doing so. The balls are inert. They are now exactly as they were when I bought them, so I imagine they’ll last for many years, which will save me money. One less product to buy.
These are the particular ones I use. My guess is that other brands work just as well.
This post was shared with Nourishing Gourmet, Real Food Freaks, Natural Family Awareness, Gnowfglins, Hartke is Online Real Food Forager, Whole New Mom, The Nourishing Gourmet, and the Healthy Home Economist.
18 comments:
HI Ruth :) :)
This is GREAT. I actually have a set of two of these blue dryer balls. I found mine at my local Fred Meyer store, when I was still living in Oregon. They're great in the dryer. they also work nice in the washer, too :) :) Mine are made by a different company than yours.
I should buy another set. They're so useful :) :)
Happy New Year to you and your family. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather ;)
Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm living in my aunt's home. She insists on dryer sheets, because she thinks it makes the clothes smell better...which is true. HOwever, I have a big issue with them, because of the chemicals...and the way they make my skin itch. So I have to try and convince her on this subject :) :) Happy New Year to you and your family. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather ;)
That's funny because when I first used soap nuts for my laundry I found it weird that the clothes didn't smell of anything! I started adding lavender oil, because it just didn't seem right without some smell (and lavender is supposed to deter moths etc, so that should be a good smell on clothes in storage). I haven't used a drier for 2 years though, being very lucky with a washing line on our verandah, we just haven't needed to plug in the drier since we moved to this house.
Hi Heather, I didn't mention it but of course there are more sensitive people who feel the effects of the chemicals in dryer sheets. Hope you can convince your aunt to give them a rest.
Farmer Liz, when I started using the dryer balls, I wondered if my daughter would comment about the lack of smell, but it went unnoticed. One of these days I'll try soap nuts too and avoid a few more chemicals. It's on my to-do list.
What a great simple change we can all make and it saves money. I'll be making the switch!
I use tennis balls.........they work just as well and they're cheaper.
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures' Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back later today when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! :)
I stopped using dryer sheets years ago, and didn't replace them with anything. We wear mostly cotton clothes, and I find the static comes from polyester materials. Eliminate the polyester, and you won't need dryer sheets or dryer balls :)
I have been using these balls when I dry cloth diapers. I really do like them and I think they reduce the length of time they take to dry.
I have been using the dryer balls for years, bought them in the Dollar Store.I also have been using the magnetic laundry system for several years, instead of laundry detergent and have saved myself a bundle.I just use the magnets (2) and washing soda or borax. Check out www.magneticlaundry.ca you'll be glad you did.
Thanks for linking your great post to FAT TUESDAY. This was very interesting! I've seen these in stores but they are made of plastic. Is that good to put in a heated environment?
Be sure to visit RealFoodForager.com on Sunday for Sunday Snippets – your post from Fat Tuesday may be featured there!
http://realfoodforager.com/fat-tuesday-january-3-2012/
Vinegar in the rinse cycle alleviates the need for dryer toys of any kind.
Vinegar? That's really interesting.
Still, I like the idea that once I've made the initial expense and I have the dryer balls , I can use them for many years without buying anything or having to do anything. It's still a simpler solution.
I haven't read all the posts, having just discovered this blog, but there are a few things about both dryer sheets and the dryer balls.
Not only do the sheets stink up your clothes, and the dryer too, but the chemicals clog up the lint screen. If you have been using sheets for some time, take a close look at your screen, and you will find the spaces are getting smaller.
As for the dryer balls, I have found that some brands, at least, get brittle over time and will eventually break apart. If you are getting them at the dollar store, the replacement cost won't kill you. Nellie's dryer balls, at least one model, are oval, rather than round, and they have a centre section with a removable cap, in which you put lavender sticks (from Nellie's, of course) to scent the clothes. The sticks are quite inexpensive and last about six months. Of course, that would vary with the volume of drying you do.
The Nellie's balls' caps have a tendency to crack, so to keep the sticks in, I put an elastic band (usually taken from a head of broccoli or other veggie) around the ball.
I might suggest trying only one ball at a time. It may do the job satisfactorially, and will be a little quieter, too. They sound like you are drying you sneakers.
I have an issue with the insistence of seemingly every manufacturer of every product to put some kind of scent on it. Even so-called "unscented" lotions have scent added, to counter the chemical odors. Check your Jergens or other bottles! Not only are they doing this, but all these scents conflict with one another. Just like pairing wines with certain foods to complement flavours, perfumes should be paired to avoid conflicting smells. How many women use multiple makeup products, each with its own odor, without giving any consideration to what the combinations will smell like? Maybe that's why perfumes are such popular items. They are sloshed on to cover all the other stenches!
I'm glad you are pro-natural beauty products. I have made the switch ever since I started my diamond peel treatment.
Living a healthy lifestyle is certainly the best way to obtain smooth, healthy skin. If you want to age graciously, you should keep your skin hydrated. Drink plenty of water, eat juicy fruits, and apply moisturizers. Diamond peel treatment also works.
Using chemical products (especially those with highly concentrated ingredients) on clothes may irritate your skin. This is the reason why it is best to invest in natural laundry products especially if you have a baby at home.
For a while there I thought it was some kind of an office stress ball. Anyway, if I may add, dryer sheets, aside from removing the static cling also kills any form of molds that can irritate the skin.
For a while there I thought it was some kind of an office stress ball. Anyway, if I may add, dryer sheets, aside from removing the static cling also kills any form of molds that can irritate the skin.
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