BYE-BYE Dryer Sheets, HELLO Wool Dryer Balls!

Why make the switch?

- Dryer balls are toxin-free so no bad stuff gets on your clothes and then into your skin!

- They are still effective at making your laundry smell lovely

- They reduce static cling & soften your laundry

- They cut down on drying time which means you save electricity

- They are re-usable and are therefore more environmentally-friendly

You can easily buy your own balls. I got mine at wal-mart. If you are crafty and thrifty (though idk if you will actually save money here... possibly?) you can make your own. My incentive to make my own is to customize the colors. The blue and gray dryer balls just look so pretty...

To make them you will need about 2-3 skeins of 100% wool yarn. Roving yarn "felts" really well which is what you want. Avoid yarns that are labeled "machine washable" or "Superwash" or that are Acrylic! These will not felt (you wouldn't want that to happen to your woolen sweater in the wash, but you DO want felting to happen to your dryer ball.) You will also need pantyhose. Ladies, dig into those drawers- I know you have a few old pair that you literally never wear or perhaps have runners in them. Those will do. Lastly, you need scissors and a felting needle- possibly other tools may work here if you get creative.

Instructions for DIY dryer balls... If you prefer to buy your own, skip to end of page =)

Step 1: Using your pointer and middle finger, make a little "V" and wrap your yarn around them about 10-20 times and then slip your fingers out.

Step 2: Pinch the middle of the yarn you just coiled and wrap the center again 10-15 times to make what looks like a little bow.

Step 3: Stop and change the direction you’re wrapping in. Wrap in the opposite direction. So, instead of vertically wrapping the center part of the bow, now switch and wrap horizontally, doing the length of the bow. Wrap some more, about 10-15x. The "lump" you just made won't look pretty. Don't panic. That's OK. You are getting there.

Step 4: Continue wrapping, continually switching directions until yarn forms a ball. Wrap until it reaches the size you want. I prefer to have them bigger so that I can use fewer dryer balls in the dryer at a time.

Step 5: When you have reached the size you want, cut the yarn, grab the loose end of yarn and weave it into the exterior of the ball using a felting needle or other tool. Slide the needle under a few threads of yarn, then wrap the loose end around the tip of the needle a few times, then slide the needle back through the way you brought it under. Your goal here is to tuck that loose end under the yarn until it is well woven into the ball.

Step 6: Place dryer balls into the pantyhose, tying a knot between each one so that each ball is in it's own little compartment. It will look like a caterpillar at this point.

Step 7: Toss them in the washing machine, running the laundry on HOT a few times. You can throw it in with your next load of towels.

Step 8: ALMOST DONE. Throw them into the dryer for a cycle or two.

Step 9: REMOVE pantyhouse. Carefully cut the pantyhose off. Add essential oils to your balls (a few drops to each) and keep them in the dryer to use for next load!

* How many drops of oil depends on how much fragrance you wish to have. I use two larger dryer balls at time with about 5 drops to each ball. If the scent is starting to diminish, I add more. *

To change your scent simply wash your dryer ball in the washing machine with scentless soap and run through the dryer. When ball is dry, reapply your new scent!

Scent Combos to try: