Dryer Balls
by Ashley Weeks Cart
Growing up, our mother caused quite the ruckus when doing laundry, as she would throw tennis balls into the dryer with our clothes to cut down on drying time. While effective, those balls sure were noisy. When I began cloth diapering at home, it was suggested to me by a fellow crunchy mama to invest in some felt dryer balls to cut down on drying time. They’re softer and thus quieter than tennis balls, and they are naturally antibacterial, and when doused with a bit of essential oil, a near perfect substitute for disposable dryer sheets. Natural, energy-efficient, and sweet smelling.
Materials:
100% wool yarn
Wool roving
Panty hose
Scissors
Washing machine
Directions:
1. Use the 100% wool yarn to create a yarn ball. Be sure to tuck the end of the yarn under one of the layers when the ball is the size you desire. (Remember, items shrink during the felting process, so be sure to make the ball larger than you want the final product. Mine are the size of tennis balls in their final form.)
2. You can use the wool yarn ball as is to create the dryer ball, however, I like to add a thin layer of multi-colored bits of wool roving on top of the yarn ball.
3. Cut a leg off of a pair of panty hose and stuff the balls into the toe of the leg, Tie of the panty hose between each individual ball.
4. Throw the panty hose filled with yarn balls into a hot wash cycle in the washing machine, and then throw in the dryer.
5. Remove the balls from the nylons. If they are not felted as tightly as you’d like, throw back in the machines for one more round.
6. Once done, they’ll be pretty balls of felted delight that will cut down on dryer time and act as natural dryer sheets. Drop a dollop of essential oil on ‘em if you’d like sweet smelling laundry.
Photos: Courtesy of Ashley Weeks Cart
I am going to try this.
Awesome, Jean! Let me know how it goes!
I’m wondering if the essential oil might not get on some of the clothes and leave a stain seeing as how it is oil? Also, where do you buy essential oil?
@Glenda, essential oils should not stain your clothing and are often used as stain removers. You use just a few drops anyway. They can be purchased at health food stores or many beauty product shops. Also, a quick google search will give you lots of options! Good luck!
Pure essential oils, as Ash mentions above, never stain fabric, just be sure the bottle says “pure essential oils.” Some blends may have a carrier oil and that will stain. I sprinkle lavender essential oil directly on bed linens at night – usually lavender, just a few drops – to help me sleep – works like a charm and… absolutely no stains, ever. Try it!
Ash – great idea and instructions. Thank you!
How much yarn do you use per ball, such as in ounces or skeins? I’m trying to figure out how much to buy. Thanks!
It’s totally up to you! However big you want the balls to be – I definitely didn’t measure how much I used when I did the project. Sorry! And good luck!
Thanks for this post! I have been wanting to make these for a while now. Just one question where can I find wool roving? I don’t know what it is let alone where to find it. Also could you substitute alpaca yarn for the wool yarn?
Not sure about alpaca yarn – I am certain that 100% wool felts. I don’t know if that is the case with alpaca.
Call up a local yarn store and ask if they have roving – or do a google/etsy search – you’ll find it easily that way!
You can find wool roving and 100% wool yarn on fabric.com, just type them in the search box :o) good luck!
Alpaca will not felt. Wool is what you would need.
How many balls do you put in the dryer at once? Also, is the wool roving needed to make it smooth or is it just for looks?