The important thing is not to overload the dryer. When it comes to washing your laundry, it's best to save on resources and put on a full load. However, when it comes to drying it in a dryer, it's best to put in a half load so it can tumble around with the balls and have the air circulate efficiently. Chuck in all three balls and make sure they can bounce around. Some people prefer to use six at a time.
After you've finished with the dryer, take the balls out and leave them somewhere to air.
Every so often, you may find that they would benefit from a wash themselves. In that case, put them in with a normal cycle to refresh them. You don't need to worry about putting them on a wool cycle as they are already felted, so a warm wash will clean them and help them felt up again.
Do wool dryer balls actually work?
The wool dryer balls speed up the drying process by bouncing between the layers of wet clothing, opening up gaps for the warm air to get into which then allows your clothes to dry more quickly. Not only that, but because they’re made entirely of wool, they absorb some of the moisture, adding another layer of drying power to the mix.
In addition, they remove the need for fabric conditioner because the act of being bounced against the laundry bashes the fibres a bit and softens them physically rather than chemically.
In dry climates, they are also very good at reducing static, by ensuring that the laundry doesn't actually get over-dried.
Depending on the size of your load, they typically lower your drying times by about 20-40%.
What is wrong with fabric conditioner?
A lot, to be honest! Unless you use an environmentally friendly one, fabric conditioners contain chemicals that are bad for your skin, bad for the water system and can even be carcinogenic.
How are the wool dryer balls eco-friendly?
They can lower your drying time by anywhere from 20-40% (depending on your load, how many balls you’re using, your drying settings, and the clothing materials). When you add it up, that’s a HUGE amount of energy being saved, not only massively reducing your energy costs but also reducing the harm done to the planet.
These Fairtrade eco-friendly wool dryer balls are handmade in Nepal. Since they’re only made from wool, they’re:
Reusable hundreds and hundreds of times
Sustainable - since Sheep need to be sheared. Wool is rapidly renewable and produced organically
Compostable - the wool balls will last for hundreds of cycles but at the end of their life they can just be put in the compost or on the garden where they will biodegrade into compost.
Hypoallergenic – friendly to sensitive skin
Even the packaging is eco-friendly! The little dryer balls come in small, cotton, drawstring sacks – the balls can be put back in here to dry once they’ve been used or you can just leave them in the dryer and reuse the bags for something else.
Sustainable laundry
Of course, the best way of saving energy on your dryer bills is not to use the dryer at all! Our Laundry Mac enables you to hang laundry outside without the risk of it getting caught in a shower.
We have a whole range of eco-friendly laundry products. Everything in this range either helps to reduce the amount of energy we use or they’re made from recycled or eco-friendly materials (like these EcoForce recycled plastic clothes pegs and this Ironing Board Pad). You can browse the full range here.
How do you use wool dryer balls?
The important thing is not to overload the dryer. When it comes to washing your laundry, it's best to save on resources and put on a full load. However, when it comes to drying it in a dryer, it's best to put in a half load so it can tumble around with the balls and have the air circulate efficiently. Chuck in all three balls and make sure they can bounce around. Some people prefer to use six at a time.
After you've finished with the dryer, take the balls out and leave them somewhere to air.
Every so often, you may find that they would benefit from a wash themselves. In that case, put them in with a normal cycle to refresh them. You don't need to worry about putting them on a wool cycle as they are already felted, so a warm wash will clean them and help them felt up again.
Do wool dryer balls actually work?
The wool dryer balls speed up the drying process by bouncing between the layers of wet clothing, opening up gaps for the warm air to get into which then allows your clothes to dry more quickly. Not only that, but because they’re made entirely of wool, they absorb some of the moisture, adding another layer of drying power to the mix.
In addition, they remove the need for fabric conditioner because the act of being bounced against the laundry bashes the fibres a bit and softens them physically rather than chemically.
In dry climates, they are also very good at reducing static, by ensuring that the laundry doesn't actually get over-dried.
Depending on the size of your load, they typically lower your drying times by about 20-40%.
What is wrong with fabric conditioner?
A lot, to be honest! Unless you use an environmentally friendly one, fabric conditioners contain chemicals that are bad for your skin, bad for the water system and can even be carcinogenic.
How are the wool dryer balls eco-friendly?
They can lower your drying time by anywhere from 20-40% (depending on your load, how many balls you’re using, your drying settings, and the clothing materials). When you add it up, that’s a HUGE amount of energy being saved, not only massively reducing your energy costs but also reducing the harm done to the planet.
These Fairtrade eco-friendly wool dryer balls are handmade in Nepal. Since they’re only made from wool, they’re:
Reusable hundreds and hundreds of times
Sustainable - since Sheep need to be sheared. Wool is rapidly renewable and produced organically
Compostable - the wool balls will last for hundreds of cycles but at the end of their life they can just be put in the compost or on the garden where they will biodegrade into compost.
Hypoallergenic – friendly to sensitive skin
Even the packaging is eco-friendly! The little dryer balls come in small, cotton, drawstring sacks – the balls can be put back in here to dry once they’ve been used or you can just leave them in the dryer and reuse the bags for something else.
Sustainable laundry
Of course, the best way of saving energy on your dryer bills is not to use the dryer at all! Our Laundry Mac enables you to hang laundry outside without the risk of it getting caught in a shower.
We have a whole range of eco-friendly laundry products. Everything in this range either helps to reduce the amount of energy we use or they’re made from recycled or eco-friendly materials (like these EcoForce recycled plastic clothes pegs and this Ironing Board Pad). You can browse the full range here.
Wool Dryer Balls Pack of 3
10 reviews
Wool
Handmade
Fairtrade
Money saving
Plastic-free
These eco-friendly wool dryer balls are a clever, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to plastic dryer balls and dryer sheets. They improve airflow and absorb moisture, thereby shortening the drying time to save you energy and money. They also soften your clothes, removing the need for dryer sheets, and reduce static. Amazing what wool can do!
They come in sets of three balls. They are Fair Trade, made in Nepal.
£9.50
In Stock
1/3
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Shipping & Returns
Standard delivery
Free when you spend over £30 or £3 for orders under £30.
Delivered within 2-4 working days from the date of dispatch.
Smaller items will be delivered using Royal Mail 48. Larger items will be delivered by Fedex or ParcelForce.
Delivery Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays).
Expedited delivery
£6 for all orders.
A fully tracked service, delivered within 1-3 working days, from the date of dispatch.
Smaller items will be delivered using Royal Mail 24. Larger items delivered via FedEx or ParcelForce.
Delivery Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays).
We have a 60-day return policy, which means you have 60 days after receiving your item to return it.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same, re-sellable condition that you received it, unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
The postage cost for the return will need to be covered by yourself (please keep the proof of postage until your return has been processed).
At the core of Chimney Sheep is our Community Interest Company, Buy Land Plant Trees (BLPT). For every purchase you make with us, 20% of the profit facilitates the planting of trees on agriculturally poor land in Cumbria.
We set up BLPT in 2019 as a ‘boots on the ground’ tree planting initiative. The company is run by us and the tree planting is done by us. We do it to help you and us to reduce our impact on the planet. The trees we plant reduce CO2 output as well as contribute to the reduction of flooding and the creation of habitats for wildlife.
BLPT isn’t a tick box exercise nor a distant and detached carbon offset company. In fact, this is as much part of our business as the products we sell and is an integral part of our ethos. We are big believers in the phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ and want to make a genuine difference
We’ve had some of these balls for years and they’re still going strong. Just bought some more for a relative.
S
Susan Smith
Very pleased with the tumble dryer balls. Washing is definitely softer and no awful noise like the plastic ones!
M
Michael Aston
I tried these with some towels that had got progressively harder despite tumbling. I tried a short 15 minute timed dry rather than full dry and finished them off on the washing line.They worked! Big improvement, not as soft as new but much improved. Will try a full dry in tumbler next time and see if they improve more.
J
Jane
The wool balls do reduce the time for tumble drying and have not 'shed' very much fluff at all. Haven't used any fabric conditioner when using the dryer with these and the fabrics are soft to touch. Certainly do the job intended.
L
LB
Brilliant product! Quickly despatched. Love that they are British wool. Really cuts down tumble dryer time, and beautiful and soft too. Highly recommend the product amd Chimney Sheep!
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