When buying dryer balls, size does matter because you want them to be able to move around freely in your dryer," says Barefoot. "If they are too small, they will get lost in the laundry and won't be able to do their job properly. On the other hand, if they are too large, they will take up too much space in the dryer and won't allow your clothes to move around as freely, which can lead to them not drying evenly. The ideal size for dryer balls is somewhere in the middle so that they can move around freely and still be effective." Quantity Ensure that your dryer has a door that can be opened if it's pushed from the inside. Some driers require too much force.

Each load was weighed before and after washing and then dried for 40 minutes on a normal cycle. For every set of dryer balls, we dried each of the three loads on a timed dry cycle and measured its post-dry weight. We used the recommended number of dryer balls based on load size. For comparison, we also dried loads with a tennis ball to see how dryer ball results fared.

Conclusion

First, remove any obvious hair or lint, either by hand or using a lint remover. Then either pop into your washing machine in a laundry bag on a warm wash cycle (without detergent) or wash by hand and bring to the boil, before leaving to air dry for a couple of days. If you’re short on time, you can also dry them in the tumble dryer on high heat. If you're concerned about your children or pets being injured in a tumble dryer, then follow these precautions to help ensure they're safe:

Yes, you can use dryer balls if you have sensitive skin. The wool is hypoallergenic and will not cause any irritation. Additionally, the essential oils that are often added to dryer balls can also help to soothe and protect sensitive skin. Do Dryer Balls Work With All Types of Laundry? Gentle on sensitive skin: Dryer balls work without added chemicals. Those made of wool are completely natural. Therefore, they aren’t likely to cause allergic reactions or irritations. Not much can go wrong when washing tennis balls. Even so, follow these tips to ensure you’re doing it properly:Where the model number (sometimes labelled 'mod') is located will vary from machine to machine. Generally speaking though, they can usually be found in one of the following places: Because replacing a tumble dryer belt is a complicated job, and motors and starter capacitors can hold a lot of potentially dangerous electrical charge, you'd be best to call someone in to fix it. If you don’t have time to soak your dryer balls in vinegar water, you can also wash them in the washing machine. Just add them to a mesh laundry bag and wash them on the gentle cycle with cold water. Once they’re done washing, allow them to air dry completely before using them again.

It's tempting to throw your pile of wet laundry into the dryer, but watch out as some items just don't mix with the heat. Get it wrong and you could end up with frayed, saggy or ruined clothes. No, wool dryer balls do not attract insects. In fact, they can actually help to repel insects because they are made from natural materials. Additionally, the essential oils that are often added to wool dryer balls can also help to keep insects away. Can I Use Dryer Balls If I Have Hard Water? As mentioned above, it is worth taking a look at your warranty before you call someone in. However, if your belt is the problem, it may not be covered. This is because belts can be classed as natural 'wear and tear' items. In addition, the cause of a belt fault can be down to overloading the machine. Tumble dryer hose and tumble dryer vent kit

6. Best sustainable tumble dryer balls: Gleener Puffer Dryer Dots

No, you don’t need to remove the dryer balls before folding your laundry. In fact, you can leave them in the dryer and they will help to fluff up your clothes as they tumble around. You can add essential oils to your wool dryer balls if you want them to have a scent. Simply add a few drops of oil to each ball before putting them in your dryer. You can also add a drop or two of oil to each load of laundry for extra scent. Frequently Asked Questions on Wool Dryer Balls Do I need to use fabric softener or dryer sheets when using the dryer balls? Ideally, pad the load out with some towels. Tennis balls on their own shouldn’t cause any damage, but the washing machine should have some weight to spin. Adding dryer balls to your dryer will effectively separate your laundry and keep clothes from wrapping around each other. All this allows more heat in, so you can dry your clothing in less time. Also, laundry that dries evenly should have fewer wrinkles. How Do You Use Dryer Balls? A water tank on a tumble dryer can usually hold more water than is contained in the clothes from one load but not enough for two loads.

Easy to use: Put your laundry in the dryer, toss in some dryer balls, and turn it on. Using dryer balls is that easy. If you're buying a vented tumble dryer, a lot of them will come with all you need to vent it, so you won't need to buy a separate tumble dryer hose or vent kit. However, with some, you will need to buy them as an additional item. Completely free of dyes and chemicals, these soft wool balls are not only quieter than plastic designs, they are more gentle on your fabrics too, fluffing up your towels and relaxing fibres without the need for softeners or tumble dryer sheets.Wool is also a naturally elastic fiber, which means it can help to stretch out clothes and reduce wrinkles. The massaging action of the wool fibers also helps to release any static charge that may have built up in the fabric. Cleaner and Softer laundry: I have some hedgehog ones that are very noisy to start with but once they get going and get within the washing they do get quieter” (Recommended by Mumsnet user User748956) Our verdict Remember, too, that this is likely to make them shorter as well as smaller. Where to find your tumble dryer's model number Yes, wool dryer balls work with all types of laundry including towels, sheets, and clothing. However, they are not effective at removing pet hair from clothing. If you have a pet that sheds, you may want to use a lint roller to remove the hair before placing your items in the dryer. Do wool dryer balls save money? Once you have chosen an oil, simply add a few drops to each dryer ball and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. You can then place the balls in your dryer and let them work their magic. Your clothes will come out smelling great and feeling softer than ever before. Do wool dryer balls expire?