The next thing I decided to try was the homemade wool dryer balls. I thankfully stopped using dryer sheets about 6 months ago. I had no idea just how nasty those little things can be and how loaded with chemicals and toxins they are! What am I talking about, you ask? Oh, just a little chloroform, ethyl acetate and camphor...all of which are on the US EPA's hazardous waste list. Not to mention several other nasty & toxic chemicals with a laundry list (yes, laundry list) of side effects. Neurotoxins, and narcotics, and carcinogens, oh my. Makes sense that hazardous waste should be in as many households as possible, right? Basically we're paying $3-$5 for a box of chemical laden disposable cloths to put in with our laundry so that we can wear those toxins on our skin. Every. Single. Day.
But you don't have to, and you don't have to go without your clothes smelling nice or being super soft and fluffy either. Instead you can try dryer balls! Now I know you can buy those little plastic dryer balls or just throw in a few tennis balls, which in my opinion have to be better than dryer sheets so it's a step in the right direction. I myself have been using the little spikey plastic dryer balls from Wal-Mart. But, unfortunately those are still not 100% safe. Tennis balls or plastic dryer balls still contain some icky chemicals in the rubber & plastic that can be released especially when heated. Your best bet is to use 100% real wool dryer balls. Plus, the wool balls cut your drying time! Sure, you can hop on the computing machine and order these online for $15-$30, but why do that when you can make them yourself for around $6 and a little of your time?
Now, you'll want to make sure you buy 100% real wool yarn, not the fake crap. I found mine at Michael's for about $5.99. Start by wrapping the yarn around your 3 big fingers, about 5 or 6 times, then slide it off and begin wrapping around the middle of that long oval. Keep wrapping, and wrapping, and wrapping until you have at least a baseball sized ball. You can go all the way on up to soft ball size if you're feeling a little wild and crazy. Then grab one of those big plastic needle thingies and weave you string end through several other strands throughout the ball to secure. Or if you're like me and do not own large plastic needle thingies, you can do this with your fingernails and tie little knots.
Then, you'll want to wash them in pantyhose to felt them. Put the first ball in the toe, then secure around the ball with a NON-wool piece of yarn. Keep doing this until they're all secure in the pantyhose. Now you'll want to wash them in a hot cycle, then dry them on the highest setting. This helps the balls to felt (stick together instead of unraveling in the dryer). Unless you're like me and the yarn didn't change at all whatsoever after this process. What does that mean? It means to get to do it again and again until they actually felt. You'll know this once you can scratch your nail along the thread and it doesn't pull out of place.
Once you've accomplished this, they are ready to use! If you want to add a little scent to your laundry, simply put a few drops of your favorite essential oil into each ball. This should last for a couple of loads depending on how strong you'd like your laundry scented. Make sure you use true essential oil as to avoid staining your clothes.
So even thought I haven't officially used my dryer balls yet since I have to wash them again and try to get them to felt, I know they'll be worth the time and effort once they're done. It will be another step closer to eliminating chemicals from our home and living cleaner and healthier.
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