What is this product?Wool Dryer Balls are one of the easiest zero waste switches I have made; they are made out of wool and are used to replace single-use dryer sheets. This product reduces drying time by helping to move the clothes around in the dryer and helps to soften clothes without the chemicals in a traditional dryer sheet. Wool is a natural fabric and compostable, which means at the end of its life it won’t create additional waste in a landfill. How much work is this product?This product creates little to no extra work when doing your laundry instead of throwing used dryer sheets in the trash after a single use, you can put the dryer balls right back in the dryer ready for your next load. Most wool dryer balls come unscented but if you prefer a scent, you can use a few drops of any essential oil on them. Just make sure to allow a few hours for the oil to soak in and dry before use. If your wool dryer balls are causing a build-up of static electricity there is an easy fix: reduce your dryer time. If you want to take it one step further you can add a metal safety pin directly to your wool dryer ball or to a sock you will keep with your dryer balls. The metal in the pin will help to reduce the build-up of static electricity in your clothes. Will this product save me money?Three wool dryer balls should last up to 1,000 loads of laundry and only need to be replaced when they start to unravel. The wool dryer balls I have from Mighty Nest cost $17 and the ones my mom has from Norwex cost $30. I am not sure why there is such a price discrepancy but even if you choose to purchase the more expensive dryer balls you will save money over time. The cost of a 70 count box of dryer sheets at our local store is $5.75 making 1,000 loads of laundry cost $82. What’s the verdict?A quick reminder: this is where I will be writing a short summary and give each product I review a score out of 5 in the three categories. A product will receive a score out of 5 in three categories: the amount of additional work, the amount of additional investment, and the amount it may save you long term. The lower the score, the better the product does in that category. Maintenance Score: 1 This product requires no additional work. All you have to do is pluck the balls out of your clothes and stick them back in the dryer for next time. Initial Investment Score: 2 This product received a lower score for the initial investment because the wool dryer balls cost about double the cost of a box of dryer sheets. However, the initial cost is not so outrageous that it is impossible to start using the product. Money-Saving Score: 1 Wool dryer balls received the lowest score for money-saving because if you make the switch, you can save around $65 per 1,000 loads of laundry. This figure could vary for individuals depending on how long your dryer balls last past the 1,000 load mark and the amount you were spending on dryer sheets before you switched. Overall, this product has the ability to save you some money, which makes it an economical switch. Where can I buy this?I purchased this product on Mighty Nest and my mom bought hers from Norwex and there are vegan alternatives available such as these plastic puffer fish balls. Why is making the switch important?This switch is easy to do and helps the planet by reducing the number of single-use products we send to landfill. This is probably the easiest switch to make because there is almost no maintenance to the product and it keeps the chemicals in dryer sheets out of your laundry room. Did you know that, according to Mighty Nest, dryer sheets emit up to 8 hazardous air pollutants? The air in your home will thank you for making this switch!
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AuthorI am a journalist with a passion for saving the planet and inspiring others to join me ArchivesCategories
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