With wool dryer balls in your dryer, you can enjoy static-free clothes without the need for chemical-laden dryer sheets. Wool dryer balls are typically unscented, but you can add a few drops of essential oil or spritz them with Smart Sheep scenting spray to freshen your laundry.
white vinegar - dab a little onto your dryer balls prior to throwing them into the dryer and dry like you normally do. The drying evaporates the vinegar so you don't get any of the smell, and vinegar is not traditionally flammable like oils and such. It will help reduce static and works as a light fabric softener.
Add a damp cloth
Place a damp washcloth or towel in the dryer for the last 10-20 minutes of the drying cycle. This adds moisture to the air, which helps get rid of static cling in clothes.
Wool dryer balls are an excellent alternative to fabric softeners and dryer sheets. These little wool balls absorb moisture from clothing in the dryer, maintaining a more humid environment and, therefore, cutting down on static. In addition to reducing static, they also reduce drying time and fluff clothes.
Anti-static spray can be made very cheaply from liquid fabric softener, (which you may already have), water, and a spray bottle. All you do is mix about 10-15% fabric softener with warm water in a spray bottle, and there you are! Spray liberally over any surface that is a potential static generator.
You don't have to use disposable dryer sheets to rid of laundry static… You can make these aluminum foil dryer balls instead! Not only are these dryer balls more eco-friendly, they can be used dozens of times and they help your clothes toss more evenly. They can also save you money — and we all love that!
Homemade dryer sheets are easy to make from upcycled t-shirts. Cut the seams out of the t-shirts and to create flat portions of fabric, and then tear or cut those into roughly 10″ squares. Roll up and soak the squares in a vinegar solution and toss one into each dryer load instead of commercial dryer sheets.
Wool dryer balls are made of all-natural products, last longer than dryer sheets, and are compostable when they're no longer being used in your laundry routine. They cut down on the amount of electricity you'll be using and don't contain harmful additives or single-use packaging.
Use more wool dryer balls for bigger loads, and fewer for smaller loads. If you don't use enough balls, they won't provide enough coverage to do their job. But if you use too many in a small load, it leads to overcrowding, which also diminishes their performance.
Adding essential oils to dryer balls might seem like a great way to deodorize your laundry, but it's not recommended due to safety concerns. This practice can increase the flammability risk, particularly for wool dryer balls. Instead, consider using a solution of equal parts water and vinegar on your dryer balls.
The Bottom Line. The Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls are the best dryer balls we tested—they cut down on dry time substantially and eliminate static. Plus, at around $2 a ball, they're a good price.
Try adding two aluminum foil balls in the dryer or secure two safety pins to two dryer balls. The metal will help reduce static cling. Use white distilled vinegar. This will reduce static cling and add softness to your clothes.
Dryer balls can be safely used in both gas and electric dryers. However, make sure not to overload your dryer with laundry as this can prevent proper drying and extend drying times. Always make sure to follow the proper care instructions for your items.
DRYER BALLS
Dryer balls help keep laundry from clumping together by tumbling between fabric layers and separating them in the dryer. As dryer balls move against fabrics, they help minimize static, reduce wrinkles and soften clothes.
A quick and easy way to combat static is to make your own DIY anti-static spray for furniture. Mix one part liquid fabric softener with eight parts water in a spray bottle and lightly mist your furnishings. Fabric softener helps reduce friction and can prevent static buildup.
Add a ½ cup of baking soda, along with laundry detergent, during your next load of laundry. Baking soda is a natural fabric softener that gets rid of static while keeping whites white and colors bright. Reduce Drying Time: Another common cause of static in the laundry is over-drying.
Tips and Tricks to Prevent Static in Bed Sheets
Choose Natural Fibers: Opt for 100% cotton or bamboo sheets. These natural fibers are less prone to static electricity than synthetic ones. Use a Humidifier: Increasing the moisture in the air can help reduce static.
What Does the Aluminum Foil Do? For static-free loads of laundry, two or three inch-thick balls of aluminum foil should do the trick. Rip off a few sheets of foil, crumple them up tightly and toss them in your dryer. Your clothes will come out sans static, all due to an exchange of electrons.
Dryer sheets stop static cling by absorbing static electricity formed by different fabrics during your dryer cycle. The fabric softeners that coat dryer sheets are positively charged ions to balance the electrons and ions that cause static cling, leaving you with soft clothes without the static.