What can I use instead of tennis balls in the dryer?

Author: Luna Marquardt  |  Last update: Monday, October 20, 2025

Here are some alternatives to using tennis balls in the dryer:
  • Smart Sheep wool dryer balls.
  • DIY wool balls.
  • Sheets of foil.
  • Stuffed animals.
  • T-shirt tied into a ball.
  • Plastic dryer balls.
  • Sock balls.

What can I use in the dryer if I don't have a tennis ball?

One is aluminum balls, using your regular household foil, make balls about the size of or a little larger, than a golf ball. Make several, and as they start falling apart add more foil to them. You can find aluminum foil at the One Dollar store.

How do you dry down coat without tennis balls?

The tennis balls will bounce around with the jacket and fluff the down inside the jacket. The bouncing tennis balls will also break up and prevent clumps from forming in the down and make it dry faster and more evenly. If you don't have tennis balls, you can put 2 shoes inside of clean socks as a substitute.

What can be used as a dryer ball?

Dryer balls are most commonly made of tightly compressed wool, but can also be made of plastic or rubber. They help prevent laundry from clumping together in the dryer by tumbling between layers and separating fabric. This action allows warm air to circulate better which can even help reduce drying time.

What is the alternative to tumble dry tennis balls?

Rip off a few sheets of foil, crumple them up tightly and toss them in your dryer. Your clothes will come out static-free, simply from an exchange of electrons!

What To Use In Dryer Instead Of Tennis Balls? - The Racket Xpert

What can you replace dryer balls with?

5 Useful Wool Dryer Ball Alternatives That Are Perfect For...
  • View of Truly Free Dryer Angel product on a dryer - Truly Free.
  • View of Vove Hemp Dryer balls next to linen bag - Vove.
  • Buddha Bunz Bamboo Vegan Dryer Balls in a wooden box - Buddha Bunz.

How to make homemade dryer balls?

How To Make Wool Dryer Balls
  1. Prepare Materials. If you're going to use old woven or knit wool fabrics, like old coats and sweaters, cut the garment into thin strips or ribbons. ...
  2. Wind Up a Ball. Wind the wool yarn or fabric strips into a ball. ...
  3. Create a Sack of Balls. ...
  4. Soak and Felt in Hot Water. ...
  5. Dry the Core. ...
  6. Finish the Ball.

How to dry pillows in dryer without tennis balls?

How to Fluff Pillows In Dryer Without Tennis Balls. In case you don't have tennis balls at home, there are other things you can use. You can use shirts rolled like balls, stuffed toys, clean slippers, or anything dryer-safe. Ensure that the items you use are dryer-safe.

Why do you dry puffer jackets with tennis balls?

An extra tip: pop two clean tennis balls into the drum. They will help to circulate air flow in your garments and prevent the down feathers from clumping together.

What can I put in the dryer with my down jacket?

By far the best way to dry your down jacket is in the dryer. Dry the down jacket in a dryer with a drum large enough so air can circulate around it. Set the dryer to low or air dry. Toss in a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls to keep the item tumbling and prevent down from clumping.

How to fix clumps in a down jacket?

The damp down will be clumpy from the wash, and completely drying it is critical. Use a low heat setting and toss one or two clean tennis balls in the dryer to break up the clumps. Be patient—drying the jacket may take one to three hours. Keep resetting the timer until your beloveds are lump-free and fully dry.

How to fluff comforter in dryer without tennis balls?

Yes, you can fluff a comforter in the dryer without tennis balls. Use the air fluff or no-heat setting. Add a few clean sneakers or dryer balls instead. Remove every 30 minutes to shake and redistribute the fill.

What can I use instead of tennis balls to dry down a jacket?

Wool dryer balls contain only natural fibers, unlike the synthetic materials in tennis balls. Using wool avoids any chemical residues or odors on your down jacket.

Do I need to put tennis balls in the dryer?

So, should you put tennis balls in the dryer? The option is really up to you. Some people swear by dryer balls, which claim to speed up the drying process, reduce static cling, and soften clothing. Experts suggest a clean tennis shoe will also do the trick2!

What can I put in the dryer if I don't have tennis balls?

Here are some alternatives to using tennis balls in the dryer:
  • Smart Sheep wool dryer balls.
  • DIY wool balls.
  • Sheets of foil.
  • Stuffed animals.
  • T-shirt tied into a ball.
  • Plastic dryer balls.
  • Sock balls.

How to use socks as dryer balls?

Sock Dryer Balls are super easy to make and you only need 2 things - 2 socks and essential oil.
  1. Add 10-20 drops of essential oil on the tip of the sock.
  2. Roll the sock up tightly.
  3. Fold the cuff over to form a ball.
  4. Add a few more drops to your second sock.
  5. Place your ball on top of the second sock and roll them up together.

How can I make my own dryer balls?

Here's how to make them:
  1. Use leftover 100% wool yarn to make wool dryer balls. ...
  2. Have fun winding your yarn into colorful balls. ...
  3. Secure yarn balls in a fabric tube such as a compression sock before washing and felting them in hot water. ...
  4. After washing your yarn balls, they will be felted and won't unravel.

Can I use aluminum foil instead of dryer balls?

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!

What to use instead of dryer balls on Reddit?

Dryer sheets, while worse for the environment and my clothes, actually do consistently cut down on static. So while this may be an unpopular take on this subreddit, I prefer sheets to the balls. Anecdotally, the most effective, non-dryer sheet method I've found for cutting down on static is water.

How do you get rid of static in clothes without dryer sheets?

You can also use a metal object like a clothes hanger or aluminum foil to try to discharge the static. Simply rub it along your article of clothing, especially on the area where static is occuring. Applying static-reducing spray might help as well because it can create a barrier to stop static buildup.

How many times can you use aluminum foil balls in the dryer?

Aluminum foil balls are an excellent quick fix since you probably already have the materials on hand. They can be reused multiple times but will degrade with frequent use. So next time you're in a pinch and want to take the spark out of your laundry, you can try aluminum foil balls.

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