Dryer Balls…Wow I could not get myself excited about this product review. I wonder why!  Well I actually bought this product at the Calgary Stampede exhibition a few years back. I can tell you they make a heck of a sound in your dryer! So much so I stopped using them. From looking around at different reviews though, they sort of work for some people and not others. Here’s two video reviews if you want to check this product out. BTW there are many different brands of these dryer balls but really they’re just all the same thing. The brand I bought was the Nellie’s Dryer Balls.

Dryer Balls test comes out with different results.

What are Dryer Balls?

They’re two hard, spiky balls made from a PVC material. You throw them into the dryer with your clothes. Kind of how you’d use tennis balls in the dryer except tennis balls work better than these things. They claim that they will reduce dryer time and make your clothes nice and fluffy. The funny thing is that they claim the action of the balls separating your laundry will reduce dryer time. What I found was the little balls kept getting caught in my clothes… pant legs or sleeves. The fluffiness claim is due to the knobs on the ball massaging the fabric and therefore creating softer clothes.

Pros

• The product is long lasting.
• Two year guarantee with product purchase.
• Good if you have sensitive skin issues.
• Better for the environment – that is if they actually reduce dryer time.
• Hypoallergenic alternative to dryer sheets and fabric softeners with chemicals in them.
• Makes an excellent dog toy or massaging device.
• Softens clothes but only for certain individuals with certain dryers.

Cons

• No reduction in drying time equals no reduction in your home utility bill.
• One report of dryer balls having the opposite effect – making their clothes all rough and coarse.
• Fabric softeners do a better job of making your clothes soft and static free.
• Very noisy – I personally couldn’t stand it because it sounds like sneakers in my dryer.
• The little balls get trapped in legs and arms of clothes.
• The ball spikes will most definitely add to wear and tear on your clothes.

I just realized that not all Dryer Ball test results are the same. Take a look at this review with the exact opposite results than the one video above. I also found a really good scientific review on Dryer Balls. The really put a lot of work into this one with charts and graphs.

Dryer Balls get a big thumbs down in my opinion. Just to be fair I did come across only a few reviews that mentioned that the product either increased softness or reduced dryer time. Usually it wasn’t both. I’m thinking what it comes down to is your dryer. Even in this video, the reporter didn’t have fluffy towels while the other lady did. Sooo I would just get some non-chemical laden fabric softener. Just as good and not as annoying! If you have a different experience, I’d love to hear what you think. Thank you!

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