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How To Make Dryer Balls

1/16/2017

22 Comments

 
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Hey y'all, it's Madalynn and today I am going to teach you how to make Dryer Balls. If you've never heard of dryer balls before, they are a cost effective and eco-friendly replacement for dryer sheets. They are made out of wool and last for years. Many people also prefer dryer balls because they are more natural than conventional dryer sheets and are softer on your clothing, but provide the same outcome. Dryer balls keep your clothes soft and static free. They're also super easy to make. So if you want to save some money on laundry this year while also producing less trash, keep on reading!
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For supplies, all you will need are:
  • a pair of scissors
  • An old pair of tights (If you don't have any, I bought these ones from Dollar Tree)
  • 100% wool yarn (Be sure it is 100% wool. Anything else will not felt correctly.  I used this kind.)
  • Essential oils (Optional)
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Right, so let' s get started. You will begin by wrapping the yarn around two or three fingers about ten times. Then you will slide that off your fingers and wrap the yarn around the middle of the loops, so it looks like a bow.
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Then you pretty much just keep wrapping the yarn all around until it forms a ball. Be sure to keep spinning the ball as you go so that it will come out as an even ball. 
​You can make these as big as you want. I made mine to fit right in the palm of my hand, a little bit smaller than a tennis ball. Any size from about there to around the size of a softball will work. When you feel happy with how big it is, just snip off the end of yarn and tuck it under a few other layers of the wool.
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Out of one skein of yarn, I made three balls, with a little bit of yarn left over. Three to four is about all you need for one load of laundry, so that was perfect!
At this point, you can add essential oils to your wool balls if you wish for them to be scented.
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Next you will grab those tights and cut off the legs. Drop the dryer balls in there one at a time, knotting the tights in between each one. You can also tie them off in between each one with some thread, but don't use any of your wool yarn to do this as it will felt that way. At the end of the line I double knotted the tights to make sure that none fell out during the felting process. 
​Putting them in the tights is important because a) it keeps them all in one place and b) it keeps them from unraveling.
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Now that you have them all knotted up in there, throw them in the wash. I would recommend doing them in a load with towels.
The way that works best for this is to run them through with a cold water cycle, then a hot water cycle. Then when you throw them into the dryer, run it on the highest heat setting.
You may need to repeat this process two or three times to get them to felt, so this will be a great project for laundry day!

You can tell when they are felted because the individual strands of yarn wont come apart from the rest when you run your fingers over them.
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So I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful. Try these out and let us know how you like them! I have a feeling that you'll never go back to dryer sheets after using these. Happy Monday and I'll be back on Friday with my Friday Fave!
22 Comments
Linda link
1/18/2017 06:14:22 am

When I first glanced at this I could just imagine all my dry clothes tangled up in that yarn! Then I saw the tights. Whew!!! This is a great idea. I found you at Party in Your PJs.

Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda

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Helen Reynolds link
1/18/2017 09:18:39 am

Ha Ha! The balls get felted and then come out of the tights. Although they still look like little balls of yarn, they are actually felted and stuck that way,so they stay tightly wound. Thanks for stopping by!

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Patty Gordon link
1/18/2017 09:27:53 am

Saw this one on Party in your PJs. I may have to try this one. I've all but given up dryer sheets since I heard they make it hard for your towels to be absorbent, but I need something in there because my clothes are all static filled. Thanks for these instructions!

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Madalynn
1/21/2017 01:44:34 pm

I hope you enjoy it! I've also heard that about dryer sheets, and from what I've read the dryer balls will not affect that at all. :)

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Pat link
1/18/2017 12:21:01 pm

So, let me get this straight: once they've "felted" you take them out of the tights and use them separately, right?
Sounds wonderful!!
And so EASY!

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Helen Reynolds
1/18/2017 12:22:58 pm

Yes, that's right! Super simple!

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Anna link
1/18/2017 12:48:24 pm

Yes I love my dryer balls!

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Helen Reynolds
1/18/2017 03:06:40 pm

Good to know! Thanks!

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Mother of 3 link
1/18/2017 06:02:01 pm

Great tutorial! I got rid of dryer sheets a few years ago but we have such a horrendous time with static in the winter that I've been searching for a good alternative. Pinning this!

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Helen Reynolds
1/18/2017 11:15:42 pm

Oh good! I hope this is a great solution for you!

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Amy link
1/19/2017 01:48:22 am

I have never heard of anything like this. I am really anxious to try this out. I am always looking for something to keep the static down. Thank you for sharing at Grandma's House Go Wednesday Link Party.

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Madalynn
1/21/2017 01:45:14 pm

I hope these work for you! I have the same problem.

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Katy SkipTheBag link
1/21/2017 08:50:16 am

This is a great idea. I have heard of felting, but didn't know I could do it with wool yarn! Thanks for sharing on the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop!

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Madalynn
1/21/2017 01:45:46 pm

Thanks a lot! Glad you learned something!

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April J Harris link
1/23/2017 06:37:25 am

I had heard of dryer balls but I didn't know you could make your own. These are a great replacement for chemical filled dryer sheets! Shared on Twitter. Thank you for sharing with us at Hearth and Soul.

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Sharon@bluewillowhouse link
1/23/2017 05:01:11 pm

Thanks for sharing your method for making dryer balls with us at Vintage Charm.

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Grandmas House DIY link
1/24/2017 10:11:24 am

Thanks for sharing with us at the To grandma's house we go link party last week! You will be featured tomorrow morning when the new party starts!

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Helen Reynolds
1/24/2017 12:27:15 pm

That is awesome! Madalynn will be so pleased. Thanks for always hosting a great party!

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Roseann Hampton link
1/25/2017 06:07:28 pm

I was just thinking about making these - so glad you shared this how- to on Grandma's House link party!

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Helen Reynolds
1/25/2017 07:08:26 pm

You're welcome! Hope you enjoy them.

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Phyllis Barnes
2/12/2017 06:36:03 pm

Cant wait too try this. Wonder if you could buy wool garments ,at a thrift store, and cut those up and use the strings? For economics.

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Madalynn
7/25/2017 11:46:04 am

Hello Phyllis! I've just seen your comment. I have seen other people who have bought wool clothes and unraveled them to make these. They send to work the same. :)

Reply

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    Helen Reynolds: Mother of six children , grandmother to fifteen!  I love to cook, craft and create things and I especially love doing that with my family, So, when my lawyer daughter, Lindsey, my artist daughter, Madalynn, and I came up with the idea of Hot Cocoa Bombs, this blog was born.  Then, one more daughter, with her technical and science skills, plus creativity has joined in to round us out!  Read more about us here!
        

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