I've been...er...um....trialling this gadget for about six months now. You put two in your tumbler dryer and they're supposed to reduce the contact between clothing items as they move around, so that things dry 25% quicker, without static, and with less creases etc, so that you don't need fabric softener. Frankly I think it's a load of old cobblers and that the balls themselves make no difference to my drying times. Things dry quicker depending on how big the load is and how much water has been absorbed by the fabric. Towels take as long with the balls as without and longer than lighter things than socks and T-shirts. I reckon you need more like 10 balls in there to make a difference, and at up to £9.99 a pair dependng on where you by them, I'm not going to bother to get any more and am going to throw away the papir I've got. They also make a terrific racket in the dryer and keep getting knotted up in the bedsheets, separated, etc etc and then falling out and rolling under furniture which then needs moving around to retrieve them. If anyone has any positive dryer ball experoences, feel free to post them here in comments.
I can't imagine the "science" behind them supposedly working. The noise would annoy me like crazy. They look like they'd make great dog toys --- so don't throw them away...find a dog and make his day!
Oh my god...I didn't read the whole comment above yours and at first I thought you meant putting a cat in the dryer would work just as well and make as much noise!! LOL I'm glad I went back & read it! Whew...I feel better now !
They're good for drying things that have a "filling", like pilows, duvets, down filled jackets etc. They help to stop the filling from clumping by bashing it constantly during the drying process. Mind you, a couple of clean tennis balls does the same thing - on a low heat. As for quicker drying - just chuck in a clean dry towel with the damp laundry and that will absorb a load of moisture, cutting down on the drying time.
Tumble dryers are the devil's spawn. Wasteful in terms of energy resources. There's nothing like line dried linens for smell and freshness. Towels can be tumbled for a few minutes while still slightly damp - after line drying - to keep them soft. Fabric softener reduces their absorbency by the way. Personally, I like a good scratchy towel.
My Cats like mine...Thank Goodness I got them at the Dollar General. LOL I have used them with my Quilts , but they do seem to get tangled up in everything ..and I agree about the noise they make.
If nothing else...They are Great Entertainment for my cats....... Kat
LOL - Max the mutt had once such a ball which made a sound like "beeeeeep" when he played with it. How on earth could they imagine those would do any good in a dryer`? I agree with emmm that by putting in a clean towel is cutting down on the drying time.
I give my large loads an extra spin to get even more water out and that helps them dry faster. I have to use fabric softener or else my clothes will wrinkle and it does the towels good making them soft and fluffy. I wish someone would come up with something to keep sheets from bundling up in the dryer , I haven't tried the balls but i imagine they would be really noisy .
LOL.....so funny. But I also imagine that these little balls may be quite hard on the clothes themselves. I have never seen them before so I can't share any positive experiences with you at all. Ten quid down the drain perhaps....LOL. .
I know that line drying is preferable to many, it is a bit tricky in Ireland, lol. Last visit, I had to keep running out to collect my clothes on the line when the rain would come through, dash in, dash back out to hang once it cleared, then the rain would come again. I certainly got my exercise doing it that way. LOL.
I haven't used a tumbler ball, I have used a fabric softener ball before, where you can put the liquid fabric softener in a ball to make the clothes soft and they smell good. But mostly I stay away from the gadgets. If they sound too good to be true, usually are.
I don't have any positive dryer ball experience..but then I don't have any dryer ball experience! But I did have a good laugh reading your post! Thank you Giles!
You are talking about my favourite white good!!! I know there's nothing like the fresh-air smell of sheets hung on a line, but I live on the western side of the UK and there's usually more moisture in the air than in the washing machine! lol
Well I've seen the things advertised and after your not-so-glowing endorsement I doubt I'll be trying them. Emmm's idea of a dry towel in the batch sounds good....but wouldn't you then be left with a damp towel and have to start the whole process over?
I must say I prefer rough towels as well....they are far more absorbent and you get a bit of exfoliating thrown in for good measure!
My dryer came with this divider contraption that is supposed to do the same as those balls and so that clothes don't get tangled up etc..it really annoyed me so I never used it. It made it impossible to fill the dryer and it used up the space when I could put more clothes in.
I can't go without softener because of the girls - they can be very tactile defensive so whatever clothes i put on them, it has to be super smooth otherwise it is WWIII!
It'll be interesting to see how it works. Like Jen I would expect you to end up with a wetter towel and a load of drier but not completely dry other things which then need to be hung out. It's an unreliable system with our weather and when you have small children who need clothes for school etc.
It'll be interesting to see how it works. Like Jen I would expect you to end up with a wetter towel and a load of drier but not completely dry other things which then need to be hung out. It's an unreliable system with our weather and when you have small children who need clothes for school etc.
I have 2 loads of washing each day..and most of them tiny little bitty things from the girls. I know I am not being very "green" (watch out Nessie is gonna spank me hahahaha) but OMG I just don't have the time to hang them all out on the line.
I've never seen anything like that before! I suppose in theory it's a valid product. I'd pass on it myself. I can't stand hearing things knocking around in there!
or maybe a cat. 
