Forget About Dryer Balls
Posted on September 20, 2007 by
TreeHugger is reporting that dryer balls are not the eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets we all thought they were.
Dryer balls have been regarded as a great, non-chemical alternative to dryer sheet fabric softeners. Unfortunately, the material used in making the knobby blue dryer balls is as un-eco-friendly as it gets.
According to TreeHugger:
What the manufacturers fail to mention, however, is that the the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material the supposedly “nontoxic” dryer balls are made of is one of the most poisonous plastics ever created, posing great environmental and health hazards in its manufacture, product life, and disposal.
In the next few weeks I’ll be doing some research to come up with some safe, anti-static, clothes softening alternatives. I promise I’ll share what I come up with.
some people use tennis balls as well. I know people that use cloth diaper and can’t use fabric softner it cause the diapers to leak.
With winter coming, I need something that works really well. The static electricity in the air is enough to short my lights!
I have a down comforter that actually recommends using 2 clean tennis balls when you dry it.
Hi Allie,
The Eucalan product that you reviewed a week or so ago, is helpful as a static reducer in the dryer. Simply use Eucalan as your wash soap and don’t rinse so that the Eucalan can stay in the fabric or if you insist on rinsing, add a bit of Eucalan to the rinse water. The essential oil and lanolin work to reduce static.
Also, If you take clothes out of the dryer just before they have completely dried, that is another good method of reducing static.
Lastly, adding a cup of vinegar to your rinse water can reduce static.
Take care,
Tabatha