The arrival of cold weather often means the return of the drying machine for most Quebec households. Despite its simplicity of use, the dryer is not without disadvantages. It consumes a lot of electricity, damages clothes and often leaves them wrinkled. Also, depending on the composition of our clothes, fabric friction can create static electricity.
To avoid some of these inconveniences, many families use fabric softener sheets. However, these sheets are single-use and non-compostable, as they are made from polyester, a synthetic fiber derived from petroleum. Also, they contain fragrances and other substances that are transferred to clothes during drying and may cause allergic reactions in some people. Finally, these sheets impede the absorbency of textiles such as terrycloth towels by leaving a thin and impermeable layer.
To make this routine gesture more ecological, there's a simple solution: use wool dryer balls!
Advantages of wool dryer balls
Natural
The wool usually used comes from sheep and sometimes from alpaca. It is consequently a 100% natural fiber.
Reduced energy costs
The principle of the dryer is to move the clothes in order to circulate hot air between them to dry them.
By adding dryer balls, fabric layers are separated more efficiently, improving air circulation. This process reduces drying time and energy consumption by up to 25% per load. A significant saving!
Last but not least, the movement of the balls in the dryer allows the items of clothing to detach better from each other, saving time on ironing! Separating clothes also makes it easier for pet hair to find its way to the appliance's filter.
No added chemicals
Dryer balls are made from 100% wool. There are no added fragrances, antistatic agents or fabric softeners.
No dyes are used in the manufacturing process; the color comes from the natural hue of the animal's wool.
Hypoallergenic
As they are made entirely of wool, dryer balls leave no residue on clothing, so there's no risk of developing a skin allergy.
Reusable
Each ball can be used for a minimum of 500 loads. At 5 loads a week, that's a lifespan of at least 2 years.
On a personal note, our dryer balls are currently over 3 years old and still going strong!
Biodegradable
Made from keratin, a natural protein, wool decomposes in just a few months.
Practical information
For best results, we recommend using 3 wool dryer balls for a small load and up to 6 balls for a large load.
It's important to note that the antistatic effect is more effective on natural fibers than synthetic ones, as the latter produce much more static electricity. It is therefore important to reduce drying time, since electricity is generated by the friction of dry clothes.
Maintenance
Dryer balls do not need to be washed, as they are in contact with clean clothes. However, should an incident occur, dryer balls can be washed in the washing machine in cold water. To do this, place them in a sock or in a lingerie bag and wash them on the delicate cycle. They can also be washed by hand with mild soap. Some manufacturers claim that this will restore their antistatic properties, but we're not convinced.
Eco-friendly, but more expensive?
Many people have the misconception that replacing fabric softener sheets with wool dryer balls is more expensive.
In addition to a reduction in electricity costs associated with the use of the dryer of approximately 25%, the savings don't stop there!
Although dryer balls generally last longer than 2 years, let's assume a family doing 5 big loads a week, and a dryer ball lifespan of 2 years:
|
|
Fabric softener sheets |
Dryer balls |
|
Number per load |
2* |
6 |
|
Cost per item |
$0,06** |
$8 |
|
Annual cost (260 loads) |
$31,20 |
$48 |
|
2-year cost (520 loads) |
$62,40 |
$48 |
* Companies recommend the use of 2 sheets for a large load.
** Average price in a supermarket
After two years of use, this represents a saving of nearly $15 + electricity.
The initial cost is certainly higher, but it saves you money in the long term!
Ecologically yours,
