Save Hundreds? Really?

March 4, 2008 6:27 AM

Tumble Dryer Balls. Do they actually work?

Do you use them? Have you noticed any appreciable drop in your drying times or running costs? Do they soften fabric?

posted by chuckdarwin to home & garden (17 comments total)

Previously. Also. Verdict: inconclusive.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:41 AM on March 4

My brother uses them. I don't. He likes them a lot, but he doesn't get that moutain fresh small which I enjoy. But the towels are just as soft when either of us do the laundry.

However, I'm afraid of my clothing wearing out faster because they're getting clobbered by a spiked ball for 50 minutes, but I haven't done any long term studies.

If it helps tip the scales for you, my brother enjoys making hot balls jokes whenever he does laundry.
posted by spec80 at 7:03 AM on March 4

I used to use them (and posted in a previous thread that they worked). However, I've since moved and now the dryer I use is large and commercial as opposed to small and consumer. I find I don't need them anymore as I still do the same size load of laundry and the dryer is large enough that air circulates just fine inside.

So, my answer is that if you're doing laundry on a standard home machine, the balls do work. If you're not, they're unnecessary.

Note that I've also switched to detergent that has fabric softener in it so that aspect of my laundry is accounted for pre-dryer. (Except for towels, which are working fine ball-less and softener-less.)
posted by dobbs at 7:09 AM on March 4

I use 4 of them. When you wash comforters i think it fluffs them up. I have no idea if they reduce dryer time (my dryer just has a sensor that shuts the dryer off when it's not getting any more moisture out). I have no qualms if it's merely a placebo effect, I feel good throwing them in the dryer. I would imagine they would knock the laundry around more which would help expose more of the wet surface area of the clothes to the dry heat of the dryer. I'm sure you'll save hundreds if you use them daily for 20 years. But I wouldn't buy them for economic reasons. If you really want to save money, hang your clothes outside (weather permitting).. that dries them WAAAYYY faster than any dryer if it's a nice dry sunny day (best for drying huge comforters that barely fit in a dryer). I think a dryer is definitely a piece of equipment that could use a major re-invention.
posted by high0nfire at 7:10 AM on March 4

My SO had them and it made his stuff fluffy. I don't think there was any real difference in dryer times or costs because he always let it run full cycle anyway. FWIW, they were sort of annoying because they bounce all around against the metal. Personally, I didn't care for them when I did my stuff at his place, but he's not as picky as me so they were fine for him. I didn't feel like there was that much of a difference and I don't spend a fortune on dryer sheets anyway - it wasn't like I was "saving hundreds."

When we moved the dryer balls didn't make the cut and we no longer have them, if that tells you anything.
posted by ml98tu at 7:17 AM on March 4

We use tennis balls with our comforters. Seems to fluff 'em a bit.
posted by deCadmus at 7:32 AM on March 4

We tried them... they didn't work very well. We're back to sheets.
posted by tinkertown at 7:47 AM on March 4

I use them, and haven't paid close enough attenion to see if they make a noticable difference. However, my main motivation in switch from dryer sheets to dryer balls was learning how dryer sheets can gunk up your lint trap. I'm almost too lazy to do laundry, and I'm definitely too lazy to scrub my lint trap.
posted by kidsleepy at 8:12 AM on March 4

We just bought a pair and I do think they result in less-wrinkled clothes.
posted by GaelFC at 8:48 AM on March 4

I have been using them for 2-3 years now, and I can say what others have already, fluffy laundry and I noticed that I use a bit less time to dry. Not as much as the TV ads claim, but a bit less.

Just my .02
posted by photodegas at 8:56 AM on March 4

Seconding the less wrinkled clothes when using them, especially docker-type pants which come out of the dryer looking pretty good. The funny thing is when they get hot they also get soft and squishy, so maybe spec80's brother can take the joke into the hot and squishy balls arena.

I certainly find hot squishy ball jokes pretty funny.
posted by worker_bee at 9:07 AM on March 4

On local TV yesterday they ran a piece from Consumer Reports... They tested fabric softeners... sheets, liquids and balls. The sheets and liquids all did as advertised but the balls were the worst.
posted by freeflytim at 9:15 AM on March 4

Re. the fluffing effect: I buy that. I have a down baby snowsuit with washing instructions that want you to use tennis balls or similar in the dryer. The thing was a wreck -- it seemed -- when I took it out of the washer, but a pair of clean sneakers in the dryer got it nice and puffy again. Got clean sneakers?
posted by kmennie at 9:35 AM on March 4

We don't use dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener because of my SO's skin sensitivities; even before I was with him, I didn't use fabric softeners much because I didn't like the buildup on my clothes (didn't know about that lint trap thing, kidsleepy--ick!). So for us, the options are dryer balls or nothing. We've been using them for 2 years and I definitely think the dryer balls are an improvement over using nothing: clothes are less staticky (and I live in a dry northern climate that is static hell) and a regular load is dry after about 45 minutes as opposed to 55-60.

The only mildly annoying thing about them is that they are noisy.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:16 AM on March 4

I don't think that they soften the laundry at all, but they do help with wrinkling. That's good enough for me, because I'm terribly lazy about ironing.

I don't know if they shorten the drying time. We have an HE washer and the clothing is pretty well dried when it comes out of washing machine.
posted by 26.2 at 12:02 PM on March 4

I have a set. I think they're a good alternative for times when fabric softener is not what you want - towels, for example, since softener decreases absorbency - or when you don't want any chemical residue (scented or otherwise) like infant clothing or for adults with sensitive skin. And, as mentioned, great for fluffing filled things like comforters and pillows. They don't reduce static, so if that's a feature of dryer sheets that value, they're not for you. They are noisy, but clothes are softer than without them. I've not had them damage any clothes, but I don't put delicates in the dryer anyway.
posted by donnagirl at 12:08 PM on March 4

I tend to dry as much on the line as possible, and only "finish off" with the dryer balls. Clothes seem to need less ironing after using them, but towels definitely seem fluffier.

I reckon if you (by "you" I mean people in general) need to add something to the dryer to create more air pockets, then you need to add less to the dryer.

I can conclusively say that they remove dog hair from clothes much more effectively than the dryer alone.
posted by Solomon at 12:58 PM on March 4