Because of my worsening asthma, my parents and I have been seeking out replacements for many of our household cleaning products. It had seemed I outgrew asthma in my teens, but now I'm battling it again as a college student--and this time around, certain household products (e.g., Downy Unstopables, Cascade Platinum, and any kind of air freshener) have been aggravating my respiratory symptoms.
Woolzies Dryer Balls have been a great find, primarily because they are a perfect vehicle for scenting laundry with essential oils, thereby allowing us to forgo chemically-scented laundry products. Woolzies make a lot of claims on the product packaging--only some of which they live up to--so I'll address them one by one.
- Natural fabric softener. I don't understand how (I'm an accounting major; even basic science is beyond me!), but these actually do soften fabric. My laundry is as soft using Woolzies as it was when we were using Bounce dryer sheets. An added bonus is the absence of that oily residue dryer sheets can impart on smaller loads.
- Reduces static. I completely disagree with this claim. In the humidity of coastal Florida, I hadn't experienced static issues with laundry--until using Woolzies. Using Woolzies alone, laundry was coming out of the dryer in a cohesive ball. Fortunately, another reviewer mentioned an easy fix: toss a ball of aluminum foil into the dryer! I did this, and we're back to static-free laundry. (TIP: after rolling up the aluminum foil, I pressed it down on the kitchen counter to eliminate the jagged edges. After it went through the dryer once, it had "softened" to where the seams were nonexistent, so there's no need to worry about it snagging on laundry.)
- Noise free. Another false claim, in my opinion. Maybe it's just our dryer, but these are noisy enough that we no longer run the dryer at night, in spite of the laundry room being quite a ways off from the bedrooms. They aren't as noisy as plastic dryer balls, which my parents tried years ago, but they are far from noise free.
- Reduces drying time & saves energy. Absolutely true! It saves about 10 or 15 minutes on smaller loads, but what really amazes me is how much time it shaves off larger loads. My queen-sized quilt used to remain damp in some places after two 70-minute cycles in our ancient (read: 10-year-old) dryer. With all six Woolzies in the dryer, that same quilt dries in about 50 minutes.
- Helps eliminate wrinkles. The jury is still out on this. I haven't noticed any difference in the amount of wrinkles we see with Woolzies. Just like with dryer sheets, if clothes are promptly removed near the end of the dry cycle, they're wrinkle free; leave them to set, and they're a wrinkly mess.
- Hypoallergenic & 100% safe for people with wool sensitivities. I have sensitive skin (the stress of exams is enough to cause eczema to appear on my hands), and don't notice Woolzies exacerbating any sensitivities. That said, I don't think the Bounce Free & Clear we were using prior to Woolzies was causing skin sensitivity in me to begin with. I can't speak to whether or not the claim of wool sensitivity is true, as I don't have a sensitivity to wool.
- 100% eco friendly. Prior to purchasing, I checked the Woolzies website, and those of the two other top competitors here on Amazon, and couldn't find any claims about farming practices. So, while these are certainly better for the environment than dryer sheets, I personally wouldn't label a product as being 100% eco-friendly without ensuring responsible and humane farming practices.
Bottom line: I highly recommend Woolzies, and won't go back to dryer sheets again. These deliver comparable performance where softness and wrinkle-reduction are concerned, but are noisy and do nothing to reduce static. Toss some aluminum foil in your dryer to compensate for the static issue, and you can cut down drying time considerably. Better still, if you add a drop of essential oil to each ball, you have a natural way to scent clothing without harsh chemicals. Definitely worth the purchase!
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This item: Woolzies Wool Dryer Balls Organic: Our Big Wool Spheres are the Best fabric softener | 6-Pack XL Dryer Balls for Laundry is Made with New Zealand Wool | Use Laundry Balls for Dryer with Essential Oils
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Woolzies Lavender Essential Oil - Aromatherapy Essential Oils for Diffuser and Topical Use | 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Lavendar | 4 Fl OzAmazon's Choicein Essential Oil Singles
Well worth chasing across the utility room floor!!! (has updates)
I waited a full year before writing this review, even though I was thoroughly impressed with Woolzies XL the very first week. These babies really do work! Will they improve your dryer's performance? ... YES. Will they totally eliminate *all* static in your laundry? ... NO, but dryer sheets won't either, and the sheets don't help the clothes get dry faster.I dry approximately 10 loads a week. After a year of use, the Woolzies have a few pills and one even has a small chunk missing thanks to my dog who chases and retrieves balls much more efficiently than I. The Woolzies utilize escape tactics when you're removing laundry from the dryer, but they are well worth chasing across the floor between loads. Your skills of keeping them contained will improve once you learn their tactics. Although not a pretty as they once were, the Woolzies are still fully functional and look as though they will go another year. (see the photo I've uploaded of a new Woolzie next to my originals that are 18 months old). One reviewer mentioned that they will get in the corners of sheets, etc., which is true, but it does not stop them from tumbling around -- they just take the sheet with them. They will fall in and out of sheet corners many times during a cycle.Even though my dryer has the sensor that is supposed to end the drying cycle only after the contents are actually dry, it never seemed to work out that way. Unless I was drying microfleece or very thin knits, my clothes and other laundry was never completely dry when the dryer stopped. If I were drying jeans or towels, it was not unusual to run the dryer 2 or 3 times before achieving total dryness. It NEVER happens anymore. No matter how heavy or thick the load, the laundry is dry when the buzzer goes off. The clothes are beautifully wrinkle free as well. Polyester knits still have static issues if the weather is really dry (which rarely happens in Louisiana), but a can of Static Guard Static Cling Spray, Fresh Scent, 5.5 oz. kept nearby takes care of the occasional clinging issue.Overall, I know without a doubt that I have saved enough to pay for these several times over, when you figure electricity and the elimination of dryer sheets from my shopping list. These are much better than the competing brands, especially the little plastic ones with bumps, which crack fairly quickly and make a lot of noise bouncing around. These only produce little muffled thunks, instead of steady thuds (you get used to it pretty quickly and the sound disappears into white noise). I recommend these wholeheartedly and they also make a wonderful gift.***UPDATE***: Eighteen months into my use of Woolzies, I got a new HUGE dryer, so I purchased another set of Woolzies to throw in with the old ones. I uploaded a photo which shows exactly what an old, heavily used Woolzie ball looks like next to a brand new one that has never been used. The box that contained my new Woolzies actually reads that the pilling on the Woolzies help them work even better. I'm not removing the pills!FINAL UPDATE: After four years and thousands of loads, I am starting to retire the original Woolzies. With the large capacity of the dryer, I use 18. The original balls are very loosely bound, and many started to unravel. My cat really enjoys batting them around, and doing the final unraveling. I then cut them into pieces and use them as part of the stuffing for pet beds. Nothing goes to waste.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2012
I dry approximately 10 loads a week. After a year of use, the Woolzies have a few pills and one even has a small chunk missing thanks to my dog who chases and retrieves balls much more efficiently than I. The Woolzies utilize escape tactics when you're removing laundry from the dryer, but they are well worth chasing across the floor between loads. Your skills of keeping them contained will improve once you learn their tactics. Although not a pretty as they once were, the Woolzies are still fully functional and look as though they will go another year. (see the photo I've uploaded of a new Woolzie next to my originals that are 18 months old). One reviewer mentioned that they will get in the corners of sheets, etc., which is true, but it does not stop them from tumbling around -- they just take the sheet with them. They will fall in and out of sheet corners many times during a cycle.
Even though my dryer has the sensor that is supposed to end the drying cycle only after the contents are actually dry, it never seemed to work out that way. Unless I was drying microfleece or very thin knits, my clothes and other laundry was never completely dry when the dryer stopped. If I were drying jeans or towels, it was not unusual to run the dryer 2 or 3 times before achieving total dryness. It NEVER happens anymore. No matter how heavy or thick the load, the laundry is dry when the buzzer goes off. The clothes are beautifully wrinkle free as well. Polyester knits still have static issues if the weather is really dry (which rarely happens in Louisiana), but a can of Static Guard Static Cling Spray, Fresh Scent, 5.5 oz. kept nearby takes care of the occasional clinging issue.
Overall, I know without a doubt that I have saved enough to pay for these several times over, when you figure electricity and the elimination of dryer sheets from my shopping list. These are much better than the competing brands, especially the little plastic ones with bumps, which crack fairly quickly and make a lot of noise bouncing around. These only produce little muffled thunks, instead of steady thuds (you get used to it pretty quickly and the sound disappears into white noise). I recommend these wholeheartedly and they also make a wonderful gift.
***UPDATE***: Eighteen months into my use of Woolzies, I got a new HUGE dryer, so I purchased another set of Woolzies to throw in with the old ones. I uploaded a photo which shows exactly what an old, heavily used Woolzie ball looks like next to a brand new one that has never been used. The box that contained my new Woolzies actually reads that the pilling on the Woolzies help them work even better. I'm not removing the pills!
FINAL UPDATE: After four years and thousands of loads, I am starting to retire the original Woolzies. With the large capacity of the dryer, I use 18. The original balls are very loosely bound, and many started to unravel. My cat really enjoys batting them around, and doing the final unraveling. I then cut them into pieces and use them as part of the stuffing for pet beds. Nothing goes to waste.
Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
Well worth chasing across the utility room floor!!! (has updates)
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2012
I waited a full year before writing this review, even though I was thoroughly impressed with Woolzies XL the very first week. These babies really do work! Will they improve your dryer's performance? ... YES. Will they totally eliminate *all* static in your laundry? ... NO, but dryer sheets won't either, and the sheets don't help the clothes get dry faster.Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2012
I dry approximately 10 loads a week. After a year of use, the Woolzies have a few pills and one even has a small chunk missing thanks to my dog who chases and retrieves balls much more efficiently than I. The Woolzies utilize escape tactics when you're removing laundry from the dryer, but they are well worth chasing across the floor between loads. Your skills of keeping them contained will improve once you learn their tactics. Although not a pretty as they once were, the Woolzies are still fully functional and look as though they will go another year. (see the photo I've uploaded of a new Woolzie next to my originals that are 18 months old). One reviewer mentioned that they will get in the corners of sheets, etc., which is true, but it does not stop them from tumbling around -- they just take the sheet with them. They will fall in and out of sheet corners many times during a cycle.
Even though my dryer has the sensor that is supposed to end the drying cycle only after the contents are actually dry, it never seemed to work out that way. Unless I was drying microfleece or very thin knits, my clothes and other laundry was never completely dry when the dryer stopped. If I were drying jeans or towels, it was not unusual to run the dryer 2 or 3 times before achieving total dryness. It NEVER happens anymore. No matter how heavy or thick the load, the laundry is dry when the buzzer goes off. The clothes are beautifully wrinkle free as well. Polyester knits still have static issues if the weather is really dry (which rarely happens in Louisiana), but a can of Static Guard Static Cling Spray, Fresh Scent, 5.5 oz. kept nearby takes care of the occasional clinging issue.
Overall, I know without a doubt that I have saved enough to pay for these several times over, when you figure electricity and the elimination of dryer sheets from my shopping list. These are much better than the competing brands, especially the little plastic ones with bumps, which crack fairly quickly and make a lot of noise bouncing around. These only produce little muffled thunks, instead of steady thuds (you get used to it pretty quickly and the sound disappears into white noise). I recommend these wholeheartedly and they also make a wonderful gift.
***UPDATE***: Eighteen months into my use of Woolzies, I got a new HUGE dryer, so I purchased another set of Woolzies to throw in with the old ones. I uploaded a photo which shows exactly what an old, heavily used Woolzie ball looks like next to a brand new one that has never been used. The box that contained my new Woolzies actually reads that the pilling on the Woolzies help them work even better. I'm not removing the pills!
FINAL UPDATE: After four years and thousands of loads, I am starting to retire the original Woolzies. With the large capacity of the dryer, I use 18. The original balls are very loosely bound, and many started to unravel. My cat really enjoys batting them around, and doing the final unraveling. I then cut them into pieces and use them as part of the stuffing for pet beds. Nothing goes to waste.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Ronnie
amazing!! especially for you organic mummies!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2014Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
KittyKat38
Great size, nice and dense but a bit of a pong
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2014Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
