Dryer Balls

Corleyrae

I have done some research on homemade dryer balls and had a few questions. You all came to mind for answers. Can I use any scrape yarn or is the wool the only material? Or is it just better?

lovebook

I made my own ... thought you could only use wool so I did (and then I had to go through the whole felting process! ugh!) ... anyway, I got some new dryer balls from etsy and she uses a soy-based yarn.  SO, that makes me think you can use other materials.  I think the benefit of wool, though, is the lanolin helps reduce static.  Prior to my wool dryer balls I just used tennis balls to help keep the air moving and reduce drying time.

CDMay2006

I'm not sure, i just wanted to suggest that you could also add a dry towel to every load (we have one that just stays in the dryer) and it dramatically reduces drying time.  Use two for loads of towels or jeans. 

xxSOMMERxx

Does the acrylic yarn not work?

 

I have a ton of it and would like to use it all up.  The more eco-friendly yarns are a lot more appealing to me now.

pixieprincss

I would not use synthetic yarn since synthetics are a huge cause of static. Natural fiber is the way to go. Person who mentioned lanolin--I'd never made that connection before. Neat!

xxSOMMERxx

I never thought about the synthetic yarn causing static.

 

Thanks for pointing that out.

Corleyrae

Thank you! Any suggestions for the synthetic yarn?  I was going to try to use it up with out just getting rid of it.

mominatrix

Synthetic yarns won't felt, neither will cotton or other "grown" yarns... the only ones that will felt are animal wools (sheep wool, angora, cashmere, etc.)

 

I use yarns I don't like to make facecloths with...