Wool Dryer Balls Baby!

After having Evelyn I changed our laundry detergent to an environmentally friendly, baby friendly, fragrance free, phosphates free, hypoallergenic etc. etc. type - AND stopped using fabric softener. In doing so I lost what I love so much about clean laundry - the scent - and our clothes, towels and blankets became ridden with dog hair that was previously kept at bay by dryer sheets. BOOOO! So I went in search of a solution, and quickly found that people use Wool Dryer Balls in lieu.

Wool dryer balls are just that. A wool ball that you toss into your dryer with your wet clothes. The lanolin in the ball is supposed to soften the clothes naturally, and the balls act as an agitator to reduce drying time. I thought I'd give them a try to see if they worked on our dog hair issue as well.

Okay, I love these things! From different things I've read, it is suggested that you have 6-8 of them to actually do a good job, but in the pack I ordered I received 4 and they do the job just fine. Yes, our clothes are softer. Yes, the drying time is reduced. Yes, our pet hair gets wrapped up in the balls and not on our clothes anymore! Admittedly, they don't work as well as dryer sheets for the pet hair, but they're pretty darn good. I also get my scent back by putting a few drops of vanilla and tangerine essential oils on the balls - also not as fragrant as commercial perfumes, but natural and pleasant; it's not overpowering.
The only issue the balls do not address is static. But I'm willing to live with a bit of electricity in exchange for healthier laundry.

I purchased my balls from MiniMittens on Etsy - This is a crafter from Ottawa - so I also feel great about supporting a Canadian business too.

What a great gift these would make too; paired with a few bottles of essential oils - awesome!

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