Nellie’s Dryerballs: Product Review
Let us just say off the bat that we've been looking for a way to rid our lives of dryer sheets. We actually like the method dryer sheets. They do a great job on static clean but at five dollars for thirty-two sheets, the cost is a bit much and we can't reuse the dryer sheets the way we would a non-wet version. And as for the regular dryer sheets -- your everyday big box of sheets for a good price -- we've never found one we're overjoyed by, our number one complaint being a sort of film left behind on the clothes.
So we were very excited to have the opportunity to review Nellie's Dryerballs. Nellie's Dryerballs claim to be able to soften fabrics naturually, reduce drying time, reduce lint and wrinkles (and of course, therefore reduce ironing). All with the aide of two little blue spikey balls. Sounds good, eh? Let's try it out and see if it lives up to the fuss!
Paige first tried Nellie's Dryerballs with a regular load of mixed colored clothes. The dryerballs come in a pack of two and the instructions tell us to throw both in the dryer with the wet laundry. We wanted to try one ball first, and guess what? It worked, as far as static clean went! Paige was verrrrry impressed. While the FAQ page of Nellie's website says that the dryerballs do not fully eliminate static (they only help to prevent it) in Paige's first test she felt that the dryerballs over-performed! P.S. According to Nellie, climate and over drying are the main causes for static. Additional things you can do to help reduce static are:
- Decrease drying time
- Use less detergent
- Separate synthetics from the rest of your clothes
The one thing to note was that in the first test, Paige did not notice a significant reduction of drying time.
Paige's next two tests included the ever-popular towel test. Paige again started with the one dryerball with the load of towels. This test did not perform as well. There was no reduction of drying time and there was still some static cling. OK, Nellie, we'll go along with your instructions and try two dryerballs! Another load of wet towels, two dryerballs and away we go.
Well? It worked...with flying colors! Paige noted a fifteen minute reduction of drying time from the first load of towels to the second. In addition, there was nary a trace of static cling. Impressive. How do they cut down on drying time? According to Nellie, as the dryerballs tumble around in your dryer they lift and separate your clothes. This allows air to flow more efficiently throughout your dryer thus decreasing your drying time
Nellie's Dryerballs are your new best budget laundry buddy. For twenty dollars, plus tax, the dryerballs will last you 3-5 years. That works out to around four dollars a year - and you'll also save on your electricity on top of not having to buy fabric softeners. With two boxes of fabric softener costing twenty dollars and lasting one to two months in an average household, your dryerballs will pay for themselves in their first use.
How do you get your hands on this fabulous product? Head on over to their website and buy Nellie's Dryerballs online, or use their search tool to find a retailer near you.
Comments
I wonder if you used more than one set if it would work even better, especially if you have a large load.
Although sometimes more is not necessarily better. :D
My thought is that more than one set would be extremely loud, rumbling around in the dryer! =)
i’m sorry, but the word is “static cling,” not static clean. Cling, meaning they cling (ie: hold) together.
However, I shall try this out! One thing I do with my wet clothes is to cut my dryer sheets into thirds-they last longer and do just as well.
Thanks for the tip! I’m always looking for ways to save energy.
m.
PS - The English teacher in me can’t resist...it’s “static cling” not “static clean.”
An even better option is to just not care about the static. I haven’t used dryer sheets in nearly 6 years. The only time I have a static issue is if I put something nylon (like sports shorts or a slip) in the dryer. These dry so very quickly if hung up that I never put them in the dryer.
An even better solution is to buy a drying rack--will last you far longer than 5-7 years, you can get them in wood (ie, no evil plastic), and they are far quieter.
I’m very interested in this blog, but it seems to be a lot about buying stuff, which isn’t terribly environmental....
oh no! I too thought these were the answer when I bought them last year, but the “nubs” started falling off and they cracked after 8 months, which made me wonder what they are made of, can they be recycled, etc...and the answers are not so good for those of us trying to be green and safe.
I found (via the ‘net) that the dryerballs are PVC and might even leach chems onto our clothes when heated (!). I did a little blog post on it with a good alternative that HAS lasted over a year, if you’re so inclined...http://fashionethic.blogspot.com/2008/04/easy-green-tip-1-rinse-less-air-dry.html Def. one of those green-lessons-learned for me :)
OK, several of you realized my faux pas re: “static clean” vs. “static clean”. As a writer I want to thank you for pointing out the error, and as a prideful writer, I want to point out that was an issue with spell check. Of course it was not me...but thanks for pointing it out. I fixed it! =)
Hi AnnMarie,
Thanks for being honest. We’re actually looking very closely at the blog to ensure we are delivering what people want. And as a result we are going to be posting more helpful tips on being green vs. purchases, effective immediately. Thanks for being honest and helping us remain honest as well. You eco rock!