Christmas in July: Wool Dryer Balls

Have you ever used wool dryer balls instead of fabric softener? They really do work! Putting 4 - 5 wool dryer balls in your dryer with a load of clothes saves energy by cutting down your drying time, it reduces static cling and wrinkles, and you can use them over and over. You can also add essential oils to make your clothes smell great!

You can buy wool dryer balls, but it's so easy to make your own, and they make great homemade, practical gifts. It's really simple to do. Here's what you'll need:

• 100% wool yarn

• Essential oil (I like lavender)

• Panty hose or tights

Here are the instructions that I used for DIY Wool Dryer Balls from the Frugal Girls which includes a picture tutorial, but it's really easy:

1. Wind the yarn into a baseball-sized ball and tuck in the end so it won't unwind.

2. Cut off the leg of some panty hose. Stick a wool ball into the toe of panty hose and tie it to keep the ball of wool inside. You can tie several balls of yarn into the same leg of panty hose. Just tie a knot after each ball of wool is put inside.

3. Put the panty hose chain of wool balls into the dryer on the highest heat setting a few times so you can "felt" the wool. (That basically means it won't unwind because it becomes sort of matted together).

4. Untie the pantyhose and take the wool balls out. Then add 3 - 5 drops of essential oil to each ball and put 4 wool balls in with your next load of laundry.

That's it!

There are some things you need to watch out for, however,  to make sure it works for you:

• MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING 100% WOOL: I tried the 2 brands of wool listed above and they both work because they are 100% wool. Be sure to check the label. Lion Brand has some yarn called wool-ease, but it is only 20% wool. Even the Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool (listed above) is not 100% wool in certain colors, so be sure to check. I personally preferred the size, colors, and texture of the Paton's Classic Roving Wool, but it is a bit more expensive per yard. I could only get 3 balls out of 1 skein. 
• USE NO MORE THAN 5 DROPS OF ESSENTIAL OIL PER BALL OF WOOL: I am new to using essential oils, so I don't really know the rules. I didn't count how many drops I was using the first time I did it and I just shook a bunch of oil onto the balls. The smell was WAY too strong! I put the wool balls in with sheets, and the smell of the sheets was overpowering for a little while. You don't need a lot to make your laundry smell great! 

These wool dryer balls make great stocking stuffers! I modified this free crochet pattern from the Creative Jewish Mom and put the wool dryer balls that I made inside with the label above that I made using Canva. Click the picture above to print your own (4 labels to a page)!