Yay or Nay: Tennis Balls in the Dryer (2024)

FAQs

Yay or Nay: Tennis Balls in the Dryer? ›

So, should you put tennis balls in the dryer? The option is really up to you. Some people swear by dryer balls, which claim to speed up the drying process, reduce static cling, and soften clothing. Experts suggest a clean tennis shoe will also do the trick²!

Do tennis balls really work in the dryer? Tennis balls can provide some benefits like separating clothes, softening fabrics, speeding up drying time, and reducing static electricity. However, tennis balls also have downsides like leaving lint/residue behind and causing potential damage to clothes and dryers long-term.

Simply place the pillow, two (clean) tennis balls and a fabric softener sheet into a dryer on medium heat. Allow the machine to complete its cycle. Then just remove the goods and they should be as bouncy as the balls. This tip is absolutely genius.

One of the primary advantages of using dryer balls is their ability to reduce drying time. Both wool and plastic dryer balls create space between clothes in the dryer, allowing hot air to circulate more effectively. This increased airflow speeds up drying time, helping you save energy and money in the long run.

The damp down will be clumpy from the wash, and completely drying it is critical. Use a low heat setting and toss one or two clean tennis balls in the dryer to break up the clumps. Be patient—drying the jacket may take one to three hours. Keep resetting the timer until your beloveds are lump-free and fully dry.

It's possible that some tennis balls, especially newer ones, might transfer their neon dye to items filled with down. Depending on the dryer cycle and temperature level you select, the tennis ball might not be able to withstand the heat. Using tennis balls in dryer machines can be very loud.

As an alternative to fabric softeners and dryer sheets, tennis balls leave no chemical residue on clothes that can irritate skin or cause allergies. Yet with dryer balls, you retain those static-reduction and fabric-softening benefits.

Wool dryers balls typically last for over 1000 loads of laundry and may need to be replaced after two to five years, depending on how often you use them.

You can't really have too many dryer balls in your dryer at once, as long as your clothes still have space to move around.

What are the downsides of dryer balls? ›

Dryer balls can come in wool, plastic, foam, or rubber, but wool dryer balls are by far the most popular. According to Morris, wool dryer balls don't contain some of the chemicals, additives, or smells commonly found in plastic counterparts, making wool dryer balls great for people with sensitive skin.

The most common issue that causes static is that your dryer is too hot, but here are some other things to try if you're still experiencing static after using dryer balls: Reduce the heat setting or take out your clothes ahead of time. If your clothes are already dry, it's creating more static to leave them in the heat.

The belief is that tennis balls can soften items in the dryer as well as speed up the amount of time it takes to fully dry. Luckily, the trick does seem to work, so rather than resorting to a chemical-based fabric softener, you can simply toss in a few tennis balls (as long as they're clean!).

The bouncing tennis balls will also break up and prevent clumps from forming in the down and make it dry faster and more evenly. If you don't have tennis balls, you can put 2 shoes inside of clean socks as a substitute.

A: As a rule, the more balls you use the better they work. However, as a guide you really need a minimum of three wool laundry dryer balls for small to medium loads; five for medium to large loads; and up to a dozen for large to huge loads. Q: How long do wool dryer balls last?

The physical presence of a tennis ball causes more movement and space between items, which lets in more air, leading to drier clothing. Some of the best items tennis balls can soften and speed up the drying process for are bulkier things like freshly washed pillows and clean comforters.

The hot ball was the one to bounce the highest because when a tennis ball is heated the gas molecules expand increasing the energy in the ball. When the ball gets colder the opposite effect happens. The gas molecules shrink causing the ball to have less energy and not bounce as high.

You can use your regular laundry detergent for washing tennis balls. You should use about the same amount you would if you were washing a small load of clothes. Dry them on a low heat setting. Once your tennis balls are clean, you can put them in the dryer on the lowest heat setting possible for about ten minutes.

Yes! Wool dryer balls can help cut down on drying time and energy costs, allowing you to save money while still getting perfectly dried clothing. They separate clothes in the dryer, reducing drying time and absorbing moisture from clothes.