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Wool dryer balls: a dryer sheet alternative and the break-even point
Updated · By the RipePrice team
Wool dryer balls are a reusable alternative to dryer sheets, and the useful question is not whether they are green but how many loads they take to cost less than the sheets you would otherwise buy.
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At a glance
What they are
Wool dryer balls are felted balls of wool that you toss in the dryer with your laundry.
What to check before you buy
Material: 100 percent wool is a typical label, so read what the package says.
Our angle: the break-even calculation
A set of dryer balls costs more up front, then costs almost nothing per load.
Quick picks
Wool dryer balls
Divide the set price by your price per dryer sheet to find break-even.
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What they are
Wool dryer balls are felted balls of wool that you toss in the dryer with your laundry. People use them in place of disposable dryer sheets, and some add a few drops of essential oil for scent. They are reusable for many loads. Makers claim they can shorten drying time or reduce static. Evidence for those claims varies, and results depend on your dryer, your clothes and your water, so we do not make those claims.
What to check before you buy
Material: 100 percent wool is a typical label, so read what the package says. Wool-free alternatives, such as those made from other fibers, are also sold.
Wool sensitivity: people with wool or lanolin sensitivities may want to avoid wool products.
Fragrance: unscented is the default. If you add essential oils, remember that some are not suited to pets, and keep scented items out of your pets' reach.
Count and size: sets come in different counts, and larger loads may use more balls.
Care: follow the maker's instructions, and keep them dry between uses.
Our angle: the break-even calculation
A set of dryer balls costs more up front, then costs almost nothing per load. Dryer sheets cost little up front, and the cost repeats on every load. So the right comparison is a break-even point: the number of loads after which the set has cost you less than the sheets would have. Use your own prices and habits.
Divide the price of a box of dryer sheets by the number of sheets to get the price per sheet.
Divide the price of the dryer ball set by that price per sheet. The answer is the number of loads at which the set breaks even, if you use one sheet per load.
If you use two sheets per load, the break-even comes sooner.
Ask yourself whether you will really use them for that many loads.
Buying tips
A small set is enough to start with.
Compare the set price with the price of a year of dryer sheets for the loads you do.
Check the return policy, since the feel of laundry is personal.