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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Woolzies Dryer Balls Review and Giveaway!


As someone who turned her back on fabric softener a few years back, I’m always looking for effective and safe alternatives. Of course, adding distilled white vinegar to my wash has been one of my favorite eco-friendly changes. It’s easy. It’s cheap. And it works! 

If you’ve been following the blog, or at least the GG FB page, for long, you know I’m a huge fan of line drying. But let’s be practical. It’s the dead of winter, and line drying in the basement is just not the same as out in the sunshine. So, while I still hang my lingerie, tights and leggings on the line, I toss my sweaters, jeans, socks, etc. into the dryer.

That is why I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Woolzies Dryer Balls! My daughter, Bethany, bought me 2 wool dryer balls a couple of years ago. I used them, but didn’t find any significant difference in drying time, static control or softness. However, the Woolzies Dryer Balls don’t come in 2-packs. No. These babies come in 6-packs and, let me tell you, they work!

   
    I’ve cut back my drying time by about 20% or so. The laundry is soft. And… as long as I don’t over dry the laundry, there is little-to-no static cling. Awesome.  
  
    In addition to the effectiveness of the Woolzies Dryer Balls, there are other things I simply love about them. Woolzies are 
  • Handmade from pure New Zealand wool 
  • Chemical-free 
  • Hypo-allergenic, which means they’re even safe for people who are allergic to wool 
  • PVC-free (unlike most of the plastic dryer balls) 
  • Cost effective 
  • Handmade by women in the democratic republic of Nepal, thus providing a steady source of income for these needy families
 


I am confident that my use of Woolzies Dryer Balls is good for the earth, good for my family, good for other families, good for the future, good for my dryer (unlike fabric softener sheets!), and good for future generations. I mean, seriously, what’s not to love about them?

The wool balls are soft and well made, unlike some other brands that unravel with time. And they are quiet. They gently bounce around the dryer, separating the wet laundry so it dries faster, with less wrinkles and, like I said, little-to-no static. Plus, they are guaranteed for over 1,000 loads! Based on the amount of laundry my husband and I dry in the dryer, they quite simply might outlive me! These are winners, folks, and I am happy to give them 2 green thumbs up!

I wholeheartedly recommend that you head over to their website right now and purchase a box. While they may seem costly, at $34.95, the reduced drying time will make up for this cost in no time! It will be like getting paid to buy them! And if you are someone who still uses liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets (shame on you!), there will be even more of a savings for you because you will no longer be adding fabric softener to your cart at the grocery store.

Or… if you’d like to wait, you can enter to win a box of Woolzies Dryer Balls, as the kind folks at Soft By Nature, Inc. have offered to send a set to a lucky reader of this review. Just enter below in the Rafflecopter and I’ll announce a winner on Valentine’s Day. Now won’t that be sweet?


The giveaway runs from 2/6 through 2/13. Must be 18 or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway





*Disclaimer: I was given a free set of Woolzies Dryer Balls to test. I was not otherwise compensated for this post and the above review contains only my honest unbiased opinions of the product. I am not compensated in any way if you choose to purchase this product.



53 comments:

  1. I have been wanting to try wool dryer balls forever!

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  2. Using baking soda in the wash to whiten the whites without using bleach.

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  3. Using vinegar in the wash when I was hanging clothes on the line this summer. I wish I'd known that years ago!

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  4. Not using anything only soap liquid!

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  5. I've been wanting a set of these but didn't know if they were really worth it. I like using vinegar but am sick of lugging home so many jugs just for the laundry.

    Thanks for such a great review! :)

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  6. The dryer balls I have work well, but they are plastic spikey balls - I'd like to try something more natural, like these Woolzies.

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  7. If you haven't tried cold water washing, JUST DO IT! I do all my darks/colors on cold and they come out just as clean.

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  8. These are the best dryer balls! I love love love them!

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  9. I love using vinegar for the final rinse also! And sometimes I soak in vinegar. Also for stains, I found these stain sticks made by buncha farmers that are all natural. They have got stains out of things I had no hope for!!

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  10. I have wanted dryer balls for my diaper load mostly for a while now but haven't brought myself to getting around to buying them. I use vinegar in the wash and baking soda for an extra clean sometimes. I have also heard of using asprin to whiten but have never tried.

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  11. I would love to win this because I've always wanted to try these.

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  12. My tip is to keep a notepad or white board in the laundry room. On it you can jot down items from each load that shouldn't go in the dryer either because there is a stain that needs to be checked or because the care instructions state not to use the dryer.

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  13. using dryer balls, of course

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  14. Using vinegar in the rinse cycle to help with stains, or using borax in the wash cycle to boost detergent power.

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  15. I'm not sure if I have any tips? haha : ) I have heard of using peroxide instead of bleach but haven't tried yet!

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  16. Love white vinegar for soaking & for the rinse cycle.

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  17. Look online to get recommendations for specific types of stains...ink, blood, oil, etc:)

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  18. dryer balls + half a sheet of bounce.
    I'd love to try woolzies though! seems more eco friendly

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  19. I use vinegar in the rinse cycle it acts as a fabric softener minus all the nasty chemicals.

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  20. baking soda makes everything smell better

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  21. My best tip: don't use too much detergent.

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  22. I always "scrub" my stain treatment into the clothes with an old toothbrush. Gets the stains out so much better than just spraying them.

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  23. Biokleen bac out. Love that stuff.

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  24. Cold water and vinegar!

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  25. My fave laundry tip is to add 1/2 cup of baking soda to that stinky towel wash, makes them fresh! Lori Davis.

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  26. Dryer ball are my favorite tip. I don't know many people that use them so I feel like it's a secret I've been sharing!

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  27. Favorite tip is make your own detergent! So super cheap and easy!

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  28. use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for stains on white clothes :)

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  29. Wash your washing machine! Sounds silly but doing a soak and cycle with bleach and then a soak and cycle with vinegar cleans the whole machine through.

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  30. My best tip: If you use soap nuts to wash you cloth diapers/clothes use a dry erase marker to write on the top of your machine how many times youve used the soap nuts so you know when to change them (every 8-10 washes)

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  31. Soap nuts have becoming my new obsession! Completely biodegradable, cost effective and safe for cloth diapering! Also, no toxic chemicals that end up in the water or in your fabrics.

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  32. My best laundry tip is vinegar in the rinse cycle! I've been doing it ever since I read Vinegar Fridays!

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  33. I am just starting with soap nuts, and have used vinegar as needed - but I've got no great tips. I've just found out about wool dryer balls and can't wait to try them some time!.

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  34. I love using vinegar in the final rinse!

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  35. Homemade laundry detergent is way cheaper and works just as well.

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  36. I love all these tips! Keep 'em coming! I'll probably compile them into a post soon!

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  37. Using an essential oil to add a lovely fragrance to the clean clothes.

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  38. Using calgon water softener instead of bleach. It lessens the impact of the minerals (particularly noticeable in hard water) and leaves your clothes cleaner and more absorbant (handy with diapers). Also: watch out when using vinegar in hard water! Vinegar in hard water can cause more mineral build up.

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  39. Put a 1/4 cup of Lysol in with your towels to kill the stinkies.

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    1. Mary, distilled white vinegar and/or baking soda will do the same thing without loading up your laundry with dangerous toxins. Lysol isn't a healthy option.

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