Thursday, May 30, 2013

Green Your Summer With Woolzies Dryer Balls {Review} CLOSED



Welcome to the Green Your Summer Event!  The Blogging Mamas Network has come together with like-minded bloggers to make sure your grass isn't all that is green this Summer!

Each blogger in the Event is bringing readers a great green prize to win.  You have until June 13th to enter, so be sure to hop around to them all and find great eco-friendly products to help you go green! 
While you're hopping, be sure to enter the TWO Grand Prizes for to Green Your Summer for Mom and Baby!  You'll find prizes including a Lunette Menstrual Cup, Amber Necklace and Bracelet Set, a Merino Wool Sleepsack, re-usable Snack Pouches, and earth-friendly Vinyl Wall Decals from Walls Need Love! 

***********************************************



For my giveaway here at A Modern Day Fairy Tale, I was sent a box of Woolzies Dryer Balls to review, and one lucky reader will also be winning a box of their very own! If you follow a lot of green living/cloth diapering blogs, you've likely seen a lot about Woolzies Dryer Balls around the blog world. I know I personally had and was dying to try them myself, so I was beyond thrilled when Woolzies agreed to this review/giveaway!



So what are Woolzies? What's so great about them? Simply put, they are wool balls that you toss in your dryer to replace liquid softener or dryer sheets. They contain none of the harsh chemicals that typical fabric softeners contain, making them not only better for the environment but for us too, not causing allergic reactions as many experience with typical softeners. If you already use dryer balls made of plastic, rubber, etc...these can also release harsh chemicals such as PVCs into your laundry as well. Not to mention they can cause damage to your dryer's electronic sensors and even melt slightly and cause staining! No thank you!

But, it's not just the environmental and health benefits that attracted me to Woolzies...they also save money! We're a single income military family and on a tight budget, and let's face it laundry products can get ridiculously expensive! A box of Woolzies (containing 6 balls) costs just $35 and is guaranteed to last 1000 loads!! I won't do the math for you, but it's certainly a much more cost effective option! On top of that, they reduce drying time! Less time in the dryer means less money out of your pocket when it comes to your gas or electric bill!

Another factor for us was that they are cloth diaper friendly. When baby #2 arrives, we plan to cloth diaper her and as you may know fabric softener is a big no no with cloth diapers. It can build up in fabrics and reduce absorbency.  This is not exclusive to cloth diapers either- towels, etc can also be affected- but it's definitely not an issue you want to deal with when it comes to diapers! You want maximum absorbency, right? Because Woolzies contain no softeners or chemicals, they are completely safe to use with your cloth diapers...and won't cause build up in your dryer like the dryer sheets if used with your regular loads as well.

Sounds great so far, right? But did they really work? YES! I've done several loads already using our dryer balls and have not noticed any difference from loads using fabric softeners. (Aside from scent, but that's truly better anyway...plus there is a tip to apply a drop of essential oil to the balls for added scent if truly desired...still environmental and health friendly!!) They were soft, no static...perfect! And they certainly seemed to take less time as well, allowing me to get my laundry done much quicker!!

I was a bit concerned about the noise factor beforehand. We don't have a separate laundry room so our washer and dryer are basically in a little closet open to the kitchen...no doors to shut to block the noise. But in regular sized loads, you couldn't hear them at all...unlike tennis balls or plastic dryer balls on the market! The first load I did however was a little noisy...but it was my hand wash/ultra delicate load with all of three articles of clothing and I used all 6 balls...in retrospect I could have used half I'm sure...but even then it wasn't overly loud, just a soft thump in the background...enough to hear it, but not enough to drive you crazy!

Overall, I'm extremely happy with Woolzies! I'll be the first to admit that I'm usually a fabric softener junkie (I like my clothes to smell nice)...but not anymore! I'm officially a wool dryer ball convert! They save money, time and are better for my family AND the environment! What's not to love!?




Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

85 Comments:

  1. I want to try these with my cloth diapers

    ReplyDelete
  2. i actually want to get rid of my dryer but i dont know what to do in the winter...? so ill just use some dryer balls for now. but one day i will be machine free! teambarrett14

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've been wanting to try dryer balls because they are natural fabric softeners and cut down on drying time, which would be especially helpful since our dryer is 30? years old!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love that it cuts drying time down - especially nice with cloth diapers!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love dryer balls for cloth diapers! We've been using them over a year now. Unfortunately, some of ours have been casualties of a ball loving dog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. i would love to use these with cloth diapers. I love that they are natural and makes the clothes softer while shortening drying time

    ReplyDelete
  7. i love everything wool and would love to add this to our green routine! (we dont use anything at the moment and i think these would help with the static!)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love wool dryer balls. I need a few more to decrease my drying time even more!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I need to try some of these. I hate dryer sheets and I'm cloth diapering now.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My sons skin is too sensitive to use dryer sheets _ I've been really wanting to try these since they are all natural!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have been wanting to try Woolzies because I am slowly trying to do away with harmful chemicals in my home. Mostly, I clean with all natural products, such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemons. The money saving with Woolzies is also very appealing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. We are trying to be more green at my house and I have heard that these are great. I have been wanting to try them.

    Les Johnson

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think that these balls woolzies will definitely help with my drying clothese as I hate the way fabric softener's leave film on lint basket and clothes take forever to dry,

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd like to see if these work better than the WAHM ones I have now

    ReplyDelete
  15. I only use my clothes dryer if it is raining...I have had a clothesline for so many years...you save a lot of $$$$$$

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love that they make clothes dry faster! I'd love to try this brand. I need more dryer balls. I also use cloth diapers.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'd like to try these because they are good on the pocketbook and the environment!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I see that they are great for use with cloth diapers, and they reduce the drying time. Which is great for summer, when you don't want your house to be hot from the dryer! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I absolutely hate static, so I love that they can help with that!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have been wanting to try these! My daughter is a swimmer & I think these would be great for fluffing up her towels & taking less time to dry them!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I hear they reduce drying time and make clothes softer. That's why I want to try them!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I like that using Woolzies means I won't be adding chemicals to our laundry via dryer sheets.

    ReplyDelete
  23. We use cloth diapers and can't use dryer sheets in our dryer...these would be great for softening up clothes without the chemically dryer sheets!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have been wanting dryer balls so it doesn't take as long to dry cloth diapers.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like that the balls replace both liquid softeners and dryer sheets

    ReplyDelete
  26. I like that it reduces drying time and is all natural. I'm hoping to dry my cloth diapers faster.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I want to see if these help my diapers dry faster.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love that they cut drying time, and do not contain any chemicals or scents.
    lizzwisniewski(AT)hotmail (DOT) com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love the fact that these can cut drying time significantly & I also know, when you use these, you will never have to buy softener again. That is a HUGE savings!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would love to switch over from dryer sheets to save money.

    eg kaufman

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love how they last for 1,000 loads, you don't have to keep adding the dryer sheets.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have been wanting to try these for awhile. I love that they are hypo-allergenic and that they cut down on drying time! Thanks for the chance to win! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. I want tow in the dryer balls because they will speed up my drying, and therefore save me energy.

    ReplyDelete
  34. We try to be green by always doing a full load of laundry and drying outside when we can. Ive heard great things about these and would love to try them.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I want to try woolzies because i have some dryer balls that are (sadly) dying and have heard good things about woolzies!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love that they reduce drying time.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would LOVE to try these! I've been trying to gradually switch all our cleaning supplies over to greener options, but have struggled to find ones for laundry that actually work!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I could really use these I want to switch over to green products :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love that they will help the laundry dry quicker.

    Entered the rafflecopter as "Wild orchid"

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love that they eliminate the need for fabric softener.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love that these help to make your home more energy efficient, making it less time to dry the clothes. Also, I love that they are all natural and could potentially really help with my husband's allergies!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I think my clothes are fluffier

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love that they will save on the drying time. So I can save on my Electricity.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I would love to try woolzies to help me save money on my electric bill. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to run the dryer less!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I would like to try woolzies to fluff up my cloth diapers. I like that they help decrease dryer time.

    ReplyDelete
  47. i love that they reduce drying time!

    ReplyDelete
  48. The reduction in drying time is what I like most

    ReplyDelete
  49. I have to admit that sometimes I neglect/forget to wash certain clothes (work uniform, kids' church clothes, etc.) until the last minute so I'm most interested in the reduced drying time. Even a few minutes faster would mean having to wear damp clothes less often! Katy C. dragon_at_heart04@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I like the cost benefit but what really catches me te most is there are no harsh substances in them. My husband has recently become sensitive to laundry soap and dryer sheets so we had to go with the no perfume and dye ones but they still affect him a little bit. It would be great to try these out and hopefully have an alternative to what we are doing now...a better alternative that is.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I would love to cut down on drying time, especially with my cloth diapers.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I want to try them because it takes my laundry forever to dry and they would greatly help. I love that the are eco-friendly too.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I like that they don't use any chemicals and are compostable. I have a compost bin in my patio area. Its great they don't ever have to go to the landfill.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I have been trying to win these dryer balls ever since I first learned about them. I want to try them so much. I would hope to lessen my dryer time and reduce wrinkling. Thank you for a chance to win them! Kathleen on the RC

    ReplyDelete
  55. i switched to mamacloth i would love to try woolzies to keep the clothes fluffy and dry faster

    ReplyDelete
  56. I am so anxious to try these. They save time, money, and energy. They are supposed to eliminate wrinkles and static. Oh yeah! I've just got to try these.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love that wool dryer balls make your dryer work more efficiently, that they don't produce waste, and that they are fragrance-free. I also love how well they work with cloth diapers.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I've actually used these before.....before my daughter got hold of them and they mysteriously ended up in her dryer! lol They really do make a difference to the time it takes to dry a load. It cuts it way down!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I love the idea of less chemicals and shorter dry time! Hubby is a softener junkie and I would looked to convince him otherwise especially with the ride let in the dryer when I have to dry my girls diapers.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I like that it will reduce my drying time by 25%.

    ReplyDelete
  61. I like that it cuts down drying time and helps with static.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I love that they shorten drying time, I think this is not only energy efficient but saves on dryer sheets as well. I also try green many other aspects of our lives by recycling, gardening, and upcycling items.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I would like to try them because they save money, shorten drying time and sound like they soften your clothes too

    ReplyDelete
  64. I've been toying with getting something like those for a while to cut back on dryer sheet costs. With a hubby who stains and has to change clothes a lot we have multiple loads. My only concern would be if I forget them in the common dryer at our condo building!

    ReplyDelete
  65. I've been wanting to try them so badly! I heard lots of great things about them and would love to shorten my drying time to conserve energy. We cant afford them so hoping to win some someday.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I think the energy savings alone warrants their use. Add in less wrinkles and fabric softening and its a win win!

    ReplyDelete
  67. Cindy B (on rc/fb) I'd love to try them since they speed up the drying process and save electricity.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I've always wanted to try them since I first herd of them but money is really tight (no income). I really like how they cut down on drying time and that they are environmentally friendly. I use cloth diapers, cloth wipes, re usable grocery bags & I want to start getting rid of paper towels & use cloth pads as well.

    ReplyDelete
  69. My babies arrive soon, plan on using cloth, cant use dryer sheets!

    ReplyDelete
  70. I would love to try these. I'd like that I wouldnt have to buy dryer sheets or fabric softener.
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  71. No chemicals in my dryer!
    Thanks for the contest.

    slehan at juno dot com

    ReplyDelete
  72. I'm trying to reduce chemicals in our home - I LOVE Woolzies for this reason! :)

    ReplyDelete
  73. I like that they save money and the environment by not havving to buy dryer sheets.

    ReplyDelete
  74. I like that I was able to cut out toxic fabric softener because they naturally soften my clothes!

    ReplyDelete
  75. i like that they cut down on drying times and i have been hearing a lot of good stuff about these lately and have been wanting to try them :)

    ReplyDelete
  76. I have never used them. I'd luv to try them b/c they are quiet and I won't need to use dryer sheetS:)

    jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  77. I want to use dryer balls because they should speed up the amount of time it takes to dry my cloths.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I love wool dryer balls because it allows me to soften laundry without toxic chemicals. They are safe for cloth diapers too.

    ReplyDelete
  79. My dryer eats dryer sheets! As soon as I turn it on, it pulls the dryer sheets into the lint trap.

    ReplyDelete
  80. I love that they are chemical free and they cut down on dryer run times.

    ReplyDelete
  81. I hate static, this looks like a nice solution.

    ReplyDelete
  82. I love that dryer balls will reduce drying time by 25%... saves money on the electric bill. THANKS!

    ReplyDelete
  83. I want to try them because I keep hearing such great things about them!

    ReplyDelete
  84. my current wool dryer balls are almost dead... i need new ones!

    ReplyDelete
  85. I love that they leave clothes soft and w/o static.
    Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24