I love these kiddos to the moon and beyond, but they sure know how to play hard and dirty clothes! There are days our dryer runs nearly nonstop all day to keep up with Mount Laundry. Growing up my mom always used fabric softener sheets, so when I moved out I naturally used fabric softener sheets too. Then I read some ugly statistics. Fabric softener is the #1 cause of indoor pollution. Whenever you smell that “laundry smell” you are inhaling toxic VOC’s. I can't imagine how toxic my home must have been after a full day of laundry 😱 YUCK! It's no wonder we struggled with so many respiratory problems and chemical sensitivities. In a study published in the August issue of Air Quality, Atmosphere, and Health researchers found more than 25 “volatile” air pollutants – including the carcinogens acetaldehyde and benzene in homes after running a regular laundry cycle with scented liquid laundry detergent and a leading brand of scented dryer sheets. Benzene causes leukemia and other blood cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Acetaldehyde has been shown to cause nasal and throat cancer in animal studies. No thanks! For a long time I didn't use anything in the dryer, but then Young Living did a promotion where I received some dryer balls for free. Hip hip hooray!!! One load with them and I was in love ❤️
With four dryer balls I cut drying time by 25-50%! By adding Lavender essential oils to the dryer balls I had beautifully scented laundry again 😃. Slowly my dryer balls disappeared (#becauseboys). As a frugal mama I learned how to make them myself. It's quick and easy to whip up a few wool dryer balls to save you money, time, and your health!
You'll need to find 100% wool. This is perhaps the hardest part of the whole process 🤣. I went to Hobby Lobby and they have 3 rows of yarn but only one teeny tiny section of 100% wool yarn on the very bottom.
Start your ball by wrapping the yarn approximately 20 times around two fingers, then slip it off, fold it in half, and continue wrapping, taking care to make sure it is nice and tight. Wind the yarn round and round until your ball is about the size of a tennis ball. When you have your ball the size you want, cut the string and tuck the end securely into the ball.
You'll need to find 100% wool. This is perhaps the hardest part of the whole process 🤣. I went to Hobby Lobby and they have 3 rows of yarn but only one teeny tiny section of 100% wool yarn on the very bottom.
Start your ball by wrapping the yarn approximately 20 times around two fingers, then slip it off, fold it in half, and continue wrapping, taking care to make sure it is nice and tight. Wind the yarn round and round until your ball is about the size of a tennis ball. When you have your ball the size you want, cut the string and tuck the end securely into the ball.
Repeat until you have made 4 balls or more.
Place the first ball into the toe of a pair of pantyhose or tights and secure it there with a piece of acrylic yarn (do not use wool – you don’t want this to felt). Continue adding the balls one at a time to your pantyhose, securing each one. Toss the pantyhose “snake” into the washer (the hotter the water the better) and then into the dryer (again, the hotter the better). The fibers at this point should have fused together, and it should be smoother and tighter. You can repeat washing and drying if needed. Congratulations, you just made your own wool dryer balls! Add 3-4 drops of your favorite essential oil combination (we love lavender and purification!) and add toss them into the dryer with each load of laundry.
For more ways to kick toxins to the curb and protect your family, visit
Toxin Free Family. To learn more about Essential Oils click on the Young Living tab at the top of my blog or Become a Member and order here.
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