Do you really think this helps cut down on your dryer time?

The other day I saw a commercial for the blue dryer ball raving about how it cuts down on the dryer time. Is this true? Wouldn't clean tennis balls accomplish the same effect/results (being I can get 3 or 4 tennis balls for $1.00)?

I have never heard of a blue dryer ball. Tennis ball might cause alot of noise rolling around in the dryer.

I use a older/worn dry towel that I throw in the dryer with the clothes. Supposely that helps also.

Washer and dryer. For pillows, quilts, sleeping bags anything that might get all clumped up. It works really well and if you don't have tennis balls (which I use any old ones even the red dog ones they don't bleed) use a pair of sneakers. Wash them and dry them with the load. The sneakers can get way noisy but it works for the shoes and the othe items.

I have never heard of it cutting down on dryer time. I have always known it to be for keeping the stuffing evenly distributed.

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I found that the dryer balls did NOT cut down on my drying time. They also did not help with static cling nor did they prevent bunching up of the items. JMHO

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Awwww, THANK YOU Annadrose! This is great info..washer and dryer. Hello Dollar Tree..here I come to get two can of tennis balls.

I just read a mixed review on the dryer balls on Amazon...apparently some are saying they don't hold up...fall apart immediately. ..others are saying you need about six to really notice any effects. They were saying the little pricklies on it, help to soften towels... I wonder if I can get a little plastic chew toy or baby toy that has pricklies... throw it in the dryer to get the same effect....hummm!

Thank you LBeadle, this is the info I was looking for.

I have to agree with LBeadle, they didn't cut my drying time at all. They really didn't seem to have any effect, but my in-laws swear by them, so who knows?

Renee

We have a couple of duvet covers that inevitably end up bunched up and full of socks. I wonder if adding something might help there. Then again, I also wonder if the duvet covers attract the socks that go missing the rest of the time, and we should be grateful for the service they're providing.

I put three of the red dog tennis balls in my kind of big dryer with pillows, quilts, sleeping bags, etc and it always works. But then again like I said so does a pair of sneakers. And don't put too much or too big of an item in. It needs room for the item/s and balls to circulate. (I love circulating balls don't you? LOL)

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I have a set of the dryer balls that I got from BBB. Defintely need a few more for them to really work correctly. I bought them because I purchased towels ( I cannot for the life of me remember the fabric ) that said they would no longer have their absorbtion rating if used with dryer sheets or fabric softener. Actually for any towels fabric softener actually makes them not as absorbant. Anyway.... ( I get off track easily. LOL ) I think the dryer balls would be great if I had a few more. With only two everything still has TONS of electricity in it. As for drying time, I think it helps just a smidge.

I have some towels in the dryer now with 3 tennis balls and 3 prickly balls (it resembles a dryer ball..got it in The Dollar Tree this afternoon..summer toy section in case anyone is interested)...seems to be fluffing the towels... So it looks like I will stick with my cheap solution, and pass on the dryer balls....since this appears to be doing the same thing...and for a whole lot less money.
It appears that it did speed up the drying time, too! Now my balls are in the washer with some pillows...hope they come out without being lumpy. Thank you for the washer tip, Annadrose!

I have a set of 12 tennis balls for the dryer. I use them when I wash a bulky comforter or something like that. The laundry instructions that came with my down comforter actually said to use tennis balls.
It does get noisy, but if you don't use them, you end up with a lopsided down comforter because the feathures are all matted down in one spot.

Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin

I think tennis balls stink (literally). Wouldn't that make the clothes in your dryer smell too? Just wondering.

So far, mine don't stink. If you are concerned about the smell, you can run the balls in the dryer with fabric softner/sheet or wash the balls in vinegar to remove any smell and then rinse with warm/hot soapy water. ..air dry or throw them in the dryer with a fabric sheet.

I have those AsSeenOnTV blue dryer balls...unimpressed. Same for the tennis balls, not worth all the racquet...lol, pun intended! Only use them when I have something that requires significant fluffing - like a down vest/jacket/comforter.

cj/

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No smells here!

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I use a tennis ball when I dry anything with down. I read that it helps make sure that it is evenly distributed.