How to Reduce Static Cling From Using Dryer Balls
Since I have started Rinexii, I have made a lot of changes to my life in order to become more environmentally friendly. My shampoo bottle has been replaced by a shampoo bar. My body wash bottle with a soap bar. I take a reusable cup with me to the local coffee shop (when not in the middle of a global pandemic). I even have a reusable Keurig cup for when I’m at home. I’m drawing the line at dryer sheets. At least, until someone is willing to teach me how to reduce static cling from using dryer balls.
I purchased a set of natural wool Marino balls months ago thinking it would be just another switch, but it wasn’t that easy. In fact, shortly after buying them I realized dryer balls were going to be a disaster. The first time I pulled a load of laundry out of the dryer, sparks flew. Angry towels crackled at me like tiny wildfires ripping across their fuzzy surface.
I promptly sat down with Sage Google to demand what was to be done about the static electricity coming off my load. It turns out, I am not the only person to have enough static electricity from using dryer balls to power a building.
The suggestions offered were simple, and many. These included:
- Attaching a safety pin to the dryer ball
- Throwing a tinfoil ball in
- Spritzing the dryer ball with water
- Spritzing the dryer ball with vinegar
- Just hang dry it
- 6 or more dryer balls at the same time!
I’ll save you a little bit of time and inform you that none of these worked (on their own anyway) during numerous trials. I walked around in a chihuahua onesie that stuck to my body in all the wrong places for weeks before I finally figured out what did work.
So, if you want to be green but are a complete weenie like me and don’t want your laundry to look or feel different at all just because you’re not using a dryer sheet, here’s how to do it.
Rinexii’s Official Guide on How To Reduce Static Cling From Using Dryer Balls
Turn the heat down, way down.
In all of my trials, I ran the dryer on the ‘normal’ setting on my dryer. I tried them at both high and medium heat, which were the only options for normal dry. I also chose ‘very dry’ every time because I want my clothing dried completely if I’m using the dryer. If hang drying were an option I wouldn’t use the dryer at all. It’s not. That’s why I’m using it!
Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I used low heat, and dried for 40 minutes before checking it. It has been completely dry every time, very little static.
Yes, add more dryer balls.
I got no static at all when I accidentally dried a load with two dryer balls using the timed dry, low heat. I didn’t add moisture or vinegar, or anything else to achieve this. To be honest, I’d probably just use the dryer sheet if it was going to be that difficult to use dryer balls.
Use the least amount of time possible to dry
Using 40 minutes as your marker, reduce your time by a couple minutes each load until you start to notice it becoming damp. There is no need to dry a completely dry load even more. The longer your dry load spends in the dryer, the more time Zeus has to make lightning bolts on his holy anvil of doom.
This combination worked for me. My dryer remembers my settings, so I actually have to do less in order to operate my dryer. I just leave the dryer balls in there each load, and toss the load in when it’s time.
Feel free to experiment with moisture and safety pins if you like. While they didn’t work for me, they may work for you. I just prefer to keep it simple. If it involves turning normal life into a 20 step process, it’s not worth it.