Tennis balls in the dryer? What are they for and do they really work?

Tennis balls are placed in dryers for several main reasons. Specifically, to save time and electricity. A pleasant bonus is the softening of fabrics, reduction of wrinkles, and static electricity.

Currently, sets of balls are sold in some stores with the label 'For dryers'. There are two main reasons why tennis balls can affect the drying efficiency of items in the dryer. Improved air circulation: The movement of tennis balls in the dryer can improve air circulation. When the balls bounce, they provide better circulation of hot air, which can lead to faster drying of laundry and, consequently, savings in time and electricity. Mechanical smoothing of fabrics: The movement of tennis balls can also help prevent wrinkles in laundry. This can reduce the need for ironing after drying (or decrease the amount of time and electricity needed for ironing). It is well-suited for drying large clothing items (jackets, down jackets, etc.) or blankets.

It is important to consider that while this method can be useful for saving time and energy, results may vary depending on the type of dryer, load volume, and type of laundry. From my own experience, I can say that I did not notice a significant effect. A test on the same blanket should be tried. But my dryer consumes 1kW/h. So, it won't be possible to save significantly on the dryer using tennis balls. However, this topic is very relevant for countries where the culture of self-service laundries (laundromats, commercial establishments, and shared facilities) is well-developed. When there is a need to dry clothes in a self-service laundry - time is literally money.

The movement of tennis balls creates additional mechanical action in the dryer. This helps to smooth fabrics, avoid wrinkles, and improve the overall appearance of laundry. Balls that bounce off items in the dryer help them separate. This prevents fabrics from clinging together, which can occur due to static electricity during drying. The movement of the balls helps to distribute excess electrostatic energy that builds up in the dryer. This can reduce the likelihood that fabrics will attract each other due to static electricity. While this method may help reduce static electricity, it is important to consider that it may not be as effective as using special dryer sheets designed to manage static electricity and ensure fabric softness.

The main disadvantage is the noise. The balls are very loud, and running the dryer with balls at night in an apartment is not feasible.

There are many different options for dryer balls. Among them, wool balls stand out. These wool balls work similarly but have several advantages. They are soft and do not make loud noises during drying. Americans like to add a few drops of fragrance to the wool balls before starting the dryer. This gives the clothes a light pleasant scent. There are also special dryer sheets (which look like cloths). Their main functions are to soften fabrics and reduce static electricity. I have not yet had experience using sheets. But for the sake of completeness, I will try to test them soon and add more information to this publication. I have already ordered wool balls. So, the material will be updated.