Here at Lavami, we are always trying to reduce the number of toxic chemicals that we come into contact with each and every day. One easy way to do this is to replace household items that contain toxic or hazardous chemicals, with simple and natural alternatives. 

I'm pretty sure you know by now that I'm a delicate little flower, no joke, but I have to tell you about this one time I stayed at my parents. We were leaving on a trip to Mexico at 4 the next morning and they had washed and dried the sheets Tide (does not mix well with my sensitive body). I had a reaction and woke up with these red hot swollen eyes. This took 4 days (!!!!) to go down and I had to spend both connecting flights with the cool air blasting on my face and a bag of ice on my eyes. I also sat in the Phoenix airport beside my father looking like I had been stung by a bee.

I've been forking over the dough for a long time for natural detergent and dryer balls because of my allergy skin. If you're like me, I love a good DIY project, and I stumbled upon a tutorial for homemade ones and they were very easy and fun!

These dryer balls are chemical-free and made from wool that you can easily pick up at your nearest craft store or yarn shop. They last up to 1000 loads, knock out wrinkles and static and will keep your laundry fluffy and smooth. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend to make your clothes smell amazing.

What you'll need to make wool dryer balls:

  • 4-6 Skeins of roving, worsted or any felting wool (each skein will make 1 dryer ball, our favorite is here and it comes in lovely colors). Be careful not to buy wool that is labeled 'superwash' or 'machine washable' and nothing acrylic. Got a 40% off coupon for Michaels? USE IT!!
  • 1 Crochet hook.
  • 1 Pair nylons.
  • 1 Yard of cheap acrylic (here is some very cheap stuff). This is to tie-off the nylon and shouldn't be expensive.
  • Pair of scissors.
  • Washer & dryer to felt the wool dryer balls.

How to make wool dryer balls:

1. Wind the end of the wool yarn around your two fingers and wrap the yarn around itself quite a few times until a ball starts to form. Fold yarn over and switch from side to side while creating the ball so isn't oblong.

2. Continue rolling the yarn and making it into a ball until the entire skein is finished. Continue rolling & balling the yarn until you have finished the entire skein.
3. Tuck excess yarn into the ball.

4. Cut the leg off of the pair of stockings and place the dryer ball at the bottom of the leg. Tie the stocking off with the acrylic yarn.

5. Repeat the process with the next dryer ball and add to the same leg of stocking right above the first ball and tie off.

6. Repeat until all of the balls are made and the stocking leg is filled.

7. Add the stocking and the balls into the washing machine with like colors. Be sure to add other clothing and towels into the wash to help agitate. Use hot water. 8. Throw the balls into the dryer.

9. Repeat until the balls are felted (the ball will look fuzzy and will be stuck together very well). Use scissors to cut off anything extra.

Tada! Cheap, homemade dryer balls that can replace any store-bought ones. Throw all of them into the dryer with your load and watch the magic take place.