Fashion : Fashion Care :

Want to sing a-long to a less waste-ful song?

02.24.2009

Submitted by tmeronek on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 1:58am.
The Bite:
Follow the bottom of this screen, where we link you up to dryer balls that fluff and soften your laundry - free of the toxic plastic PVC, and no disposable dryer sheets necessary. The cash + eco savings = something to croon about.
The Benefits: 
  • Striking a waste-free chord. You can reuse dryer balls over and over - most will last you several years. And attention vegetarians: most dryer sheets contain tallow, an animal byproduct.
  • More (bank)notes. Boxes of dryer sheets can cost $5-$10 for 50 washes; some of our options are even free.
  • Tuning out PVC. Your average dryer ball is made from PVC, which releases carcinogens during production.
Personally Speaking: 
We've found that the balls actually work better than sheets, but they can be loud - the noise drives Jen so batty she turns her music up to volumes typically reserved for warehouse raves.
Wanna Try: 
Catherine Nouja

Cocktail Fact

In the original bouncing ball sing-a-long films (pre-cel animation), someone physically bounced a long stick with a luminescent ball on the tip to create the effect.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters buy one fewer box of dryer sheets, we'll avert the weight of 13 dryers in trash.

18 comments
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Ana  on February 24, 2009 at 06:01 AM 1
I'm not thrilled about using dryer balls b/c of the noise HOWEVER I use vinegar in my washer's final rinse instead of softener. Works great! And my clothes do NOT smell at all like vinegar. As a bonus its much cheaper than softener ;)
Richard  on February 24, 2009 at 06:15 AM 2
Dryer sheets, balls, whatever are a silly manufactured "need" designed by Madison Avenue. The fulfill a need that is nonexistent. What did people do before dryer sheets? Besides, why use a dryer except in bad weather. Hang you clothes up in your "solar dryer" or clothesline for cost free, energy free drying.
Mary   on February 24, 2009 at 06:22 AM 3
I don't use dryer sheets for the "softening" effect so much as static reduction. Do dryer balls reduce static? Is there a cheap easy alternative that does reduce static.
Anonymous  on February 24, 2009 at 07:17 AM 4
You warn vegetarians that dryer sheets contain tallow, but then recommend WOOL balls as an alternative? Um, wool is also an animal product...
Chelle  on February 24, 2009 at 08:49 AM 5
I know it may seem silly but don't we have enough violence in the world to not be casting stones at birds? Couldn't we please feed two birds with one seed instead?
Anonymous  on February 24, 2009 at 09:37 AM 6
What else can us veggie people use instead of wool or dryer sheets to reduce static? There are a lot of us who can't hang laundry because of climate, etc.
Nancy  on February 24, 2009 at 10:10 AM 7
Well Richard, I almost agree with you on not needing a dryer, but there are those of us who cannot hang clothing outside for a variety of reasons. I wish I could! I have hung clothing inside my home but it takes days to dry and takes up quite a bit of space. "Need" is relative. Sure, people used other ways to dry their clothing before dryer sheets, dryer balls and even dryers. But the population increases and resulting construction mean we must find other means.
Anonymous  on February 24, 2009 at 10:28 AM 8
Another fact about wasteful dryer sheets is that they produce a film that clogs dryer lint screens and reduces appliance efficiency.
djsoma2  on February 24, 2009 at 03:51 PM 9
I have also heard that there may be a link between conventional dryer sheets and Alzheimer's. That scared me enough away from them in the first place. All those chemicals!!
djsoma2  on February 24, 2009 at 03:51 PM 10
I have also heard that there may be a link between conventional dryer sheets and Alzheimer's. That scared me enough away from them in the first place. All those chemicals!!
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