The single best hack to speed up your laundry cycle

Dryer balls really peaked in popularity a few years ago, but I've still come across some people who've yet to be convinced to buy a pack. As someone who does quite a bit of laundry, there are two things I'm mostly focused on: speed and efficiency. I want my clothes dry and fluffy, and I don't want it to take all day. The one simple thing I've changed is adding wool dryer balls to my laundry routine. They are reusable wool balls that dance around in your dryer with your wet clothes, helping to create space between the items and allowing the warm air to circulate more efficiently. This leads to faster and more even drying so you don't have to run a freshen-up cycle. I love these natural wool dryer balls, which are just $20 on Amazon.

With two small children, the laundry cycle is relentless. Anything I can do to speed up the process is a top priority. Their ability to cut down drying time reduces the time it takes to dry a load of laundry, saving energy and lowering my utility bills. A win for me and my wallet. 

Another added bonus: less static cling! The dryer balls naturally agitate and soften fabrics, acting as a more eco-friendly fabric softener, which helps eliminate static cling and wrinkles. That means less need for ironing, (or wrinkle spray, really) and fewer tasks on my to-do list. Plus, I'm focused on products that are hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin and this route gives me all the benefits of fabric softener without any residue left by traditional fabric softeners. If you are feeling extra fancy, you can even add scented essential oils to your dryer balls before tossing them in with your clothes to give an added burst of fresh scents, like these Woolzies Laundry Collection Essential Oils Set. 

There's no shortage of dryer ball options, some are even less expensive and have great reviews, but the Smart Sheep brand is handmade in Nepal with pure New Zealand wool and promises to last for more than a thousand loads of laundry. (I am well on my way to confirming that a number of loads is possible.) I like that this brand is a small business created by a mom of 5, that is helping to employ hundreds of women in their four workshops in Nepal. 

As the brand suggests, I use 3 balls for a typical medium-sized load. When I'm drying sheets and towels or an oversized full family load, I'll use all six balls at once. I like to use essential oils on sheets and towels mainly but often use the dryer balls all on their own. My most considerable irritation with using these delightful little inventions is keeping track of them when they get tangled in a big pile of clean laundry. 

I often wonder how I made it this far without these simple yet powerful additions to my laundry routine. If you're looking to simplify and speed up the time you spend on laundry, I can't recommend wool dryer balls enough. Check out some more laundry essentials below. 

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