Blue balls -- not what you think

[Larry Kart]

If you do laundry and use a dryer, I discovered today that "Dryer Balls" (round spiked softish rubber objects, about the size of a handball and blue in my case, $9.95 for four, that you put into the dryer with your clothes, towels, whatever to decrease drying time and to soften fabrics without the use of fabric softeners by bouncing around with and aerating the clothes etc.) actually do just what they're supposed to do -- like gangbusters. Cuts drying time almost in half. Infinitely satisfying.

[Ted O'Reilly]

If you do laundry and use a dryer, I discovered today that "Dryer Balls" (round spiked softish rubber objects, about the size of a handball and blue in my case, $9.95 for four, that you put into the dryer with your clothes, towels, whatever to decrease drying time and to soften fabrics without the use of fabric softeners by bouncing around with and aerating the clothes etc.) actually do just what they're supposed to do -- like gangbusters. Cuts drying time almost in half. Infinitely satisfying.

But does it sound like a Cuban band on a bad day?

[Chuck Nessa]

I actually have a pair. They grow hard with age, get noisier but still do the job.

[AllenLowe]

they need to be aerated - find a willing nurse.

[Dan Gould]

Interesting - my wife and I looked at them but didn't try them, maybe we will now. I know our old dryer could use the help, when I do a week's worth of polo shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans and dockers, it takes up to two full cycles of drying time, and I'm dialing it way past the "More drying" mark to the maximum time setting.

[Larry Kart]

Upon further investigation on the 'net, I discover that durability is an issue. I would suggest taking a look at Bed, Bath & Beyond where I got mine (Dryer Max "Dryer Balls," four for $9.95) because in my experience BB&B stands behind what they sell almost unto eternity.

[Chuck Nessa]

Interesting - my wife and I looked at them but didn't try them, maybe we will now. I know our old dryer could use the help, when I do a week's worth of polo shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans and dockers, it takes up to two full cycles of drying time, and I'm dialing it way past the "More drying" mark to the maximum time setting.

Have you cleaned out the exhaust? Lots of lint can build up.

Upon further investigation on the 'net, I discover that durability is an issue. I would suggest taking a look at Bed, Bath & Beyond where I got mine (Dryer Max "Dryer Balls," four for $9.95) because in my experience BB&B stands behind what they sell almost unto eternity.

One of ours broke open but glue fixed it.

[Larry Kart]

Interesting - my wife and I looked at them but didn't try them, maybe we will now. I know our old dryer could use the help, when I do a week's worth of polo shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans and dockers, it takes up to two full cycles of drying time, and I'm dialing it way past the "More drying" mark to the maximum time setting.

Have you cleaned out the exhaust? Lots of lint can build up.

When I finally did that for the first time several years ago, I saw that I was fortunate that the house hadn't burned down. And if the exhaust vents through a tube of some sort to the outside (which always is the case, no?), clean the lint out of that, too. Easy to do with a vacuum cleaner. Heloise is here for you.

[Rooster_Ties]

I know our old dryer could use the help, when I do a week's worth of polo shirts, a couple of pairs of jeans and dockers, it takes up to two full cycles of drying time, and I'm dialing it way past the "More drying" mark to the maximum time setting.

Sounds like too much stuff in the dryer at the same time could be part of the issue.

Also -- Dryers are hard on jeans (cuz they take so long to dry), and jeans are hard on dryers.

Dry 'em on a rack, and then (after dry), toss 'em in the dryer on low for 10 minutes to soften them up. Your jeans will last a lot longer too.

[AllenLowe]

I put a little Kerosene in the drier - works every time (just watch out for the fireball)

[jlhoots]

We just use old tennis balls.

Also agree that you should clean your dryer vent.

[Chalupa]

We've been using them for a few years. Small caveat - they start to disintegrate after few months. We actually use anywhere from 4 to 6 balls per load.