Have you made the switch to dryer balls yet? For years, I relied on dryer sheets, but I am so thankful I discovered the benefits of wool dryer balls. These eco-friendly alternatives contain none of the toxic chemicals commonly found in dryer sheets, are significantly more cost-effective, and help reduce drying time—which ultimately saves me even more on energy costs!
You can easily create your own dryer balls using yarn and a pair of old nylons (thrift stores often have great options if you, like me, haven’t worn nylons in ages). However, I prefer to take the simpler route and purchase wool dryer balls ready-made. While I enjoy many DIY crafts involving essential oils, making wool dryer balls isn’t one of them. What I truly love to create is this delightful scented dryer ball spray, which is a very straightforward DIY project. All you need to do is mix water, witch hazel, and your favorite essential oils in a spray bottle. It couldn’t be simpler!
What Are Dryer Balls & What Do They Do?
Dryer balls are typically made from felted wool and are slightly larger than tennis balls. You toss them into the dryer along with your wet clothes, and they work their magic:
- They bounce around in the dryer, creating pockets of air between your clothes, which helps them dry up to 25% faster. This means you save energy, money, and time.
- Your clothes come out less wrinkled. The increased movement and space between items prevent them from being pressed together or against the dryer walls, resulting in fewer wrinkles.
- Dryer balls also smooth rough fibers on fabrics, giving you noticeably softer clothes.
- By adding essential oils to your dryer balls, you can lightly scent your laundry, allowing you to say goodbye to chemical-laden dryer sheets.
- When used correctly, dryer balls can also help reduce static cling. We’ll delve into that later.
How Do You Scent Wool Dryer Balls?
You can add a few drops of essential oil directly onto each dryer ball before tossing them into the dryer. However, this method can be quite wasteful. For instance, if you use just two drops per ball, that adds up to 12 drops for a large load of laundry. Doing two loads a day means you could easily go through more than two 15ml bottles of essential oil in a month—way too much for my taste! Instead, I prefer to make a simple DIY spray to scent my wool dryer balls.
What Is Dryer Ball Spray & Why Use It?
Dryer ball spray is a straightforward mixture of water, witch hazel, and essential oil. This blend is sprayed onto wool dryer balls before they’re added to the dryer with laundry, offering several advantages:
- The damp dryer balls introduce moisture into the dryer, helping to reduce static cling and wrinkles.
- Because it is diluted, dryer ball spray is a more economical way to scent your wool dryer balls compared to using straight essential oil drops from a bottle.
- You can easily mix different essential oils to create a customized scent that perfectly suits your preferences.
What You Need to Make Dryer Ball Spray
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4 oz spray bottle
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Small funnel
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Witch hazel
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Essential oil
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Distilled water
How to Make Dryer Ball Spray
Step 1: Add 2 tablespoons of witch hazel to the 4 oz spray bottle
Tip: Choose a spray bottle made from materials safe for use with diluted essential oils. Glass, stainless steel, and certain plastics (plastic #1 HDPE or plastic #2 PET) are excellent choices.
Tip: Using a small funnel can make pouring into a narrow bottle opening spill-free and mess-free.
Step 2: Add 20-25 drops of essential oil
Here are some of my favorite essential oil blends for creating a delightful Christmas scent:
- Candy Cane Lane
- Sweater Weather
- Let It Snow
- Christmas Cheer
- Tree Farm
- Christmas at the Cabin
Step 3: Fill the bottle with distilled water
Tip: If you don’t have distilled water, boiled and cooled filtered water can be used as a substitute. Make sure to leave some space at the top to prevent overflow when you attach the sprayer.
Step 4: Put the spray top on and shake to mix
Step 5 (Optional): Add a label
Get a free printable label here
Tip: You can print this label on full-sheet label paper, or like I do, use regular printer paper and secure it with packing tape. This method is cost-effective and helps the label adhere better, keeping it looking great for a long time.
Christmas Essential Oil Recipes for Dryer Balls
Below are 12 delightful variations to choose from for your dryer ball spray:
Candy Cane Lane
- 15 drops peppermint
- 10 drops vanilla
Merry & Bright
- 10 drops fir (or substitute spruce or pine)
- 7 drops grapefruit
- 7 drops frankincense
‘Tis the Season
- 8 drops spruce (or substitute fir or pine)
- 4 drops cinnamon bark
- 7 drops orange
- 5 drops vanilla
Sweater Weather
- 12 drops eucalyptus
- 8 drops juniper berry
- 4 drops sage
Let It Snow
- 10 drops lemon
- 7 drops bergamot
- 7 drops peppermint
Christmas Cookies
- 14 drops vanilla
- 7 drops orange
- 4 drops ginger
Silver Bells
- 6 drops spruce (or substitute fir)
- 6 drops wintergreen
- 6 drops bergamot
- 6 drops peppermint
Christmas Cheer
- 8 drops peppermint
- 6 drops bergamot
- 6 drops orange
- 4 drops cypress
Holiday Kitchen
- 4 drops cinnamon bark
- 8 drops orange
- 4 drops clove
- 4 drops cardamom
Tree Farm
- 8 drops fir
- 8 drops spruce
- 4 drops cypress
- 4 drops cedarwood
First Snow
- 8 drops fir (or substitute spruce or pine)
- 6 drops orange
- 5 drops peppermint
- 4 drops wintergreen
Christmas at the Cabin
- 8 drops cedarwood
- 8 drops juniper berry
- 8 drops fir (or substitute spruce or pine)
How to Use Wool Dryer Balls with Dryer Ball Spray
- Optional: If you live in a dry climate (or it’s winter), start by soaking the dryer balls in water and squeezing out any excess. This step helps maintain humidity in the dryer, preventing static cling without prolonging drying time.
- Load wet clothes into the dryer.
- Attach a safety pin to a couple of the wool dryer balls. This helps discharge electricity in the dryer, further reducing static cling.
- Spray the wool dryer balls several times with your mixture.
- Add the dryer balls into the laundry in the dryer:
- Small load = 2 balls
- Average size load = 4 balls
- Large load = 6 balls
- Remove clothes from the dryer while they are still slightly damp or just barely dry to avoid over-drying, which can lead to static cling.
How to Reduce Static Cling Naturally
While dryer balls help minimize static cling, they may not completely eliminate it. Here are some additional tips to help:
- Use vinegar as a fabric softener to keep clothes soft. Softer fabrics result in less friction, which in turn means reduced static cling. You can make your own fabric softener using vinegar and essential oils.
- Dryer balls help create a more humid environment in the dryer, which softens fabric fibers and reduces drying time.
- Soak dryer balls in water and squeeze out the excess to keep enough moisture in your dryer and prevent static.
- Consider pinning a safety pin to a couple of dryer balls to help discharge electricity.
- If you skipped soaking the dryer balls, try adding a damp rag to the dryer about five minutes before the cycle ends.
- Avoid over-drying; static cling is often caused by completely dry clothes. Aim to remove laundry while it’s still slightly damp.
- Be mindful of the fabrics you mix in the dryer. Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are more prone to static than natural fibers like cotton. If possible, dry synthetic fabrics separately.
- If certain garments are particularly prone to static cling, consider air-drying them instead of using the dryer.
If you find that your already dried clothes have static cling, here are some quick fixes:
- Lightly spray the clothes with water to add moisture and reduce static.
- Use a humidifier in your home to combat dry air.
- Moisturize your skin with a homemade whipped body butter before dressing; this can help break the static charge.
Dryer Ball Spray as a Thoughtful Christmas Gift
This dryer ball spray makes for a wonderful Christmas gift. Simply package a few dryer balls in a cello bag along with the spray bottle and include a handwritten note with usage instructions. Tie it all together with a charming ribbon for a personal touch. It’s a practical gift that will surely be appreciated, and their laundry will smell fantastic!
Where to Get Supplies?
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- 4 oz glass spray bottle
- Small funnel
- Witch hazel
- Distilled water – available at grocery stores, pharmacies, or in the bottled water aisle at Target/Walmart.
- Free printable label
- Wool dryer balls – I used penguin-themed ones here, but I also love these plain ivory dryer balls.
- Cello bags (I used 7” x 14” bags)
Click here for a free printable of the dryer ball spray recipe and label.
Looking for more? Click here for the 11 Best Essential Oil Recipes for Laundry – including detergent, stain treatment, natural bleach alternative, fabric softener, and more!
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Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it based on something you have read on this website.
Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links and subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.
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