If you’re struggling with tangled and creased clothing after using the tumble dryer, try this easy 33p hack.
After struggling to dry clothes during the chillier months, journalist Sophie Harris reluctantly turned to her tumble dryer.
She shared: “They’re incredibly energy-intensive and significantly contribute to energy bills. While I didn’t want to cut it out completely because it makes my life much easier and my clothes smell fresh, I started looking for ways to speed up drying time in the appliance.”
Sophie stumbled upon tumble dryer balls, something she had always spotted in the shop but never thought to investigate or buy.
However, after using them for two months now, she has convinced many family members to also buy them.
Sophie admits: “I’ll never stop using them again.” Tumble dryer balls are small balls often crafted from wool that are placed in the appliance. They help to reduce drying time, soften clothes, reduce static and prevent clumping.
Using them is a doddle and involves simply popping one to three, depending on the load, into the dryer. Then, add your damp laundry as usual and set it off on its normal cycle, Sophie reported for the Express.
The balls will bounce around, separating fabric, improving airflow and helping clothes dry quicker. Sophie said: “I got a pack of three from The Range for just £1, and I’ll tend to use all three if I’m drying bedding or towels.
“I’ve been using them for around two months, and I’ll never go back to drying clothes without them. Although I don’t use the tumble dryer often, I’ve found a huge difference when using the drying balls.
“My clothes aren’t creased, they dry much faster, and when drying bedding, it stays separated rather than clumped together.
“I also sometimes add a dryer sheet into the tumble dryer, which also cuts down drying time and softens clothes.”
She continued: “When paired with the dryer balls, I find the duo work incredibly well, especially on towels and bedding.
“They add a lovely fragrance, too, but they are single-use compared to dryer balls, which can be used again and again.
“Other ways to speed up the drying of clothes in the tumble dryer include not overloading it and making sure you do an extra spin cycle in the washing machine prior.”