Laundry Debate: Wool Dryer Balls vs. Dryer Sheets – Which is Best?

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wool dryer balls in bowl on washing machine

How do you do laundry?

I’m sharing the pros and cons of dryer sheets vs. wool dryer balls – and while you may prefer one over the other now, there are things you should know about both to get the most out of your laundry and get the freshness you desire. Plus, I’m sharing my top picks for both!


Wool dryer balls

wool dryer balls with baby clothing in a basket

Pros of wool dryer balls:

  • Help dry laundry more quickly
    • Absorb moisture
    • Retain heat
    • Average drying time is 40% faster
      • Saves you money on gas and electricity
  • Eco-friendly
    • Made of all-natural and sustainable materials
  • Help reduce static cling
  • Safe for all types of materials
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Reusable
    • Replace after 1 year or every 1,000 loads
    • More cost-effective than dryer sheets
  • Works as an agitator in the dryer
    • Keeps clothes from sticking together
    • Aids in softening clothes and linens
  • Fragrance-free
  • Chemical-free

Cons of wool dryer balls:

  • Not ideal for large loads
    • They work best in small-to-medium loads where they can move around
  • Some people may prefer to have a scent on their clothes
  • Can be loud when moving around inside the dryer
  • As they age, chunks of wool can fall off and get into your lint drawer

penguin wool dryer balls

Some of our favorite highly-rated  wool dryer balls to use:

I searched different types of popular wool dryer balls with strictly high ratings across the board.

For the Starter set, I found a mid-price, highly-rated option to get you started if you’re new to dryer balls. My Character set adds a touch of fun to your laundry or could make a great gift. Lastly, the Essential Oils Scented dryer balls are perfect for someone who likes a fresh, natural smell in their laundry.  

Starter set: Wool Dryer Balls by Smart Sheep 6-Pack

Character set: Friendsheep Organic Eco Wool Dryer Balls – Black Penguin

Naturally Scented: Woolzies Organic Wool Dryer Balls + 100% Pure Lavender Essential Oils

Hip Tip: If you like a little scent on your clothes, but hate the chemicals, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to your wool dryer balls.


Dryer sheets

boxes of bounce dryer sheets

Pros of dryer sheets:

  • Soften fabrics
  • Eliminate static cling on clothes and linens
  • Add fragrance to each load of laundry
    • Fragrance-free options are available
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Can be used in any laundry load size
  • Can be used for other household cleaning chores
    • Keep luggage smelling fresh when traveling
    • Scrub pots and pans
    • And so much more! 

Cons of dryer sheets:

  • Most contain toxic chemicals
    • Can irritate your skin
  • Not eco-friendly
  • Leave residue inside your dryer
    • Can block screen on the lint catcher
      • Reduces air circulation
      • Decreases efficiency over time
    • Makes clothing more flammable
  • Can create greasy-looking stains on clothes
  • Can only be used one time
  • Do not reduce drying time
  • Some residue on sheets can reduce the absorbency of towels

Bounce free & gentle dryer sheets

Some of our favorite highly-rated dryer sheets to use:

I searched different types of popular dryer sheets with strictly high ratings across the board.

For my popular pick, I found a mid-price, highly-rated option that most people tend to use. Naturally scented uses a touch of essential oils and is offered at an affordable cost. My fragrance-free option is great for babies and people with sensitive skin and is still affordable for all budgets. 

Popular pick: Bounce Outdoor Fresh Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets

Naturally scented: Arm & Hammer Essentials Fabric Softener Sheets

Fragrance-Free: Bounce Free & Gentle Unscented Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets for Sensitive Skin


So what’s the Hip2Save team verdict?

woman spreading fitted sheet over mattress bed

Wool Dryer Balls ✅ vs. Dryer Sheets 👎

“I prefer the wool balls because my clothes sometimes feel waxy after using dryer sheets. I’ll put a few drops of lavender oil on the balls, too, so they add a little bit of scent to my laundry.” – Emily 


“I love using wool dryer balls and never liked dryer sheets at all. I like the benefits of the wool dryer balls and also that I don’t have to worry about any harmful chemicals since they’re an all-natural product. My daughter has a lot of allergies as well, so this is just a great, safe product for our family.” – Jami 


“There’s a time and place for wool dryer balls and dryer sheets. However, I love my wool dryer balls for reducing drying time and adding maximum fluff to our clothes! They’re also great for helping to distribute the stuffing inside comforters as they dry.” – Jenna 


“I’ve never used wool dryer balls, but after writing this article, I’m totally going to give them a shot! I’ve never liked dryer sheets and the way they make my clothes feel. Plus, I think dryer sheets are too smelly, and I really don’t like that they have so many chemicals.” – Sara


Dryer Sheets ✅ vs. Wool Dryer Balls 👎

“I really wanted to love the wool dryer balls, but I didn’t get as great results and smell that I was hoping for. I’m basically addicted to the smell of dryer sheets and won’t give them up. LOL!”  – Lina 


“I like to use dryer sheets because I don’t feel like the dryer balls ever really worked for me.” – Jessica C.


“I’ve never tried the wool dryer balls, and I’ve always just used dryer sheets. They work for us and smell good in my opinion.” – Michelle  


“I use both, however, I don’t feel like dryer balls get the static out, so I always throw in a dryer sheet as well!” – Jennifer


“I tried dryer balls for the first time and I really tried to love them, but I don’t think they do anything for static cling. The only benefit I see is to reduce drying time because they bounce around in there. I have the Woolzies ones with essential oils, and they do smell good when you put the oil on them, but honestly, that’s all. I still put dryer sheets in with them. Also, I personally think it’s a pain to dig through the clothes to find them after each load. I thought I would like them but not really a fan.” – Michelle P.

The verdict? Wool dryer balls – 4 vs. Dryer sheets – 5 

It seems that most of our team hasn’t even tried wool dryer balls before, but the ones that have really love using them for the eco-friendly aspect. The other half of our team loves their tried and true dryer sheets.

Enough about us though, what do you use?


Try these 10 genius ways to use vinegar around your home.


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


Join The Discussion

Comments 120

  1. Susie

    We only use dryer balls. They are no toxic and better for the environment

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      SO glad you have been pleased with them, Susie! Thanks so much for sharing with us!

  2. Jean

    Dryer balls work so well.

  3. Cg

    Dryer balls are great. No smells and they move the clothes around so they dry faster and help save on electricity.

  4. Nicole

    I like using dryer balls. Since using Norwex I am slowly eliminating many chemicals in my house. Saving tons of money too. Windex and pledge were the first things to go!

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Oh cool! Thanks a bunch for taking the time to comment.

  5. Heidi

    I love the wool balls and the fact that they reduce drying time. I don’t miss the dryer sheets at all.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Heidi! I haven’t used them yet. They sure sound helpful!

  6. Me

    For static, ad a safety pin to the dryer balls. It reduces the static drastically. Also, lessen your drying time.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Oh interesting! Thanks for the tip!

    • Whitney

      Thanks for this tip!

  7. Lisa

    I like to hang dry (when I can, that is), so (c), none of the above!

    • mei

      you are THE BEST!

    • AJ

      Me too! I only dry my bedding and that’s primarily to help remove the dog hair.

      • Lisa

        So true! I have what the shelter told me was a medium shedder — they lied! 🙂 I’m pretty sure I didn’t just adopt 1 dog — it was 2 dogs in disguise!

  8. Mary

    I have to use the dryer balls for my daughter because has eczema and the sheets make her breakout, including the “sensitive” ones. I personally prefer the dryer balls as well because it’s better for our environment.

  9. Jenn

    Love my wool drier balls. I add essential oils to give them a nice smell.

  10. Lana

    Dryer sheets contain formaldehyde. That makes the dryer ball choice much easier.

  11. Susan

    Dryer balls!

  12. Stacey

    I guess I need to give mine another try. I bought some years ago and they didn’t seem to work. Maybe my loads were to large, hmm! I did get a new washer and dryer since then too!

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Hope you love them if you decide to give them a try again!

  13. Kitty

    Interesting to find out wool balls help reduce drying time. I hadn’t known that. I think I’ll try some.

  14. Judi C

    I hated them! All they did was make my laundry MORE staticky! I wish they worked, maybe I am missing something- any tips???

    • Marissa

      To reduce the static I’ll dump/spread out the dried clothes on the couch so they can cool off for about 10 minutes, then fold them (instead of immediately folding them after I take them out of the dryer). Not perfect, but it helps a lot.

    • Whitney

      Someone above said add a safety pin to the dryer with the dryer balls. I’m totally trying this because static is my issue.

    • Lisa

      Agreed, the static is out of control when I use dryer balls. I’ll try the safety pin.

    • Kate

      Wool dryer balls dry your laundry faster. If you’re still drying your laundry for the same amount of time that you did with dryer sheets, you are likely over-drying your laundry, which is what is causing so much static. Lessen the drying time and you should see a reduction in static.

      • Ang

        I agree on the static. It was horrible with the balls. I’ll have to try them again with the pin and less drying time.

    • Alyssa

      Try cutting your drying time! You’re overdrying and it makes the clothes staticky.

  15. dre

    Hi! I have dryer balls and I don’t notice a reduction in drying time. It still takes the same amount as dryer sheets. Am I doing something wrong? I have 8 balls and even in a smaller load it takes same amount of time. Hmmmm.

  16. Lucy

    We use tennis balls to move clothes around in the dryer.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Oh cool! Thanks for the helpful suggestion, Lucy! I’ve never tried that!

  17. Kristina

    Do the balls make the dryer sound a lot louder? Can you hear them or are they pretty silent?

    • EH

      I never heard mine. They are soft, not like the tennis balls I used to use.

  18. Amy

    Love our dryer balls. The ones I got came with essential oils, too, if you want a bit of light scent added to your laundry. 🙂

  19. Michele

    I have the Norwex dryer balls. Not the wool. But you can put a couple drops of essential oils to add scent.

    • Jodi P

      I have the green Norwex balls, too. They’re great, but pretty noisy, lol Wool balls never worked for me, created static when I never had a static problem, before. I haven’t used softener in a dozen years.

  20. MD

    Dryer balls because my husband gets hives from dryer sheets.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Glad these have worked much better for him!

  21. Laura

    Dryer sheets are toxic! Please everyone stop using them

    • Sue

      I agree

  22. EH

    I had to ‘weigh in’ on this as our young dog destroyed the last of my dryer balls last night! He grabs them and then pulls them apart. I loved my dryer balls and will be ordering new ones when I find a deal. They were great to fluff up dog beds in the dryer(I do dog rescue-so I do a LOT of laundry!) It seemed like things dried quicker with them, but it was always a race to snatch the balls up before Wolf grabbed them from the laundry floor and RAN. I HAVE to use dryer sheets in our dark clothes loads so the dog fur does not stick to my husbands work shirts tooooo bad. There is always going to be fur, but the dryer sheets do help with this.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Oh no! That sounds like something my Mom’s dog would do! Thanks for sharing with us, EH!

  23. Princess’Mom

    I prefer the wool balls but use dryer sheets for things like the bathroom rugs and tennis shoes—anything that’s got a rubber part & smells bad in the dryer when it heats up, I just toss a couple of sheets in with them.

  24. Angela

    Wish I could but wool allergies mean no dryer balls made of wool here.
    No dryer sheets either for some reason my LG dryer doesn’t really get static unless there are nylon items in with cotton anyway
    If there is static I just run a metal hanger over it and all set

    • Wehaf

      You can use plastic dryer balls (I like the softer ones, not the hard plastic), or tennis balls since wool is an issue.

      • Deb

        I like the plastic ones better too. My wool ones seem like a waste of money.

        • Angela

          Thank you for that suggestion !

  25. Wehaf

    Dryer balls will also help keep down items (pillows, comforters, coats, etc.) fluffy instead of lumpy. Toxic dryer sheets that destroy the environment and cost big bucks can’t do that!

  26. Jennifer

    I never “got” dryer balls so thanks for the post! I’ll probably give them a try – I really like the idea of shortening drying time. I’ll have to think about what scent to get though since my husband doesn’t like smelling girly.

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      You’re welcome, Jennifer! Hope you love them!

    • EH

      I love sandalwood!! It is not girly.

      • Marie

        My boyfriend loves sandalwood too… as do I actually. Not girly. 🙂

  27. Beth

    We use dryer sheets, but only half a sheet. Works well! Cuts cost in half and does the same job as a full sheet.

    • Deb

      I use mine for 2 loads each. Works for me

  28. Maggie

    The thing with dryer sheets is that they’re not just bad for YOUR health, they’re polluting your neighbors’ air. For people with any chemical sensitivity, you may be causing asthma attacks. Even walking on the street past a home that’s using them can trigger it. PLEASE read up on the Quaternary ammonium compounds in fabric softener and the link to asthma (and reproductive system toxicity) — they are also full of phthalates and preservatives with known linkages to health issues (including suspected carcinogens). The Environmental Working Group has some good write-ups about this! For softeness, just pour some white vinegar in the rinse cycle. For fragrance, use some essential oil on the dryer ball — easy, and you’re not unknowingly poisoning your family OR neighbors who might have health issues. Before you say “But I like how they smell, go walk somewhere else,” think for a moment how you’d feel if YOUR kid had asthma and couldn’t play outside because someone was spewing that stuff into the air.

    • Swirlypop

      Wish there was a like button! Completely agree with you and so many have no idea.

      • Wilton

        The “Thumb Up” symbol is the like button here. 🙂

    • R2

      EWG has little credibility in the scientific community.

      • Maggie

        You may not like EWG, but the link between the ingredients used in fabric softener and asthma was discussed as early as 1976 in the New England Journal of Medicine. See Mauceri RA, Rosan JR, N Engl J Med. 1976 Apr 15;294(16):907. If you do a search in PubMed on quaternary amonium there’s dozens of papers now.

    • Cyntha Martin

      Thank-you! I have chemical sensitivities and dryer sheets among other “fragrance” chemicals are terrible for me. Somedays I have to go back inside because my neighbor is doing laundry. It vents towards my house. It’s also difficult to visit others who live in a strip of homes with neighbors close by. Understandably, someone is always doing laundry. I love dryer balls and they have been a huge positive change for me.

  29. Cate

    I bought the cute hedgehog ones from BBB, and I love them. No static issues ever.

  30. GaGa

    One con you listed for dryer balls is that you might want a scent. Just add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil to one of the balls

  31. Nita

    Dryer balls, better for the environment.

  32. Crystal

    We love our dryer balls, they last forever and I don’t have to worry about any extra junk added to our laundry! I love that I can add lavender or another scented essential oil to them as well when I want a fresher smell.

  33. Ker

    When we purchased our dryer they told us Not to used dryer sheets because it runs the sensor! I haven’t used them since. Dryer balls are great, and much quieter than tennis balls.

  34. Tracey

    I’ve switched to the wool dryer balls as I am trying to cut out excessive chemicals. Although my clothes have more static, I don’t mind. I will definitely try the safety pin tip!

  35. Jen

    Dryer balls work great in my summer loads but the winter clothes (sweaters, especially) get lots of static so I throw in half a dryer sheet.

  36. Tori

    Being allergic to both wool and the sheets, I don’t use either. I use the plastic balls and find they work very well on the static . Whitmor-Dryer-Balls-Friendly-Alternative from Amazon

  37. Amber

    Do the wool dryer balls help with the softness of the clothing? I use dryer sheets as a softener but I love the idea of switching to dryer balls.

  38. Mel

    I’ve heard the costco dryer sheets smell really good but I’ve never tried them myself.

  39. Meghan

    Dryer balls! One less thing I have to remember to buy (dryer sheets), plus way better for the environment and my family. Feel quite “hip” over here when I use a drop or two of essential oils on them. 🙂

  40. Cat

    I switched to dryer balls awhile ago & will never look back. I found a Gain scented oil to add to them off Ebay & our clothes always smell amazing. I never have problems w/ static unless I over-dry. I keep 6 wool balls & 4 tennis balls & everything dries evenly.

  41. Danielle O.

    We only use reusable dryer sheets. They last forever!

  42. Melissa

    Smart Sheep XL 6 wool dryer balls are on sale today for $11.90 down from $16.95. That’s the price I paid in Prime Day!

    • Melissa

      You can find them in Amazon.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks so much for the heads up! Looks like the price has gone up on those now as I search through.

  43. Stephanie

    I was super pumped to try dryer balls and ordered some on Prime Day. Turns out that I was allergic to them, so back to dryer sheets it is!

    • Wehaf

      You can use plastic dryer balls or tennis balls. 🙂

  44. sarah

    I use both together sometimes. The dryer balls may make drying faster but the dryer sheets get the cat hair off my shirts.

  45. Lori

    We use white vinegar in the fabric softener drawer of the washing machine. Very happy with the results and all natural. And inexpensive.

    • Sue

      Same here

  46. Helina

    I love the dryer balls with a little lavender essential oil but my husband prefers unvented dryer sheets, he says they don’t make his clothes soft enough lol!

  47. Ashley

    I’ve used the balls several different times (and brands) and I always have skin reactions to them. I just Stick to dryer sheets

  48. Cheryl

    I made my dryer balls out of wool yarn. You can find patterns on Ravelry if you knit or crochet.

  49. Rn

    I want to try the dryer balls but are they loud when bouncing around and also do they damage the dryer by bouncing around. …also how the ball make drying time quicker and how will a safety pin help with the static

    • SJ

      They dont damage the dryer at all.

  50. Liz_12_26

    Wool dryer balls and a little ball of aluminum foil or add safety pins to the wool balls. It takes care of the static.

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