DIY Wool Dryer Balls
Did you see doTERRA's new holiday products? There are so many great ones and they all have the most beautiful packaging. I want all of them! There are herbal teas, special Christmas blends (love Holiday Joy) diffusers, linen spray, and travel size products not usually available.
When I have so many things like this that I want, I usually narrow down my spending by what I can and cannot make myself. Even though the Nepalese Wool Dryer Balls are amazing, and come from the same areas where we source our Wintergreen oil, they are so easy to make, and I could probably make 3 sets of dryer balls as well as gift 5ml of the same Wintergreen oil that comes with it for the price on one set from doTERRA. When I have less time and just need something convenient, then I'm all about just buying the pre-made sets.
Have you heard about using wool dryer balls? They have been getting so popular over the last few years. I think all of us are starting to recognize how harmful all the chemicals are that are put in so many of our products and the damage they cause to our bodies i.e. respiratory problems like allergies and asthma, disrupting our hormones and endocrine systems and so much more. One easy way to fight back and lower our toxic load is by cutting out unnecessary toxins when it is easy to do so. Dryer sheets are one of those places and it will save money in the long run because you can use the same dryer balls for about 1000 cycles! They are fragrance free (unless you want to add essential oils), baby safe, anti-static, lint free and usually last 2-3 years!
Fabric softeners come in all different shapes and sizes, and have scents that range anywhere from “Tropical Breeze” to “Lavender.” Did you know that most lavender-scented fabric softeners actually contains no lavender—only chemicals that have been blended to give you an impression that you are smelling the real deal?
Substitute these chemically-driven fabric softeners for an all-natural, toxic-free alternative with this easy step-by-step tutorial to make your own wool dryer balls that can last for many years and can easily be scented with doTERRA essential oils leaving your fabrics fragrant and soft.
What You Need:
- 100 percent wool yarn or other 100 percent animal yarn
- Pantyhose- I like to reuse pantyhose with runs in them so I'm not ruining a new pair or use knee-highs.
Directions:
- Take the end of the yarn and wrap it around your middle and index finger 10 times. Remove it from the fingers and wrap 2–3 times around the middle (it should look like a bow). This will be the start of your ball.
- Continue tightly wrapping the yarn around the start, working toward making a round shape. Once your ball is roughly the size of a tennis ball, cut the yarn and tuck the ends into the sides of the ball. Repeat this process until you have created four or more balls of yarn.
- Cut one leg off of the pantyhose. Place one ball into the bottom of the leg and tie a knot right above the ball to secure it in place. Repeat until all the balls have been added and secured.
- Once the balls are tightly secured in the pantyhose, put them in the washer (can be with a load of dirty laundry) and wash on the hottest setting. This will allow the yarn to felt. Felting will make the yarn fuse together, resulting in a solid ball. Once washed, dry the balls thoroughly in the dryer at the highest heat setting.
- After the balls are completely dry, remove them from the pantyhose and they’re ready for use! Before drying your next load of laundry, add your favorite doTERRA essential oil to 4–6 dryer balls, toss them in the dryer, and enjoy your soft, fluffy, wonderful-smelling laundry!
Extra Tips:
- 2–3 drops of essential oil per ball should last a few loads. Add more drops if you would like a stronger scent.
- Add a few drops of Lemon essential oil to your wash cycle to help remove grease and oil from fabrics.
If you want to gift these with doTERRA's wintergreen essential oil, you can get a 15ml bottle and then grab some 5 ml bottles to distribute it equally between 3 here.
Check back for my easy Linen Spray next week!
XO,
Tiara
-The Provident Princess
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