Tips + Tricks
All About Wool Dryer Balls with Liz Palmer of Blackberry Hill Farm!
~ A huge thanks to Liz Palmer (Instagram: @blackberryhillfarmWA, Website:http://www.blackberryhillfarmwa.com) for sponsoring this blog post and educating me about the amazing world of wool dryer balls!
I’ve always loved the smell of fresh laundry, and up until recently I thought nothing of tossing a dryer sheet or two into the machine with my nice clean clothes. The dryer sheets were a part of my normal laundry routine as long as I can remember. This past year of homesteading however, my husband and I have been educating ourselves on reducing our household waste and using more natural products. I’ve seen fellow eco-conscious friends and family ditch major brands of cleaners, food, and medicine and swap those items out for greener and safer alternatives. It is a growing trend to be aware of what is in the products we use on a daily basis.
I had been interested in making the switch to wool dryer balls, but I didn’t know much about them. Interestingly, Walmart actually carries a brand of wool dryer balls, but I wanted to get them through a small business to support the homesteading community! So when I happened upon an Instagram post showcasing Liz Palmer of Blackberry Hill Farm’s adorable handmade wool dryer balls I jumped on it!
A few years back I had a small rash on my leg. That rash grew over a few days to cover my entire body. My face swelled and the rash oozed. I would lay in bed at night crying because I was so itchy. Then, about a year later this systemic rash happened again. This time either as a result from brushing up against something on a hike or a new face cream I tried. I went to the dermatologist and they told me it was eczema. To this day I don’t know what triggers my eczema outbreaks (my skin is normal and rash free 99.9% of the time), but those full-body rashes are agonizing and I pray I don’t have another one. My dermatologist recommended I don’t put anything on my skin except a prescription lotion and sunscreen.
But my skin comes in contact with so much throughout the day. So in an attempt to make my skin happy and not irritated I figured eliminating dryer sheets and using more natural soaps and detergents would be a good start. After all, the ingredients in all our laundry products end up on our bed sheets and clothes.
As a dryer ball newbie, Liz of Blackberry Hill Farm was so lovely and provided me with some answers to my questions about wool dryer balls and why everyone should make the switch!
Olivia: How long do wool dryer balls last?
Liz: The same set of dryer balls can be used years. I have a family of 4 and used mine for 2 years before I replaced them. They will pill over time, but will continue to work well for hundreds of loads!
Olivia: So what if I’m going to miss that fresh, dryer sheet fragrance on my clothes?
Liz: You can add a drop or two of essential oil on the dryer balls to make your laundry smell great.
(I love this idea because I can basically customize the scent of my clean laundry with whatever natural fragrances I choose!)
Olivia: Are there natural benefits to using wool dryer balls other than cutting down on chemicals in our house?
Liz: These dryer balls are handmade with 100% virgin wool. Virgin wool contains natural lanolin to help soften your clothes naturally.
Olivia: In what other ways will dryer balls help save us money other than just replacing single-use dryer sheets?
Liz: Dryer balls help your dryer run more efficiently by increasing air circulation. They cut down the amount of time it takes your clothes to dry. Dryer balls can also fluff up your stiff clothesline dried towels and clothes. Skipping the dryer and using a clothesline is the best way to save money and is easier on your clothes, but it makes them stiff. You can toss the stiff clothes into the dryer for a few minutes with the dryer balls and it really helps!
Olivia: So what’s really in those single-use dryer sheets that will make me not miss them one bit?
Liz: There are numerous chemicals in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener that have been linked to cancer, respiratory issues, nervous system damage and more. These chemicals stay in your clothing for extended periods and leave a residue, which never completely washes out. When fabric softeners are exposed to heat such as hot water or a dryer or iron, vapors can be released into the environment. These chemicals can be inhaled and absorbed by your skin – further impacting human welfare along with the environment.
The only other caveat she gives is that dryer balls can make fleece materials staticky, so you can dry those items halfway and air dry the rest if it bothers you.
I think my skin will be much happier without having to deal with heavily fragranced dryer sheet residue. Curious as to what effects my dryer sheets could have on my body, I did some of my own research. I am always on the look-out for reputable scientific studies when these types of claims come out. This article from CBS news from 2011 was particularly interesting to me: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scented-laundry-products-release-carcinogens-study-finds/
It describes a study published in the journal of Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health that found “more than 25 “volatile” air pollutants – including the carcinogens acetaldehyde and benzene” released into the air through the dryer vent when using scented laundry items. Shocking.
Thank you Liz for educating me on all the amazing benefits of using wool dryer balls in my laundry! I’ve already used them a few times and I am very impressed at how soft they are making my clothes. They seem to collect lint and hair as they tumble around (which is super helpful considering we have 3 dogs). I’m also super excited to experiment with some essential oil scents to make my own custom laundry fragrance.
As for Liz’s handmade soaps I received, I am obsessed with the natural, earthy fragrances she chose for me. I’ve had the Birchwood soap sitting at my kitchen sink and I can smell it every time I walk by. Adding handmade soaps to my arsenal of natural products has definitely helped my skin from drying out and getting itchy.
She also uses no phthalates or palm-oil in her soaps – only the highest quality natural ingredients. I had to look up what ‘phthalates’ were. The FDA’s website nonchalantly says of phthalates, “It’s not clear what effect, if any, phthalates have on human health.” My quick search of phthalates beyond the FDA’s website showed a “tidal wave” of new research has come out saying they indeed do have an effect on health.
This article from The Guardian states the explosion of research in consumer products has found phthalates to be linked to negative health impacts such as asthma, cancer, and behavioral issues.
With more and more research emerging as consumers begin to question what chemicals are in our ‘safe’ household products, I think I’d rather be cautious and limit my use of these products before we fully know how they affect our health.
Liz’s full line of natural body products & handmade goods can be found on her website: http://www.blackberryhillfarmwa.com.
And if you have any other questions for Liz or want to follow her farm adventures in Washington state go to Instagram @blackberryhillfarmWA or shoot her an email at blackberryhillfarm@outlook.com .
