Did you know that, with a simple purchase, you can reduce your environmental footprint by cutting dryer time, which in turn saves on your energy bill and cuts static electricity in your clothes? Yes, this miracle object really does exist. Oddly enough, it's a handy little fluff of wool. Shaped into a firm ball, wool dryer balls are an extremely economical laundry accessory that really does do all of the above — and they last for years, to boot. In search of the very best, we did the legwork in finding top-quality dryer balls. Here's what we found. Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls All-Natural and EconomicalThis bag of 6 wool dryer balls will give you up to 15 years worth of reduced dryer time, wrinkles, and lint. Best OverallFind on Amazon If one dryer ball lasts up to 1,000 loads (or roughly 2.5 years), then this bag of 6 will give you 15 years worth of drying time, provided you use one ball per load. How’s that for economical? Handy Laundry has truly created something really, well, handy here with these high-quality New Zealand-wool dryer balls. Meant to collect lint, reduce dryer time, and replace chemical-laden plastic or fabric dryer sheets, these extra-large dryer balls will shorten your drying time by up to 25%. Add in a few drops of your favorite essential oils for a custom scent on your clothing. Pros: Reduce wrinkles, lint, and pet hair Healthier, chemical-free alternative to fabric softeners and sheets Eco-friendly Comes in a cloth storage bag Cons: These won’t completely eliminate static OHOCO Wool Dryer Balls Long-Lasting Wool Dryer BallsThese extra-large dryer balls last over 1,000 loads per ball.Longest LastingFind on Amazon These felted wool dryer balls last for 1000+ loads of laundry, giving you nearly two decades of drying time per 6-count if you use one ball per load. Completely chemical-free and unscented, these wool dryer balls will dance around inside your dryer as it runs, fluffing up your clothing and allowing for heat to distribute more evenly, which helps cut your drying time by up to 25%. Thoughtfully designed, there are two different shades: for darker clothes, use the darker dryer balls; for lighter, use the cream dryer balls. Regardless of color, both are completely free from chemicals, dyes, and scents, and are sensitive-skin approved. Pros: Each ball lasts over 1,000 loads Will reduce lint and static Balls come in a handy storage bag Cons: A bit on the smaller side, so you’ll likely need to use 4-6 balls per load Smart Sheep XL Premium Wool Dryer Balls Premium Wool in an Extra-Large SizeUse these extra-large, premium wool dryer balls for larger loads.Best for Large LoadsFind on Amazon Depending on the type of dryer balls, you’ll need anywhere from 6 or more per load — that is, unless you have these XL premium wool dryer balls from Smart Sheep. Meant specifically for larger loads, these award-winning dryer balls require at most 6. Made of exceptional New Zealand wool, these will not fall apart even in larger, more industrial-type dryers. As a matter of fact, these wool dryer balls have the distinction of winning the “Best of the Best” product award from Hearst Media. Awesome at fluffing up those larger-item dryer loads, try tossing these in with your towels for truly fluffy, airy results. Pros: 100% natural wool Great for babies and/or sensitive skin Helps to collect lint and pet hair Ideal for large-size loads Cons: These pick up lint from darker clothes Molly’s Suds Wool Dryer Balls For Dark LoadsFor all of your darker clothing items, these black wool dryer balls won't leave any unwanted white fuzzies behind.Best for Dark ClothesFind on Amazon There’s really not much to complain about when it comes to wool dryer balls. If there was one improvement you could make, however, it would be that the typical wool dryer ball comes in white and in white only. While this is mostly fine, sometimes the wool picks up lint from darker clothes and can transfer it. So when we found these from Molly’s Suds, we were thrilled. Both sustainably sourced and socially responsible, these wool dryer balls are meticulously felted and dyed using non-toxic dyes. While wool dryer balls aren’t known to transfer wool, it’s nice knowing that even if they did, these ones wouldn’t have a chance at showing up on our darker clothes. Pros: Perfect for dark clothing Scent-free Non-toxic dyes used in the process Cons: Do not use these on lighter colored clothes Woolzies Wool Dryer Balls Calming Lavender Scent and Less StaticCombining lavender essential oil and wool dryer balls for a soft scent and less static. Best Scented Find on Amazon Using calm lavender essential oil to treat these otherwise unscented, non-toxic wool dryer balls, Woolzies has created a fantastic option for gently scenting our sheets without adding in unwanted chemicals. So, how does this work? First, the dryer balls. Made of organic New Zealand wool, these are premium dryer balls that’ll do wonders for your clothes by themselves. But add in a few drops of lavender essential oil and it’s a game-changer. Lavender, known for being a calming, anxiety-reducing, sleep-inducing scent, is especially nice on your sheets. Pros: Non-toxic, high-quality essential oil (10ml bottle) 6 dryer balls included High-quality wool Cons: The dryer balls can be a bit loud during use Frequently Asked Questions What’s the point of wool dryer balls? Wool dryer balls serve a few purposes, actually. While they do help with static in your clothes, that is mostly due to the fact that overall drying time is reduced. You see, wool balls toss in and around your clothes as they dry. This action serves to cut drying time, which also means your clothes will have less time spent in the dryer. This means that wool dryer balls reduce your energy bill, as well as reduce the chance of overheating your clothes (which means less static). Additionally, the less time you dry your clothes in a dryer, the better it is for the environment. In this way, wool dryer balls serve three fantastic purposes. How long do wool dryer balls last before needing to be replaced? The typical wool dryer ball lasts up to about 1,000 loads. If you do one load a day, that’s over 2.5 years per wool dryer ball. While you may use more than one ball per load, 1,000 loads is still a very long time. You’ll know it’s time to replace them when bits and pieces of wool start to fray and come out.