Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by Umar Farooq
Dryer balls work mechanically — they tumble between layers and stop the load clumping, so air reaches more fabric. Dryer sheets work chemically, depositing softeners and fragrance onto the fibres. That is the whole difference, and it decides everything else. Only sheets genuinely soften and scent. Only balls are safe for towels and activewear. Neither is “better” in general — and the two industries do not agree about the one benefit everyone buys balls for.
Two completely different mechanisms
Maytag describes dryer balls as “most commonly made of tightly compressed wool, but can also be made of plastic or rubber”, and the mechanism as physical: they “help prevent laundry from clumping together in the dryer by tumbling between layers and separating fabric. This action allows warm air to circulate better” (Maytag). Nothing is added to the load. A ball is a wedge that keeps a duvet from folding into a wet brick.
A sheet does the opposite: it adds. Arm & Hammer explains that sheets “work to neutralize the attraction between positive and negative electrons in fabrics that cause clothes to stick together”, and that “heat helps to warm and release the liquid softeners and fragrances in dryer sheets” (Arm & Hammer). That deposit is the product working as designed, and it is why sheets leave a film — on the clothes and on the lint screen. The residue side is covered at fabric softener vs dryer sheets.
Dryer balls vs dryer sheets on the drying-time claim
This is the one benefit that sells dryer balls, and the two sources split on it. Maytag, an appliance maker, says the separation “can even help reduce drying time”. Arm & Hammer, which sells dryer sheets, is more sceptical about its competitor’s headline claim than you would expect a rival to bother being: “whether dryer balls truly and effectively shorten drying time is still largely up for debate.”
Neither publishes a measured figure — no minutes saved, no test load, no conditions. The honest position is that the mechanism is real and the size of the effect is unpublished. It will be largest where clumping is worst: a duvet, a sleeping bag, a load of heavy towels. On a mixed load that already tumbles freely, expect very little.
If your dryer is genuinely slow, balls are not the fix. A restricted vent costs far more time than any load-separation trick can recover — see dryer taking too long to dry.
Where each one wins
| Load or need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Towels, activewear, microfiber | Balls | Maytag: softener substances “may coat the fibers, leading to water beading on the surface” |
| Duvets, sleeping bags, bulky loads | Balls | Clumping is the actual problem |
| Softness and lasting fragrance | Sheets | Arm & Hammer: “only dryer sheets actively soften your clothes” |
| Static on synthetics | Sheets | Chemical static control is what the coating does best |
| Fabrics prone to pilling | Sheets | Maytag advises avoiding wool balls |
| Cost over years | Balls | Maytag: wool balls last “about 1,000 loads” |
Note the towel row. Softener coating is not a side effect on absorbent fabric — it defeats the point of the fabric. Full reasoning in what cycle for towels.
Using them properly, and the one real warning
Manufacturers disagree on dose. Maytag: “around three balls for a small to medium load, five for medium to large loads, and up to six for very large loads.” Arm & Hammer goes much higher, listing “8-12” for extra-large loads. Pick a figure and watch whether the clumping stops — no published test settles it.
Wool balls absorb moisture and lose effect. Maytag suggests refreshing them “after about 100 loads or every four to six months”: wash in a mesh bag on a gentle hot cycle with no detergent or softener, then dry on high.
Do not put essential oils on dryer balls. Maytag states it plainly: “While you may want to use essential oils to scent your dryer balls, it is not advisable as it can make dryer balls, especially those made of wool, more flammable.” That instruction appears on almost none of the lifestyle pages recommending the practice.
FAQ
Do dryer balls really work?
Physically, yes — they separate the load, an observable effect on bulky items. On drying time the evidence is thinner than the marketing: Arm & Hammer calls that claim “still largely up for debate”, and no manufacturer publishes a measured saving.
Can you use dryer balls and dryer sheets together?
Yes. Maytag says so directly: “You can also combine wool dryer balls with dryer sheets,” on the basis that the two do different jobs. You will still get sheet residue on the lint screen, so keep cleaning it.
Are dryer balls better for towels?
Yes, and it is the clearest win either product has. Maytag notes softener substances “may coat the fibers, leading to water beading on the surface rather than being soaked up, which may diminish the material’s ability to perform as intended.” A coated towel stops absorbing.
Do dryer sheets damage the dryer?
They leave residue. LG’s warning on the humidity sensor is direct: “A contaminated humidity sensor may fail in correctly measuring the humidity within your laundry, leading to excessive drying or incomplete drying” (LG). LG does not name dryer sheets as the cause, and nor will we.
Can I use tennis balls instead?
Maytag allows it with two caveats: check they are colourfast, because “tennis ball dyes may run and stain clothes”, and expect noise — “tennis balls can be louder in the laundry than wool dryer balls.”
How many dryer balls should I use?
Three for a small or medium load is where both sources start. Then they part company: Maytag caps at six for very large loads, Arm & Hammer goes to twelve. Start at three and add one if bulky items still clump.
What each one actually does
Choose by the load, not by the philosophy. Towels, activewear and anything bulky get balls, because a coating ruins absorbency and separation is what a wadded duvet needs. Sheets stay for softness, scent and static on synthetics, since nothing mechanical replicates a chemical finish.
Be careful which claim you are buying. The softening, the static control and the separation are all documented. The minutes saved are not — and the company saying so sells dryer sheets, which is about as close to disinterested testimony as this category gets.
