Learning to Be 31: Drying Your Cloth Diapers (WAHM Review + Giveaway) *CLOSED*

If you have been a part of any of the cloth diapering groups on Facebook (or elsewhere), I'm betting the subject of laundry has come up. To be honest, those "discussions" almost scared me away from using cloth. Soak, rinse, wash, rinse, rinse again, wash again, double rinse. No it's rinse, soak, rinse, wash, rinse, soak, wash, rinse again. (Rinse is a weird word isn't it?). Dry on low. No, hang dry only. No, drying on high is necessary sometimes.

Oh. My. Word.

It's craziness. To clarify, my wash cycle is no where near that complicated and I truly hope no one's is that extreme...but that's for another post. One thing is pretty much agreed upon though - you cannot use dryer sheets when drying cloth diapers. Why? They create build up! If you've ever noticed that your towels have become less absorbent, this might be the cause. Seriously, go Google it. ;)

There is an awesome alternative though! Wool Dryer Balls! Read on to hear why they are so amazing. But first, let me introduce you to the most unique dryer balls I have ever seen as well as the shop that makes them.

I was provided free product in exchange for an open and honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are my own.

Rebecca, or Beck, has an adorable little Etsy shop. She is a work-at-home-momma of three adorable kiddos! One thing I really love about her shop is that she gives a portion of her proceeds to a different charity each month! One of her favorite causes was when she helped a sweet little dog, Cricket, get a wheel chair! You can read that story here. As she states, "My business is not just mine, it's my customers."

So what exactly does Beck make? She creates custom wool dryer balls! And they are absolutely to die for!

Here is what I received:

Cute little bag, right?

Curious yet?

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Wait for it......

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Owls!! They are owls!!

Are they not the cutest dryer balls you have ever seen??

I mean...

Hahaha. Did you see what I did there???

So what makes dryer balls so great?

1. They cut down on drying time! I am still amazed at how much less time it takes my clothes (and cloth diapers) to dry. In fact, after using these owls on their own for a week, I threw my original set of dryer balls back in and now have twice the power! ;)

Here they are waiting to take on the toughest jobs:

Adorable!

2. They are chemical free! Which is why they don't leave build up. But we love all things chemical free around here, so that's a huge bonus.

3. You don't have to remember to put one of these in the dryer. They just stay there. And they last a looooooooooooong time. Potentially, a lifetime. You just have to replace them when they start falling apart. And from what I'm hearing in the cloth diapering community - it doesn't happen very often. Bonus: The dryer balls from Beck's Wares are guaranteed for one year!

4. You can still make your clothes smell wonderful....but without chemicals! All you have to do is add a drop or two of essential oils to a couple of the dryer balls after your clothes are dry. Toss the balls back in and run your clothes on a fluff cycle (no heat) for about 10 minutes. Honestly, I don't do this often with my clothes. I generally only do it with my towels, because I love that fresh smell!

How do the dryer balls from Beck's Wares compare to leading brands?

They work just as well!! Beck sent me a set of 6: 2 Large, 2 Medium, and 2 Small. Her different sizes are definitely a unique factor. Here they are compared to the size of a Woolzie dryer ball:

Flower Power?? Okay, okay....I'll stop being cheesy.... or not....

I was surprised that the large size is actually bigger than the Woolzies since they are considered "XL"

And one thing is for sure - Woolzies don't stand a chance when it comes to cuteness! Which is why these would make an excellent Mom Gift!

Here are some of the other dryer ball's Beck makes:

Colors!! (Photo courtesy of Beck's Wares)

She will turn your child's drawing into a dryer ball!! Such an adorable idea. (Photo courtesy of Beck's Wares)

Dryer balls go through a process of felting that you can read more about on the Beck's Wares Etsy Shop. But take a look at those owls before the felting process:

So cute I can't stand it!!! (Photo courtesy of Beck's Wares)

Beck also had another unique idea - "Do you want to throw a snowman?" Kids love snowball fights. So why not make it possible to have them inside?

Your child draws a snowman and then it becomes a soft dryer ball (pre-felted) that they can throw indoors! A great Gift for Children, yes? (Photo courtesy of Beck's Wares)

I highly recommend Beck's Wares. Working with her has been phenomenal. I have no doubt that her customer service is top of the line!

As a thank you and to show her a little appreciation for participating in the WAHM Review Series, be sure to follow Beck's Wares on your favorite social media platform:

Etsy

Facebook

If you would like to purchase a set of dryer balls (and there are tons to choose from), Beck is offering my readers an exclusive code for 15% off!!