FAQs

No! You can say goodbye to chemical-loaded dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners. Your Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls naturally soften your fabrics as they gently tumble in the dryer, giving you softer, fluffier laundry without any harsh chemicals. They also reduce drying time by 20% to 40%, saving you time, money, and energy.

Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls shorten drying time, soften and fluff your fabrics, and help you reduce static and wrinkles in a completely natural and eco-friendly way. They also help remove pet hair from clothes, and help your sheets and towels stay untangled. Folding your laundry will be easier and faster.

PVC and tennis balls are made of plastic. They contain synthetic materials that are stable at low temperatures but once heated can release harmful chemicals - that typical plastic smell - that will not only deposit on your clothes and sheets, but will also cover up your dryer and dryer ducts. This will reduce your dryer's lifetime and create layers of harmful particles that will dissolve and deposit on your next load of laundry. Using plastic balls in your dryer you are exposing yourself and your family to an unnecessary source of potentially harmful chemicals.

Wool dryer balls are also quieter, and are more gentle on fabrics than plastic dryer balls with nubs.

Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are hand made for fair wages in Nepal, and are not mass produced in China like most of the other wool dryer balls. Our artisans are people - mostly women - from underprivileged communities living in the Himalayan Valley of Kathmandu.

We believe that the best product should not only be made with the best materials, but also made with love, in the best ethical and environmental conditions by passionate people like our artisans.

You can watch our "making of" video to see how Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are made, and the amount of love that goes into their making!

Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls soak up moisture in your dryer by absorbing up to 30% of their weight in water. Plus, their movement in the dryer helps separate your clothes and sheets allowing air and heat to circulate and dry them faster. As your laundry dries, the dryer balls fluff and evenly redistribute humidity in the dryer eliminating wrinkles, reducing static cling and providing a softer feel to your fabrics. The result is a quicker drying time, softer and more manageable laundry, all with less energy used, and more money in your pocket! Watch a short "How Do They Work?" video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-tS6NOSl5w/

You can use 4 for small loads and 6 for full loads, but we suggest using 6+ all the time because it will shorten your drying time even more. In general, the more the better.

They will last for years! Your Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are reusable for 2000+ loads. Most people will use them for 2 to 5 years depending on how much laundry they do.

Yes they are! And so is the storage drawstring bag they come in! :)

Super easy! Just toss them in the dryer with your laundry, and always use a moisture-sensitive setting on your dryer. You can also stop the dryer 5-10 minutes before the end of its normal cycle. Do not over dry. Remember that over drying will produce static cling.

Store them in a well ventilated area. Never store them in plastic. Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls come in a charming and handy organic cotton gift bag that is also ideal to store them. Many people prefer to just leave the balls in the dryer and use the bag for other purposes.

You will need to replace your Eco Dryer Balls when the felt will start to loosen up. You will see your dryer balls become larger and softer and at some point they will eventually unravel. Keep in mind that this won't happen for a very very long time! Probably 2 to 4 years but it depends on how many loads you do a day.

If you think it is time to change your Eco Dryer Balls consider repurposing the old ones before composting them. With a few drops of essential oil they make great fabric fresheners when placed in drawers and closets. If you have pets, try offering them your old dryer balls, they make great pet toys! For more ideas on how to repurpose old Eco Dryer Balls don't forget to check out the specific "repurpose" FAQ - last question here on this same page! :)

Yes, you can! Just remember to use the Eco Dryer Balls only during the drying cycle. Add the dryer balls when the drying cycle starts, only after the washing cycle has ended and all the water has left. As you may know Eco Dryer Balls are specific to dryers and don't like swimming in washing machines... High temperatures for prolonged times - like in regular washing cycles - have the effect of loosening the wool felt and shortening the dryer balls lifetime. To clean the dryer balls, we suggest either using a wet cloth on their surface - add soap or sanitizer if needed - either hand washing them in soapy lukewarm water.

Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls drawstring bags are completely organic and natural: unbleached cotton, cotton drawstrings, and soapberry seeds as closing beads. They are hand made and hand printed for fair wages in Nepal. At Friendsheep we take pride in not using synthetic fibers or plastic beads like many others do. Our products are natural and made from sustainable sources.

Friendsheep products are package free or packaged in lokta paper bags. Our Lokta paper bags are environmentally friendly, wildcrafted and traditionally hand made for fair wages by village artisans of rural Nepal, recyclable and compostable.

Lokta paper is a tree-free paper that has been used in Nepal since the 12th century and is praised for its strength and durability. Lokta paper is wildcrafted and handmade from the bark of a species of laurel bush called Daphne Papyrus, harvested in the Himalayan forest of the Nepalese highlands. Today Lokta Paper is the most environmentally friendly paper on earth, a sustainable tree-free alternative that offers a reliable source of income to paper crafting families and village communities. Lokta paper is recyclable and 100% compostable, but please choose reusing before disposing.

Yes, they definitely help remove pet hair! Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls do their magic by gently separating your laundry in the dryer, therefore allowing larger flows of air to circulate, and increasing the efficiency of your dryer. The result is a soft and fluffy laundry, with less wrinkles and tangling, reduced static cling, and no pet hair.

They are magic! But you'll still have to remove pet hair from your lint screen... ;)

Yes, they are completely scent free and chemical free, which makes Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls ideal for hypersensitive skins. Even if you don't add any fragrance, your laundry dryer balls will still leave your clothes smelling fresh. Our wool dryer balls are made of 100% New Zealand wool, which will naturally leave your clothes smelling clean. Here's a link to this FAQs answer: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_wSWX9yDG4/

Yes, definitely! You can add fragrance and essential oils to your Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls. For a fresh scented laundry just add a few drops (3-5) of your favorite essential oil to each ball before each cycle. Allow absorption for a few minutes, then toss them in the dryer with your laundry. For maximum scent effect add the essential oil towards the end of your cycle, 10 minutes before the end, on a low heat setting. Here's a link to this FAQs answer: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_wSWX9yDG4/

Yes! Absolutely! Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are totally baby safe and are ideal for sensitive skins. In fact, they are the smart choice for cloth diapers and baby laundry. They are made of 100% organic wool to the core, and do not contain any chemical or additive at all. This protects your baby's sensitive skin, and at the same time prevents the deterioration of waterproof layers in baby diapers which are otherwise damaged by the chemicals found in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners. So your cloth diapers will perform better and for a longer time. Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are also scent free and hypoallergenic, so you can choose if and which scent to add your baby laundry.

No, absolutely not! Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls DO NOT LINT! They are meant to be used on dark, light, and colored loads. We've been using them on every load for years and never had any issue. To be extra careful, on their very first use we suggest to use them on a light load in the rare case there were some loose fibers on their surface. From then on no risk of lint at all!

There are different types of wool allergies. Allergy to lanolin in the wool is very rare. Only 6% of people allergic to wool turn positive when tested for lanolin allergy. The majority of the people with wool allergies are in fact sensitive to the short bristly fibers that irritate their sensitive skin and make them feel itchy.

Either way, lanolin is washed away during the wool pre-wash. Even if trace amounts remain and you have a lanolin allergy (you'd know this because you should also be allergic to all skin care - and makeup - products that contain lanolin), it will not transfer to your clothes. As for those short bristly fibers in wool, the only way the dryer balls could cause an irritation is if you rubbed them on your skin.

Therefore if you don't touch them directly, but for example use a cloth - why not a sock - to move them around, neither lanolin nor bristly short fibers should be an issue when using our wool dryer balls. You should be able to use them safely and enjoy the results! :)

That said, we always recommend using your brand new Eco Dryer Balls for the first time on a same color load in case there were some loose wool fibers on the surface - as suggested by Friendsheep user manual - included in your purchase (Lost it? No problem! You can see it here). Therefore if you want to be extra careful we suggest that you let your dryer balls run the first time by themselves. Just slightly wet their surface and toss them in the dryer for 10-15 minutes. After that you can rest assured, your Eco Dryer Balls will never pill.

Nope, you don't! Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are hand felted with hot water and vegetable soap using only clean pre-washed and pre-carded organic wool. They don't need to be pre-washed and are completely safe to use. If you prefer to wash your dryer balls, or you will need to wash them in the future, we suggest washing them by hand with a mild soap in lukewarm water. Do not machine wash them - unless really necessary - because hot water for a prolonged time tends to loosen the wool fibers and damage the wool felt, eventually reducing your dryer balls lifetime.

Yes, they are. We use organic wool from a consortium of family owned farms in New Zealand. Unlike in Australia and China, in New Zealand farmers operate under a range of regulations that ensure very high standards of environmental protection, sustainability, animal welfare and social responsibility. New Zealand's climate is mild and sheep graze free-range in open pasture all year round. There is no flystrike, and mulesing is not practiced. Livestock exportation from New Zealand is prohibited, and this prevents the practice of horror trips on cargo ships around the world. New Zealand also leads the world in shearing technique and ability. Sheep grow wool continuously and need to be sheared once a year to better allow lambing and avoid them becoming uncomfortable, stressed, and eventually ill. Highly skilled craftsmen ensure that shearing is quick and pain-free to cause minimal stress on the animal. Our farmers believe that well-treated sheep live a happier life and will grow better wool, so they make sure their flocks are well looked after.

Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are the best fabric softener you can find. They are the healthy and organic choice, always made of 100% premium organic New Zealand wool to the core, with no low-quality center fillers as many others.

They are traditionally hand made for fair wages in Nepal using water and natural soap, and are not made by mass production in China like most other brands. The designs are needle felted with love by our savvy artisans and the balls are then sun dried. No chemicals or tricks to speed up production, ever.

Our artisans are amazing people from underprivileged communities living in the Himalayan Valley of Kathmandu. We believe that the best product should not only be made with the best materials, but also made with love, in the best ethical and environmental conditions by passionate people like our artisans.

No, absolutely not, they don't. Mulesing is a cruel practice, and is very often performed without anesthesia or pain killers. It is very common in Australia, mostly on merino sheep. At Friendsheep we are totally against mulesing and any cruelty on animals. Therefore we are very careful in sourcing our cruelty free certified wool from New Zealand farms - and not Australia, or any other country. New Zealand farmers operate under a range of regulations that ensure very high standards of environmental protection, sustainability, animal welfare and social responsibility, and our sheep graze free-range in open pasture all year round.

Yes! Our Essential Oils are cruelty free certified by Leaping Bunny. Check us out at: https://www.leapingbunny.org/brand/friendsheep

Yes! All our products are package free or have minimal packaging - usually compostable, always reusable and recyclable (as for the essential oil bottles and catnip tins). We always ship in 100% recycled and recyclable paper packaging, and we carbon offset every shipment through our partnership with carbonfund.org. If you have any specific package free request please let us know we'll make it happen!

We dye our wool with eco-friendly dyes, certified azo free, lead free, and compliant with the German Product Safety Act (ProdSG).

Sometimes, after many runs in the dryer, the heat can over-dry your wool dryer balls. They become very hard and dry, which makes them less effective at absorbing humidity. An easy way to "recharge" your dryer balls is to wash them (alone) in hot water on a gentle cycle, or to submerge them (alone) in hot water for at least 30 minutes. Then, either dry them in the dryer or air dry them (note that air drying will take longer). This will regenerate the wool and give your dryer balls a fresh recharge. Here's a link to our video on how to recharge your dryer balls: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Z-8tLvwj6/

Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls are the ideal size for softening your laundry: about 3 inches in diameter and 9.4 inches in circumference. About the size of a baseball. They are handmade so their size can slightly vary from ball to ball.

Absolutely! Our dryer balls are made of 100% wool and are completely natural, so your pet can definitely play with them. But of course expect them to get dirty and disappear into the yard! ;)

Note: As with every pet toy we recommend that you supervise at all moments your dog/pet while playing with the dryer balls, especially if they are puppies or big chewers since they may eventually break the balls. Our balls are made of pure wool to the core - and are compostable - but we definitely not recommend eating them!

They can be used as toys for toddlers and pets, as air fresheners, pin cushions and ornaments, and more. Continue reading for a few repurposing ideas, but for a comprehensive way to repurpose and/or dispose of your retired dryer balls read our blog: "10 Ways to Repurpose Your Old Dryer Balls".

If you have pets, dogs and cats love wool dryer balls! They make excellent indoor pet balls because they are softer on furniture than regular toy balls and are also less loud when bouncing. But they also make great outdoor balls - definitely more eco-friendly than almost any other pet ball.

They're great for toddlers and kids. Used as an indoor/outdoor toy ball to practice baseball, to learn to juggle, or for indoor snowball fights.

For a baby, place them in a bucket, cover it, and let the baby drum away.

For crafting, they can be covered in fabric - they are the perfect base for handmade dolls. They are fun to finger paint as a kids' activity. You can make planets out of them to hang.

If painted they can be used to decorate a vase or a bowl. Then with a few drops of essential oils, they make perfect air fresheners!

As therapy balls: put one dryer ball between the back of a recliner and the sore spot on your spine and minutely move it around to ease the pain.

Repurpose them as air fresheners or as fabric fresheners in your drawers. Just put on each dryer ball a few drops of your favorite essential oil and put them in your drawers. Put a string on them - very easy to do with a large needle - and hang them to a clothes hanger to freshen your clothes in the closet.

Of course, these are just a few ideas to repurpose your Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls. If you find new interesting ones please let us know! We love to hear new ways to repurpose and reduce waste!

Yes! All Friendsheep pet toys are completely safe and non-toxic. They're handmade for fair wages by Nepalese artisans with 100% cruelty-free New Zealand wool and colored with azo-free eco-friendly dyes. Hand felted with just warm water and vegetable soap, then sun-dried. No toxic dyes or fragrances are ever added. Made of densely felted, 100% premium wool, our eco-friendly toys are non-toxic and odor-resistant.

Our dog toy balls come in four different sizes to suit dogs of all breeds:
Small: 2" diameter - perfect for small dogs
Medium: 2.5" diameter - for medium dogs (slightly smaller than a tennis ball)
Large: 3" diameter - for large dogs (slightly larger than a baseball)
Extra Large: 3.5" diameter - for extra large dogs

Our pet toys are made of wool, so we recommend spot cleaning with a damp cloth if needed. For deeper cleaning, hand wash gently in lukewarm water with mild soap, then air dry completely. Avoid machine washing as it may affect the shape and density of the felted wool.

While our wool toys are durable and densely felted, they're designed for interactive play rather than aggressive chewing. If you have a power chewer, we recommend supervising playtime. The natural wool fibers are digestible if small amounts are ingested, but the toys are not meant to be consumed. For aggressive chewers, consider our larger, denser dog toy balls which hold up better to heavy play.

Our organic catnip is grown in the USA and packaged without any plastic. It's completely natural and chemical-free, making it safe and healthy for your cat. Organic catnip is free from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, ensuring your cat gets only the purest, most potent catnip for maximum enjoyment and stimulation.

Yes! Catnip can be refilled in our toys and kitty caves. We sell organic catnip in convenient tins that you can use to refresh your cat's favorite toys. Simply add fresh catnip to keep the fun going! Shop our organic catnip here: https://www.friendsheepwool.com/products/organic-catnip-tin

With proper care and normal play, our pet toys can last for years. The durability depends on how your pet plays with them - interactive batting and chasing will extend their life considerably compared to aggressive chewing. Many customers report their pets have enjoyed the same toys for several years. At the end of their life, our toys are fully compostable, so they never have to end up in a landfill!

Absolutely! If you don't have a pet, or want to repurpose old toys, they make excellent eco fabric fresheners. Just add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to freshen dry laundry, closets, duffle bags, or your car. Our Sporty Pet Toys are particularly popular as fresheners!

We offer FREE ground shipping on all U.S. orders over $50. For orders under $50, we charge a flat rate of $5.95. All orders are shipped plastic-free, and each shipment is carbon offset through our partnership with carbonfund.org.

West Coast: Orders typically arrive within 1-3 business days
East Coast: Orders typically arrive within 3-5 business days
Orders placed by 12 pm Pacific time ship the same day (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays)
All orders are processed and fulfilled within 24 hours after the order is placed, except on weekends and major holidays

Yes! We ship worldwide. The cost of international shipping is automatically calculated at checkout and depends on your destination country and carrier choice. International delivery times vary by location.

Most orders ship within 24 hours of being placed (Monday-Friday). Orders placed by 12 pm Pacific time typically ship the same day. Weekend orders ship on Monday. After your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with tracking information.

Once your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with tracking information. You can use this tracking number to follow your package's journey. We ship via USPS Priority Mail and UPS Ground, depending on package dimensions.

Yes, we ship to both PO boxes and APO/FPO addresses.

Yes, but only if your order hasn't been fulfilled yet. Since we typically ship within 24 hours, please contact us at hello@friendsheepwool.com immediately if you need to change your shipping address.

We replace lost or damaged packages free of charge. We may request documentation to help with the refund process from the carrier. If you believe your package is lost or arrived damaged, please contact us at hello@friendsheepwool.com as soon as possible.

Yes! All our products are package-free or packaged in minimal, compostable packaging. We always ship in 100% recycled and recyclable paper packaging, never plastic. We're committed to minimizing our environmental impact at every step.

We offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If 30 days have passed since your purchase, unfortunately we cannot offer a refund or exchange. To be eligible for a return:
- Products must be in sellable condition
- Multi-packs must be returned with all parts included
- A receipt, order number, or proof of purchase is required
- Only products sold directly through our website are eligible for return

To return an item, please:
1. Contact us at hello@friendsheepwool.com to initiate your return
2. Mail your item to: Friendsheep - Returns, 42044 Winchester Rd, Suite C, Temecula, CA 92590
3. Include your order number or proof of purchase
4. Once we receive and inspect your return, we'll email you about the approval or rejection of your refund

Yes, customers are responsible for return shipping costs. Shipping costs are non-refundable. However, if you received a defective or damaged item, we cover the return shipping. If you're shipping an item over $75, we recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance.

If your item is defective or damaged, we'll cover the return shipping and provide a replacement or full refund at no cost to you. Please contact us at hello@friendsheepwool.com with photos of the damage if possible, and we'll make it right immediately.

Yes! As long as the product is in good, sellable condition and you're within the 30-day window, you can return it for a full refund (minus shipping costs). We want you to love your Friendsheep products!

Once your return is received and inspected, we'll notify you by email. If your refund is approved, it will be processed and a credit will automatically be applied to your original method of payment within 7 days.

Yes! We're happy to help with exchanges. Think of it as a return and reorder—you'll return the item at your expense (shipping is non-refundable), and then place a new order for what you'd like instead. Please contact us at hello@friendsheepwool.com and let us know what you'd like to exchange, and we'll guide you through the process.

Yes! If you prefer store credit instead of a refund to your original payment method, we're happy to provide that. Just let us know when you initiate your return.

We accept all major credit cards and the standard payment methods available through our checkout system. Your payment information is secure - we never see or store your credit card information.

You can cancel or modify your order, but only if it hasn't been fulfilled yet. Since most orders ship within 24 hours (and same-day for orders placed before 12 pm Pacific), please contact us immediately at hello@friendsheepwool.com if you need to make changes.

Yes! Gift cards are available for purchase on our website. They make the perfect eco-friendly gift for anyone who loves sustainable products.

Yes! When checking out, you can select a gift option that includes one of our eco cards. These cards are printed on 100% recycled paper with eco-friendly inks, and two trees are planted toward permanent reforestation for every card purchased. The cards are blank, so you can add your personal message during checkout.

All Friendsheep products are lovingly handmade in Nepal by women and disabled artisans from underprivileged communities in the Himalayan Valley of Kathmandu. They're designed in the USA and sourced from cooperatives and factories that enforce fair trade and cruelty-free practices. We guarantee fair wages, medical care, education, and ethical working conditions for all our artisans.

For every item purchased, we plant one tree toward permanent reforestation! Thanks to this pledge, together with our customers we have planted over 1 million trees. We're proud members of 1% for the Planet and partners with Eden: People+Planet. We're committed to restoring forests, protecting biodiversity, fighting climate change, and supporting local communities for a healthier, greener future.

We take responsibility for our products throughout their entire life cycle. If you're ready to replace your old dryer balls or other Friendsheep products, we'll help you find a graceful end of life for them. If the balls are still intact, we donate them to animal rescues so their residents can play with fun, non-toxic toys. Learn more about our Take Back Program: https://www.friendsheepwool.com/pages/take-back-program

Yes! All orders ship plastic-free and carbon-neutral. We carbon offset every shipment through our partnership with carbonfund.org. From production to packaging to shipping, we're committed to minimizing our environmental impact at every step.

We work directly with cooperatives and small factories in Nepal that we personally know and trust. We guarantee fair wages, medical care, and education for our artisans. We believe the best products are made with love by passionate people earning fair wages in ethical working conditions. Our artisans are not just workers - they're the heart of Friendsheep.

Cruelty-Free Certified: Our wool comes from New Zealand farms that operate under strict regulations ensuring high standards of animal welfare
Leaping Bunny Certified: Our Essential Oils are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny
1% for the Planet Members: We donate a portion of our proceeds to environmental nonprofits
Fair Trade Practices: All products are made under fair trade conditions with guaranteed fair wages.

We give back approximately 20% of our proceeds to environmental nonprofits including: Hope for Paws, Funds for Animals, Global Wildlife Conservation, The Humane Society, The Nature Conservancy, Eden Reforestation Projects, Carbonfund.org, Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, Ocean Conservancy, and many others.

We determined that the only kind of packaging we'll use is completely plastic-free. By using post-consumer materials that are recyclable and compostable, we're committed to minimizing our environmental impact. Many of our products are package-free, and when we do use packaging, it's made from materials like lokta paper - an eco-friendly, tree-free paper handmade in Nepal that's been used since the 12th century.

Yes! We offer wholesale pricing for retailers interested in carrying Friendsheep products in their stores. For wholesale inquiries and pricing information, please visit: https://www.friendsheepwool.com/pages/wholesale

Absolutely! We'd love to have Friendsheep products in your store. For information about becoming a stockist and wholesale pricing, please visit our wholesale page: https://www.friendsheepwool.com/pages/wholesale

We offer a 6% commission on all purchases credited to you through our affiliate program. When you sign up, you'll receive a personalized affiliate link and a personalized coupon code (10% off for your customers). Any purchase made through your link within 30 days or using your coupon code will be credited to your account. It's a great way to earn while promoting eco-friendly, fair-trade products! Learn more and sign up: https://www.friendsheepwool.com/pages/affiliate-program

Those registered with a wholesale account are exempt from the affiliate program, but we appreciate your interest in spreading the word about Friendsheep!

Email us at hello@friendsheepwool.com anytime! Our customer service hours are 9 am to 5 pm ET Monday through Friday, but feel free to email us anytime and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

We're always happy to help! Email us at hello@friendsheepwool.com with any questions, comments, or concerns. We love hearing from our customers! :)

We're in select retail locations! To find a store near you, check out our store locator or contact us for the latest list of stockists.

Yes! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @friendsheepwool to see our latest products, customer photos, sustainability initiatives, and behind-the-scenes content from our artisans in Nepal.