Anyone use these washer/dryer ball things?
 

My Aunt gave us these washer/dryer ball things. Supposidly they help wash things better and dry things faster. I guess it makes sense with the dryer as it'll create more air pockets and fluff things around more, and generally the same with the washer.

Anyone else use these things?

http://ecorenovator.org/pictures/house225.jpg

I've been using these:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

I think they're good. There is a noticeable difference over using nothing. I'm unsure if they're better or worse than dryer sheets. According to the Amazon reviews, though, tennis balls work just as well.

^ lol, i have tons of tennis balls, maybe i'll try that.

my wife's been wondering about the ones you have, palemelanesian.

We use the same type of things that Pale uses. My wife never uses bounce sheets or any of that junk anymore, especially for our kids clothes. It works great. I never have static cling. I'm pretty sure they are better for you then the chemically dipped sheets that people throw in the dryer all the time, and it saves money since you don't have to buy sheets all the time.

we use the spiky blue balls in the dryer-- I don't know if the clothes get drier per se, because we didn't monitor usage carefully without the balls.

but I can say for certain that the clothes come out softer. And I get the feeling that the dryer does work a little faster. I've also noticed that there are less "moist spots" in pockets or sleeves - I guess that is because the balls whack 'em and don't let them stay folded upon themselves as much.

The softness advantage is extra helpful as we frequently line-dry everything, then throw it in the dryer for less than 5 minutes to soften/fluff/make sure it dried through (the washer washes faster than the line dries, usually).