We all love our pets, especially cats and dogs. They share our homes and our lives and for many people, they are like one of the family.
But, for me, there is one big downside of being a pet owner – all the fur. It seems to get everywhere and getting rid of it can be a bit of a chore.
Even when you’ve put your clothes through the wash you can find that they come out covered in hair. Which is one of the reasons I love using dryer balls. They easily get rid of the fluff!
Do Dryer Balls Help With Pet Hair?
Dryer balls do a great job of removing pet hair from your garments. When dryer balls are used in the dryer they will bounce and rub against your clothes. As they do this, pet hairs will be removed from your clothes and stick to the balls.
The pet hairs will eventually be collected in the lint tray and you will have lovely fur-free clothes once more.
Not only that, you’ll also be able to enjoy the other benefits of using dryer balls. Your clothes will come out softer, less wrinkly, and static-free.
On top of this, the biggest benefit of all is time saved and lower energy costs as your drying time will be reduced. Good for the planet and your pocket!
The Top 10 Dryer Balls For Pet Hair
I’ve tried a few different types of dryer balls, but as they last for up to 10 years, I didn’t want to be wasteful by buying more. So, I asked all the pet owners I know what kind of dryer balls they use and how they found them. I also read through thousands of online reviews to come up with this guide to the bets dryer balls for pet hair.
Winner 🏆
These extra-large Ecoigy wool dryer balls are without a doubt the best for removing dog and cat hair from clothes.
These top-quality balls have been made using 100% New Zealand wool and are all-natural and 100% organic. They are fragrance-free (you can always add your own essential oils) and hypoallergenic which means that they are suitable for babies and anyone with sensitive skin.
These wool dryer balls will leave your clothes naturally soft without the need for dryer sheets or fabric softeners. They speed up drying time by 20-40% so you will save money on electricity.
Pros:
- Organic
- 100% New Zealand wool
- Comes with cotton bag
- Good price
Cons:
- Made in China
2. Smart Sheep Dryer Balls
Smart Sheep award-winning wool dryer balls were one of the first on the market and have been featured on numerous high-profile TV shows. They are manufactured using ethical fair trade policies.
They use New Zealand wool but are handmade in Nepal in a joint venture that provides work opportunities for marginalized women. They are packaged and inspected in the USA by work-at-home moms.
These dryer balls are better-made than many of the alternatives and hold up to repeated use without unraveling. They also smell pleasant and keep their shape. When it comes to pet hair, the general consensus is that they remove almost all of it, but you may still need to use a lint brush for stragglers.
Pros:
- Premium New Zealand wool
- Ethically sourced and produced
Cons:
- May smell of sheep when new
- Plastic packaging
- More expensive
3. Friendsheep Dryer Ball Penguins
If you find white wool dryer balls look a little, well, boring. Then give these Friendsheep ones a try. They are made to look like penguins, and I think that they’re super cute.
It’s not all about the look though, they are still high-quality wool dryer balls made from 100% New Zealand wool and they are ethically made in Nepal. They keep their shape well and will last you for several years before they need to be replaced.
Pros:
- 100% New Zealand wool
- Chemical-free
- Kids will love the look of them
Cons:
- Kids might love them too much
- More expensive
4. Colorsheng Plastic Dryer Balls
If you prefer not to use dryer balls made from wool then you can get all of the same benefits from using plastic ones, including the removal of pet hair to some degree. That said, the hair doesn’t stick to these balls as well as it does to the wool ones.
In this pack of Colorsheng dryer balls, you get six tennis ball-sized spiky plastic drying balls – they should last for around 1000 uses. Plastic dryer balls are not as eco-friendly as wool ones as they aren’t made from a sustainable natural product, but they are more environmentally friendly than using single-use dryer sheets and fabric softener and they are the ethical choice for vegans.
Pros:
- Vegan-friendly
- Non-toxic
- Cheap
Cons:
- Not the best for pet hair
- Made of plastic
5. Grand Fusion Per Hair Remover Dryer Balls
Grand Fusion dryer balls are specifically aimed at removing pet hair from your clothes rather than being all-purpose balls like the rest. Some people use these alongside other types of dryer ball to get the best of both worlds and have been very pleased with the performance.
While many users have been happy with the performance of the foam balls, others have reported that they fall apart and pieces of foam have got stuck in their clothing so they may not be quite as reliable as the alternatives. They’re also a little more expensive.
Pros:
- Specially designed for pet hair
- Vegan-friendly
Cons:
- Not as long lasting
- Made of plastic
- More expensive
6. Wooly Heroes Dryer Balls
So, you don’t like boring old white wool dryer balls but only like penguins a little bit? How about these adorable Wooly Heroes – where you get just one penguin and his five different animal friends?
Once again these are top quality New Zealand wool and ethically and fairly traded. They do everything you want of a dryer ball and look cute at the same time. As an extra bonus – you can play a game of guess the animal as you try and work out exactly what animal each of the creatures is supposed to be.
Pros:
- Top quality
- Adorable animals
- Ethically made
Cons:
- Smell a bit like sheep
- Most expensive
- Not the best for pet hair
7. Friendsheep Dryer Ball Bumble Bees
Ok, so you don’t want plain white dryer balls, but you really don’t want to have any penguins anywhere near your laundry. Not even one penguin with his cute friends. I get it, not everyone likes penguins.
So how about these bright little bumblebee balls. They are the same as the Friendsheep penguins, but, you guessed it, they look like bees!
They do exactly the same job, but somehow they cost a little more than the penguin variety, which is weird.
Pros:
- 100% pure New Zealand
- No penguins in sight
Cons:
- Pricier than plain ones
- No penguins in sight (ok, I admit it, I like penguins)
8. Plastic Hedgehog Dryer Balls
Who says plastic can’t be cute! If you are not keen on having wool dryer balls – perhaps you are vegan and don’t want to use an animal product – but still want a cute dryer ball then this could be the option for you.
These cute hedgehog-shaped dryer balls certainly look the part and the natural spikiness of a hedgehog means that they work well. They are a bit on the small side and there are only three of them, so I think the best option is to use these alongside some round plastic dryer balls.
Pros:
- Vegan friendly
- Cute
- Cheap
Cons:
- Small
- Don’t remove all pet hair
- Not as eco-friendly
9. Natural Alpaca Dryer Balls
If you like the idea of wool dryer balls, you don’t have to restrict yourself to just sheep’s wool.
These ones are made from 100% alpaca wool which is more hypoallergenic than sheep’s wool, making them perfect for babies or anyone with sensitive skin. These alpaca dryer balls are dye-free which means that they have a very natural look.
They are very sustainably produced as they have been hand-made in the USA using leftover fibers that would otherwise have gone to waste.
Pros:
- Good for sensitive skin
- Ethically made
- Made in USA
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can look dirty as not bleached
10. LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls
Ok, so you like wool dryer balls but you don’t want boring white ones. You don’t like penguins, or bees, or a collection of different animals.
You like the idea of using dryer balls made in the USA but don’t want ones that look too natural (and you don’t like white ones remember) or that are made from alpaca wool. Then maybe I have finally found the perfect wool dryer ball for you.
These Loo Hoo dryer balls are made in the USA with wool from American farms and they are available in a nice range of pastel shades. They also do a pretty decent job of removing pet hair from your clothes, according to online reviews.
Pros:
- Pretty colors
- Ethically made
- Made in USA
Cons:
- Expensive
- Only 3 balls
My Recommendation
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this post about the best dryer balls for pet hair.
I really think that we should all be using dryer balls as they have so many benefits and are much cheaper and more eco-friendly than alternatives like single-use dryer sheets and fabric softener.
I have tried to include something for everyone in this list and to be honest they will all do the job that you want them to., although some are better at removing pet hair than others.
The best dryer balls for pet owners are without a doubt the Ecoigy wool dryer balls. They also happen to be one of the cheapest, which is great.
I do also love the Friendsheep dryer balls as I really like their quality and the cute animal designs. They have plain ones, colored ones and a whole range of different creatures to choose from but for me there can be only one winner. The penguins!