LAUNDRY BALLS FROM SCRAPS
I know you have watched various advertisements, and some blogs where the new LAUNDRY BALLS are all the go. I had some velcro laundry balls years ago which were horrible, but the cat loves them. They were supposed to take off lint, which they did, but they also got the clothes into a huge tangle around them. I tried a number of times, and then thought "Good try, FAIL".
Then a while ago, I was watching an America program and noticed FELT LAUNDRY BALLS being recommended. Not all of us can make felt balls, but even the most craft handicapped among us can wind wool into a ball. And that is you need to be able to do.
METHOD
1. You will need scrap WOOL. You can have knots and joins, so you use scraps. Synthetic fibres will not work long term. Wool balls get better as they get older.
2. Wind the wool into a ball about half way between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball. They will fit into a fist with your fingers and thumb touching over the entire ball. Not too big, not too small. Golf ball size would work, tennis ball size? too big. I started with THREE balls which is the number most adverts sell. In the picture, you can see a ball under construction tied off in a stocking, some just finished waiting to be put in a stocky (yellow) and a grey and two beige multis which are quite old.
3. Get an old stocking or knee high and put one tightly into the toe, twist to make sure the ball is tightly into the stocking, and wind some wool around the twist to keep the ball secure, as in the photo. Repeat three times.
4. You now have a string of three balls in a stocking, each ball tightly secures with a tie off between each. YOU HAVE TO FELT THEM.
5. Put it in a jug of BOILING water to cover the balls if you are microwaving or a saucepan if using stove top, and bring the water to the boil,
*take off the stove or microwave, empty off the hot water replace with cold,
*and leave, replacing the water until the water and the balls are cold,
*then squeeze and add boiling water and boil.
*Repeat three times to felt up the wool.
*Squeeze out all the water after the last round, and hang until dry (I hang in front of my heater). Peel off the stocking, and there you are - your very own laundry balls.
When you are tumble drying, you can use them dry, or you can add a drop or two of perfumed oil, or quickly run under water to dampen them, which will get creases out of your clothes. They are magic. I love putting some of my perfume on them so my clothes smell fragrant.
Then a while ago, I was watching an America program and noticed FELT LAUNDRY BALLS being recommended. Not all of us can make felt balls, but even the most craft handicapped among us can wind wool into a ball. And that is you need to be able to do.
METHOD
1. You will need scrap WOOL. You can have knots and joins, so you use scraps. Synthetic fibres will not work long term. Wool balls get better as they get older.
2. Wind the wool into a ball about half way between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball. They will fit into a fist with your fingers and thumb touching over the entire ball. Not too big, not too small. Golf ball size would work, tennis ball size? too big. I started with THREE balls which is the number most adverts sell. In the picture, you can see a ball under construction tied off in a stocking, some just finished waiting to be put in a stocky (yellow) and a grey and two beige multis which are quite old.
3. Get an old stocking or knee high and put one tightly into the toe, twist to make sure the ball is tightly into the stocking, and wind some wool around the twist to keep the ball secure, as in the photo. Repeat three times.
4. You now have a string of three balls in a stocking, each ball tightly secures with a tie off between each. YOU HAVE TO FELT THEM.
5. Put it in a jug of BOILING water to cover the balls if you are microwaving or a saucepan if using stove top, and bring the water to the boil,
*take off the stove or microwave, empty off the hot water replace with cold,
*and leave, replacing the water until the water and the balls are cold,
*then squeeze and add boiling water and boil.
*Repeat three times to felt up the wool.
*Squeeze out all the water after the last round, and hang until dry (I hang in front of my heater). Peel off the stocking, and there you are - your very own laundry balls.
When you are tumble drying, you can use them dry, or you can add a drop or two of perfumed oil, or quickly run under water to dampen them, which will get creases out of your clothes. They are magic. I love putting some of my perfume on them so my clothes smell fragrant.
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