The dryer balls from Feluna® made a very good impression in our test. They are an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fabric softeners for the tumble dryer. They are made by hand from natural virgin sheep’s wool and soften the laundry in a natural way. Using dryer balls saves time, energy and money, thus protecting the environment and your wallet. The dryer balls are also particularly durable and can be used up to 1000 times . They are also hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin . A further advantage is that static charge is reduced and creasing is prevented. When unpacking, aslight chemical smell was noticed, which came from the print of the sheep’s faces, but this dissipated after a short time. There may also be a slight build-up of fluff, as this is a natural material. However, this does not affect its functionality. The application is simple, quick and suitable for various items such as cushions, jackets, blankets etc.
Advantages
✅ Natural fabric softener without chemicals made from 100% sheep’s wool
✅ Saves dryer time, energy and costs
✅ Sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative
✅ Can be reused up to 1000 times
✅ Hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin
✅ Reduces static electricity and prevents wrinkles
Disadvantages
❌ Slight chemical odor on the printed sheep faces of the balls
❌ Dryer balls fluff slightly before first use
The first impression
Packaging and contents
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be guaranteed. Are the contents of the packaging complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Carton is sturdy, product sufficiently protected | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | Plastic packaging can be dispensed with, cloth bags are sufficient | 90 points |
| Package contents & scope | 6 dryer balls, cloth bag | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | Written in German, easy to understand | 100 points |
| Total | 97.5 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The dryer balls are delivered in a classic shipping box in which they are well protected . The packaging contains an attractive cloth bag with six balls, printed with a sheep’s face and packed in an additional plastic bag. For reasons of sustainability, the plastic packaging could be dispensed with. The fabric bag not only has the function of storing the dryer balls, it also has instructions for use printed on the fabric bag in German, which are very attractively designed. The use of the dryer balls is explained simply and straightforwardly. All in all, this is a very well thought-out and customer-friendly way of sending a product.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the workmanship of the products. How high quality are the materials used? Are the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | modern, appealing, dryer balls with printed sheep faces | 100 points |
| Processing | high quality, slight fluffing, print with inherent odor | 80 points |
| Stability | Very stable, retains its shape | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | 100% sheep’s wool, reusable dryer balls and cloth bags | 100 points |
| Total | 95 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The dryer balls from Feluna® impress at first glance with the attractive, modern and easy-to-read design of the fabric bag. The design of the dryer balls with a printed sheep’s face also matches this. The workmanship of the balls is of high quality and all the balls are roughly the same size. However, we noticed a slight inherent smell of paint where the sheep ‘s face is printed. We noticed a slight build-up of fluff before the first use, but this was not annoying. The dryer balls are well felted and prove to be stable, so that they can hardly be squeezed with bare hands. The sustainability of the product is particularly positive, as it is made from 100% sheep’s wool and the balls can be reused up to 1000 times. The fabric bag is also reusable.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test has the highest relevance and therefore weighting. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Simple implementation, no noise generation | 100 points |
| Odor | No inherent odor, fragrance can be added with essential oils | 100 points |
| Effectiveness | Reduction in drying time, softer towels, looser pillow, fewer wrinkles | 100 points |
| Durability | slight fluffing at the beginning, shape is retained, resistant to heat, face of the sheep fades | 80 points |
| Total | 95 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The use of Feluna® dryer balls is clearly indicated and easy to implement. Four balls are required for a medium load of laundry and six balls for a full drum load . We noticed a slight build-up of fluff during the first wash cycle, which decreased with each subsequent drying cycle. The balls are surprisingly quiet during the drying process and do not significantly affect the noise level. The heat resistance and dimensional stability were also striking. However, it was found that after the first three drying cycles, the printed sheep’s face faded slightly and the balls became a little firmer, but this did not affect their effectiveness. The smell of the washed textiles remained neutral, but we successfully tested the possibility of applying a few drops of essential oil to the balls to obtain a pleasant scent . Drying time was reduced by almost half, especially for pillows and blankets, and became looser, towels became noticeably softer and garments showed fewer creases. Using the dryer balls proved to be very user-friendly and storing them in the cloth bag was practical.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we examine how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also look at the consumer reviews and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | very good | 90 points |
| Rating cut | 4.4 out of 5.0 on Amazon | 70 points |
| Total | 80 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
On the Amazon platform, consumers rate the Feluna® dryer balls product with an average of 4.4 stars. Many customers praise the even drying and loosening of the down in pillows, blankets or jackets. The option of sprinkling the balls with essential oils to freshen up the laundry and give it a personal fragrance is also highly appreciated. The quietness of the dryer balls compared to plastic dryer balls is also positively emphasized. However, some customers complain about the initial chemical smell or that they could not notice any difference in the drying time. Nevertheless, our practical test confirmed that the dryer balls keep their advertising promises in terms of drying time, softness and user-friendliness. The dryer balls offer an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution for softer and fluffier laundry.
Prices of up to €42.95 are charged on the Internet for equivalent products. Very inexpensive products are available from as little as € 5.19. The dryer balls from Feluna® are therefore currently in the lower price segment with a price of €13.99. For the quality and performance received, the price-performance ratio is good.
Overall result
| Weighting | Score achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & contents | 20% | 98 points |
| 2. product processing & appearance | 20% | 95 points |
| 3. in the practical test | 45% | 95 points |
| 4. price/performance & consumer ratings | 15% | 80 points |
| Total | 93 points |
