7 Easy Ways to Keep Sheets from Balling Up In the Dryer − Recommended by Laundry Experts

There's nothing more frustrating than opening the dryer to find your bed sheets twisted into a giant ball, trapping every towel, pillowcase, and T-shirt inside. It's a common laundry annoyance, but according to experts, it's also one of the easiest problems to prevent.

The solution comes down to a few simple tweaks, from shaking out your sheets before they go in the dryer to adding dryer balls and using a lower heat setting to reduce tangling as the fabric tumbles.

Here, they share the seven simple steps that make washing and drying bed linen easier than ever.

1. Always Shake Your Sheets Out Before They Go into the Dryer

A twin bedroom with blue and white gingham headboards, white bedding, matching cushions, and a ceramic lamp with blue lampshade on a dark wood nightstand between the beds.

A simple shake is the easiest fix.

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

'If there’s one laundry complaint I hear all the time, it’s, “Why do my sheets always come out of the dryer in one giant ball?”' says Rechelle Balanzat, Laundry Expert and Founder and CEO of Juliette, an NYC-based premium laundry service. 'It happens more often than people think, and it doesn’t just make your laundry frustrating; it also keeps parts of your sheets damp, creates more wrinkles, and can even make your dryer work harder than it needs to.'

The easiest fix? Giving your sheets a quick shake before putting them in your dryer.

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'This is my number one recommendation because it’s so simple and it really works,' she explains. 'Giving your sheets a good shake helps release any twists that formed during the wash cycle, so they have a better chance of tumbling freely instead of wrapping around themselves.'

And, as Alicia Sokolowski, Cleaning and Laundry Expert and President and Co-CEO of AspenClean, adds, 'By having separated sheets, this provides more airflow throughout the dryer, making it less likely that the sheets will wrap around one another.'

That added airflow also means your sheets dry quicker, helping, in turn, to cut energy bills at the same time.

2. Use Dryer Balls to Separate Fabrics

A burgundy laundry room with stacked appliances

Dryer balls reduce wrinkles and shorten drying times.

Next, advises Rechelle, you should be using dryer balls. 'I recommend dryer balls to just about everyone,' she says. 'They help separate the fabric as the dryer turns, which keeps sheets from clumping together. As a bonus, they can shorten drying time, soften fabrics naturally, and help reduce wrinkles without using dryer sheets.'

In terms of how many you'll need, Alicia shares that you should use three dryer balls, such as the Evriholder 100% Wool Dryer Balls, available at Walmart, for a small or medium load, and up to six for a larger load, assuming the drum isn't overloaded.

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And, if you're interested in the tennis ball vs dryer ball debate, it's always worth investing in the real thing rather than risk introducing potential toxins into your laundry routine.

3. Choose a Lower Heat Setting

washing machine with cabinets and sink

Higher heat settings guarantee damage rather than a faster drying time.

(Image credit: Future PLC)

'Many people think higher heat means faster drying, but that’s not always the case,' warns Rechelle. 'I recommend using a medium or low heat setting because it gives the sheets more time to tumble freely instead of tightening up and sticking together. It’s also much gentler on your bedding and helps it last longer.'

Therefore, if you've invested in some of the best luxury bed sheets (our favorites are from Matouk, available at Nordstrom), you can rest assured that they won't end up pilling and damaged.

4. Stop the Dryer Halfway Through the Cycle

laundry room with wooden drying rack and shirt

Pausing the dryer gives you a chance to shake out any tangles before they get worse.

(Image credit: Future PLC)

To avoid any tumble dryer mistakes when drying bed sheets, Alicia recommends starting the dryer, waiting about 15 to 20 minutes, and then pausing the cycle.

'Take out the sheets and unravel any tangling that might have started,' she says. 'Shake each piece out and then return all the bedding loosely to the dryer and continue the cycle. This method helps break up a ball before the inner layers remain trapped and damp for the remainder of the cycle.'

As Rechelle adds, 'It's a small step that can save you from finding damp sheets at the end of the cycle.'

5. Dry Sheets Separately from Towels and Heavier Items

A bright orange laundry room with a white basin and brown wooden countertops with matching washer and dryers and an antique wooden cabinet.

Drying heavy items like towels alongside bed sheets makes them ball up more.

(Image credit: Future / SIMON BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY)

'This is one mistake I see all the time,' shares Rechelle. 'Towels and heavier fabrics tend to wrap around lightweight sheets, making them ball up. I always recommend drying sheets on their own or with other lightweight bedding whenever possible.'

Additionally, says Alicia, make sure you're not overloading your dryer, either, which is another probable reason why your sheets are balling up, your dryer is getting too hot, and your laundry smells damp.

'In order for sheets to completely dry, they need to have space to lift and unfold, and dry as the dryer drum spins,' she explains.

6. Take Bed Sheets Out the Dryer as Soon as They’re Dry

Bedroom with white walls, pale pink quilt, floral curtains, and matching scalloped lamps

Don't leave your sheets sitting damp in the dryer.

(Image credit: Future)

Always promptly remove your bed sheets from the dryer as soon as they're dry to prevent them from balling up, which is a simple way to make laundry smell better, too.

'Once the dryer stops, don’t let your sheets sit inside for an hour,' advises Rechelle. 'Removing them promptly helps prevent wrinkles from setting in and keeps them looking much fresher.'

7. Keep a Wrinkle-Release Spray on Hand

A clean and tidy purple tiled laundry room with a washing machine, tumble dryer, and shelves filled with wicker storage baskets and towels.

Using wrinkle release spray is an easy way to keep sheets looking crisp.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside LTD)

Finally, adds Rechelle, 'If your sheets still have a few wrinkles, I recommend a quick mist of wrinkle-release spray,' such as the Downy Wrinkle Releaser, available at Walmart.

'Smooth the fabric with your hands, or toss the sheets back into the dryer on low heat for a few minutes. It’s an easy trick when you want your bed to look crisp without ironing.'

What to Shop

Shop from a selection of laundry and tumble drying essentials below, all of which are top-rated by customers or have been tested by us here at Homes & Gardens firsthand.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts A headshot of Rechelle Balanzat wearing a dark navy off the shoulder top against a black background Laundry Expert and Founder and CEO of Juliette

Juliette is the Founder and CEO of Juliette, a New York-based luxury laundry and dry-cleaning service. She's also a recognized graduate of the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute International.

A headshot of Alicia Sokowlowski wearing a white shirt and blue denim jacket sitting behind grass and daisies with a green leafy background Cleaning and Laundry Expert and President and Co-CEO of AspenClean

Alicia is a cleaning and laundry expert with over 15 years of experience as the President and Co-CEO of AspenClean. AspenClean provides all-natural, chemical-free cleaning services that have revolutionized the cleaning industry and changed the way people clean their homes.

'My biggest piece of advice is to focus on airflow,' concludes Rechelle. 'When your sheets have enough room to move and aren’t wrapped around themselves, they’ll dry more evenly, wrinkle less, and come out of the dryer the way they’re supposed to: Soft, fresh, and ready to go right on the bed.'

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