BY MARYANNE SOROKA
Echoview Fiber Mill is a fiber processing and spinning mill located just 15 minutes north of Asheville, NC. The Mill was built in 2012 and in 2013 received Gold LEED certification, meaning that the facility meets some of the highest environmental standards in the industry. Echoview works sustainability into all of their practices, and their Wool Dryer Balls fit into that mission perfectly as a natural product that will not only detox your laundry and save electricity, but also give back to the community by supporting students, stay-at-home moms, artists, and caregivers with flexible and relaxing part-time work.
Echoview Fiber Mill’s Wool Dryer Balls are the perfect addition to your spring cleaning plans, because they soften and fluff your laundry, decrease wrinkles, and can shorten your dryer cycle by up to 25%!
Wool Dryer Balls live in your dryer and bounce around with your clothes during the drying cycle. They replace the need for fabric softeners and dryer sheets that can be loaded with unpleasant chemicals, and last for well over a year, saving you money over the long run.
The best part of using the dryer balls is that they can actually make laundry a little more fun! When you take your clothes out of the dryer, you get a fun little Easter Egg hunt for them (check pant legs!). Echoview’s Wool Dryer Balls can also be paired with essential oils to help give your laundry a signature scent. Echoview suggests pairing sheets and bed linens with lavender for a good night’s sleep; pine or grapefruit with your clothes for an uplifting scent; and tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils with towels for a spa vibe. Simply drip a few drops of your essential oil onto the dryer balls before the laundry cycle, let the oil absorb into the wool, and then toss into the dryer with your wet clothes.
Dryer balls are completely natural and handmade in Western North Carolina, using 100% American Wool, by a group of Community Makers. Echoview has reached out to members of their community who are looking for flexible work that can be done in their own home. The Makers form the wool balls at home on a schedule that works in their lives, and then drop them off at the mill where they get felted and finished. The Makers enjoy being on a team and making an income, without the strict demands of having a job with set hours.
If you are in the Asheville area, you can visit Echoview’s Store to shop for alpaca, wool or cotton blankets, yarns, knit kits and eco-friendly cleaning supplies at 76 Jupiter Rd, Weaverville, NC. They have craft classes, workshops, and community craft nights, as well as free tours every Friday at 1:00 PM. Visit their website at www.echoviewnc.com for store hours and to check out their products online. You can also scoop up your very own set of wool dryer balls at your local Lowes Foods, Whole Foods, and Harris Teeter.
