In LooHoo We Trust

Since launching LooHoo Wool Dryer balls in 2010, I’ve heard this observation a handful of times: There’s so many wool dryer balls out there. How are LooHoos different?

Simply put: LooHoos are made in the USA.

While most dryer ball brands claim to be all natural and sustainable, much of their wool is sourced from farms in New Zealand and then crafted in Nepal before they’re imported into the United States. While this process may benefit countries overseas, it robs our own of financial support.

Whether made here or abroad, high-quality wool dryer balls ensure the same things: cut down time in the dryer, reduce wrinkles and static and soften clothes without using harsh ingredients or fragrances.

According to a Consumer Report survey, 80 percent of American consumers say they prefer American-made products while 60 percent say they’re willing to pay 10 percent more for those items. Some prefer America’s higher quality and safer materials; others want to boost their country’s economy and workforce.

When I came up with the idea of LooHoos, I was driven by social responsibility. I wanted a product that was gentler on the environment than toxic dryer sheets and chemical fabric softeners that also supported the local economy.

At first, I tried alpaca and purchased some from a local farm. The dryer balls I made from the alpaca fell apart and I realized that that material would not be durable enough. I went to the Common Ground Fair and purchased wool from Bartlettyarns,a historic wool mill in central Maine, and started to test their wool.

It was the best wool felting and such great quality.

In addition to their quality, there’s really only one large mill in the state so it was an easy choice. The facility is over 200 years old and when you visit the mill, it’s like stepping back in time—I think some of the equipment has been used for decades. Bartlettyarns dates back to 1821 when Ozias Bartlett started a carding mill along the banks of Higgins Stream. Operating until the 1920s, the original building burned and a new building was constructed with all modern conveniences, such as electricity. The spinning mule operates daily and is the last remaining within the United States.

Maine is such a special place with great resources and I’m so grateful that this product that we’ve made for over 14 years continues to be made here. 

LooHoos are made in Camden by local women in the communityusing a unique manufacturing technique that makes them so durable they will last hundreds of loads. The three-plus-year lifespan also allows consumers to cut down on overconsumption that ends up in landfills.

Being a maker is something that I value and knowing that we create LooHoos by hand in Maine is such a wonderful part of the LooHoo brand. Today our dryer balls are made entirely with 100 percent domestic wool sourced from sheep farmers that raise their sheep humanely. They have a strict policy that supports animal welfare standards and encourages and supports the farmers they buy from who use best management practices as established by the USDA. We are committed to using only American wool to support American Sheep Farms and the U.S. Farming Industry.

In addition to wool dryer balls, LooHoo’s line of all-natural, made in Maine products includes wool tug toys for pets, reusable cotton mesh bags and laundry bags made with hemp, organic cotton and a recycled polyester blend.

We also aim to partner with like-minded retailers like The Green Store in Belfast, Maine, that sells simple, practical products to help people live an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, and GoGo Refill in South Portland, Maine, where you can find package-free, zero-waste household items created by women-owned businesses.

Shopping local supports economic growth and keeps our communities thriving. Transportation emissions are lower and more jobs are available. You know that feeling you get at the farmer’s market—the personal interaction and satisfaction knowing you’re helping these small businesses thrive? That’s buying local. The more you choose to buy products made in the USA, the more smiles you’ll see when you shop. And the more you’ll be smiling, knowing you’re supporting one of your own.