wadded up sheets bed sheets in dryer

The Solution for Wadded-Up Bed Sheets, Blankets, and Duvet Covers

/Updated /34 Comments/in , , /by Mary Hunt

If I’ve heard from one reader, I’ve heard from a thousand—all with the same problem. Wadded up sheets. I feel their pain because I have suffered this problem as well. So annoying. It can happen in the washer, but also in the dryer.

wadded up sheets bed sheets in dryer

My best solution, which only slightly reduces the problem, has been to launder one sheet at a time and then stop the dryer to rearrange and unroll a couple of times during the cycle. And really, that is no solution at all since it requires more time, energy, and detergent. It’s ridiculous as my washer and dryer are considered large capacity.

Big Fat Wadded-Up Mess

If I attempt to launder a set of sheets daring to throw in pillowcases as well, here’s what happens: The sheets get tangled and then roll themselves in a tight roll. The pillowcases wind up inside that big fat wad, making me wonder if they even got washed.

Untangling the wet mess before drying doesn’t help much, as the process only starts again. The end result? A big wadded-up, wrinkled mess with random wet spots.

bed sheets tangled in a clothes dryer

Meet Wad-Free for Bed Sheets

And now for the good news. I’ve discovered a fabulous solution for wadded-up sheets. Some very smart person has come up with a gadget (made in the USA, yay!) that solves this problem. It is a square piece of plastic with four locking clips—one for each corner of the sheet (fitted or flat). Cleverly named Wad-Free, it prevents the sheets from getting all wadded up. Wad-Free comes 2 in a package, so I can launder a set of sheets in one load. Works like a charm!

Wad-Free Bed Sheet Detangler Reduces Laundry Tangles - As Seen on Shark Tank, Made in USA
Wad-Free Bed Sheet Detangler Reduces Laundry Tangles - As Seen on Shark Tank, Made in USA
From the manufacturer: Prevents sheets from tangling, twisting, and balling up in both the washing machine and the dryer. Loads come out cleaner, the washer stays balanced, and everything dries up to 75% faster with fewer wrinkles. Drastically reduces wet items getting trapped in sheets. Saves time and energy.
$19.99
Buy on Amazon

Now For Blankets, Duvet Covers, Too

This new addition to the Wad-Free family works in much the same way on most lightweight blankets and Duvet Covers when there is ample room in the washer and dryer, much like using Wad-Free for bed sheets. With a couple of exceptions.

The Wad-Free disk for blankets and duvet covers is beefier, with 8 tabs. And that’s good because of the weight and bulk of these larger items. The manufacturer recommends laundering one large item at a time with the washer set to a gentle/delicate cycle.

Having tested this new option for bulky bed items, I can report that used as directed, the new Wad-Free for Blankets and Duvet Covers is a godsend, and so easy I find that I’m laundering my larger items more frequently.

Wad-Free for Blankets & Duvet Covers - As Seen on Shark Tank - Reduces Laundry Tangles and Wads in The Washer and Dryer - Made in USA
Wad-Free for Blankets & Duvet Covers - As Seen on Shark Tank - Reduces Laundry Tangles and Wads in The Washer and Dryer - Made in USA
From the manufacturer: Also useful for tablecloths, pre-washing fabric yardage for sewing, and pairing socks so they don’t get lost in the wash. Perfect for Sleep Number FlexFit fitted sheets. Keep leggings from twisting and more.
$34.99
Buy on Amazon

Buh-Bye, Balled-Up Bedding!

These gadgets keep washer loads balanced and allow sheets, blankets, and duvet covers to move and tumble more freely so they get clean and dry faster (the manufacturer says 75% faster) and with fewer wrinkles.

Who, what, where?

I love a good story, and Wad-Free is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. Cyndi Bray came up with the idea for Wad-Free after having endured the dreaded sheet wad for a long time.

After brainstorming with friends who had the same problem of sheets balling up and throwing their machines off-balance, Cyndi knew there had to be a solution, and she was just the woman who came up with it.

With no background in engineering, product development, or manufacturing, Cyndi taught herself a modeling computer-aided design program. From her kitchen table, she created different versions, sharing prototypes with friends until she zeroed in on exactly what she wanted. In June of 2020—in the middle of a pandemic!—Cyndi launched her business, and the rest is laundry history.

Thank you, Cyndi!

 

 

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Last update on 2026-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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34 replies
  1. fran. says:

    Two things: Ball up wool socks that are too thin to keep your feet warm. Work as well as dryer balls, and free as you already paid for the wool socks.
    I’ve been using large safety (diaper) pins to keep socks together in the laundry since I had babies wearing the tiny Humpty Dumpty socks. The little ones seem to vanish in the washing process? Although my baby is now 40, I still pin socks together and never have to pair, or match them when they come out of the dryer. In this age of disposable diapers, the large pins are scarce, but you can find pkg. of large size metal safety pins.

    Reply
  2. Leah says:

    I’m definitely going to buy some Wad-free clips. Now, any suggestions for another problem? In my washer, which does have a center agitator, the sleeves and pant legs twist together so badly that it’s a challenge just to empty the washer. I load it carefully and never had this happen so badly before I got my current washer a couple of years ago. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      You might want to consider zippered mesh laundry bags. They come in many sizes. How it works is you place the tangle-prone item into the zippered mesh bag. Now throw that in the washing machine. The shirt, socks, or what have you will get washed as usual, but will be isolated in the bag. I think that might be the answer to your problem.

      Reply
  3. Amy Sheehan says:

    I bought the wad free package and tried it multiple times. It was always more work and took longer than expected with the hooking and unhooking etc. and sometimes they came unhooked in the dryer. I went back to just dryer balls. Too much trouble for me.

    Reply
  4. Cate says:

    Just received a set and returned them. Didn’t work AT ALL! Very disappointed. Maybe my small capacity tumble washer & dryer?

    Reply
  6. Marianne says:

    I ordered these and tried them yesterday. I read the instructions. Unfortunately, they did not work well for me. My sheets were balled up even more than usual. Bummer.

    Reply
  9. marian says:

    Why not hang up to dry outside. Save money, best for environment and for the clothes . Remember God gave us the great outdoors to use!

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Great idea, of course if you have this option. Many do not—-apartment dwellers, condo complexes, communities with HOAs that do not allow outdoor clothes lines. Weather is another issue. And face it, those who may have that option might not have the time. Wad-Free is an option, certainly not a, well … mandate.

      Reply
      • Suzanne says:

        And don’t forget birds. I gave up on outdoor drying because the bird droppings made it necessary to rewash everything.

    • Sheri B. says:

      But,If people don’t have that option. I don’t. I live in an apt. And they work in the washer and dryer. When I wash our sheets, when the wash is done, they are all bunched up and I don’t think there clean nor rinsed well. So, I will buy these!!!

      Reply
    • Suzanne says:

      Hanging clothes outside sounds great in theory. I did it years ago but stopped because birds would land on the clothesline and leave their droppings on the freshly washed laundry. And I’d have to wash those things again. Then there’s the weather. I don’t have the time to rewash things, so in the dryer they go.

      Reply
  10. lwt says:

    for some reason i never have the ‘wad’ problem. i put my sheets and pillow cases in my top loader one at a time, evenly distributed along with my other white/light items. once in a while, a sock will get caught in the contour sheet. when i put them in the dryer, i put each thing in one at a time and i make sure nothing is twisted. i give each pillowcase a good shake and put them in, one at a time.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Likely, your machine has a center agitator. This wadding up thing seems to be more prevalent with a machine that doesn’t have that agitator, which means front-loading washers and all dryers.

      Reply
  12. Gina D Stevens says:

    WOW! Count me in on this purchase! Now for the bonus question. . . When did this become an issue? I never encountered this problem until I got an HD washer.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      I think it’s the absence of a center agitator. I first encountered it with an LG toploading machine with no agitator. I have a GE frontloading machine now and it’s a problem! It goes in one direction only and I can see the problem. Wad-Free is the only thing I’ve ever tried that really fixes the situation.

      Reply
  13. Cate says:

    Found a video on wad free.com. Brings me back to the days of garter belts! LOL. I wonder if dryer balls get caught in the sheet “pouch,” though. Going on my Christmas wish list!

    Reply
    • Maria says:

      They do but that doesn’t bother me. Bought my dryer balls on Mary’s suggestion and I love them! Another Christmas gift suggestion.

      Reply
  14. Cate says:

    So, how does Wad-free work? Can’t tell from the picture. Just finished this laundry chore, so am so, so ready for a solution.

    Reply
    • Pattye says:

      It works because the corners is the sheets are gathered together, not allowing the sheets to roll up into a sheet burrito. I accomplish the same thing by gathering the corners together and holding them together with a few wire clothes pins. Picture a parachute without cords… It really does work.

      Reply
    • Nadine Peters says:

      Visit wadfree.com for how-to videos & a special deal including free shipping. That’s where I got mine a year ago.

      Reply
  15. K. Martin says:

    Only very rarely do I dry my sheets in the dryer, nor my pillowcases, towels, and wash cloths. I’m blessed to be able to hang them outside on my clothes line 99% of the time. And with that plastic gadget selling for $18.99, I think I’d just rather keep them in the dryer a few more minutes, especially since it’s a rare occasion. But I can see why some people in certain situations would benefit from having this.

    Reply

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