Ecoballs - recent reviews please?

Living_proof

I bought some new boxed ecoballs at a charity shop today for £2 but I am having difficulty finding recent reviews.

Should I use two at once? Do they work better with coloureds than whites? Maybe some OSers use them regularly?

I would be grateful of your feedback so I can get the best use out of them.

GwylimT

Do you mean the washing machine one? We use one and find it good at cleaning clothes, but it isn't enough on its own for stain removal. You only need one in the wash.

Winchelsea

I've got the original ones (about 15 years old!), but have got out of the habit of using them. I've got the refills ready to use, so must do it and get them back into use.
I found they were great for coloureds, but the whites lost their gleaming whiteness with them.
With these older ones you are meant to use two at once,
Good luck!

Linda32

I like them, they are good for colors as said, but you need washing powder for whites.

[Deleted User]

I started using them many years ago and they are very good for sheets, towels and coloureds but not for stained or dirty items. I always use two per wash, no matter what the wash. Lakeland had them greatly reduced in a sale a few years ago, so I stocked up and now have enough for the rest of my life and I also supply my daughters. I do put the refills in when the ball is down to half full

Living_proof

Thank you everyone. I am trying them as I write with a half load of light coloured but not stained items and will see how I get on. I imagine they are the older ones so I have put both in. I normally use white vinegar as a rinse but in this case I assume I won't need it.

Severina

Does anyone know how ecoballs compare with soapnuts? I'm looking to switch from regular detergents but aren't very sure how these two compare.

RainbowHippie

Severina i can't really draw comparison as i've never used ecoballs (clicked on this thread with interest as i'm considering giving them a go). But i have been using soap nuts for almost 2 years - and would not consider going back to 'normal' laundry detergent. It sounds like ecoballs and soap nuts are fairly equal in terms of washing power - soap nuts will get out a low level of muckiness but not 'proper' stains, i add a bit of laundry bleach or use home-made stain remover for this. But they are very gentle on sensitive skin and any clothes which smelt (of sweat etc) come out smell-free. Soap nuts do not impart a scent to clothes so i use a few drops of essential oils (my favourite at the moment being a mix of peppermint and tea tree oil) which gives a scent to the damp clothes, they barely smell of anything once dry. My partner didn't like his scent-free laundry, so i have a bottle of eco-friendly laundry gel of which i add a tiny squeeze to each wash of his clothes to give them the smell. The reason i'm thinking of trying ecoballs is i believe they do have a scent so i'm wondering if they would be suitable to wash my partner's clothes so i can stop buying the laundry gel. The initial outlay for ecoballs is quite high though so i'm going to try making a home-made laundry liquid first (already have the ingredients) and see if that gives a lingering smell that he will like.

People who use/have used ecoballs - do you use scented ones? Are the scents pleasant and do they make your laundry smell good?

In terms of price, with 2+ adults (varies as we often seem to have mid-long term guests) and doing about 3-4 wash loads per week on average, i have used less than £10 worth of soap nuts, plus about £10-£15 of other laundry products, in total during the almost two years i've been using them. So definitely much cheaper than normal detergent though i don't know how ecoballs compare price wise per wash.

Living_proof

My first attempt did not fill me with confidence and I must confess that I re-washed with a little detergent. Next time I will do just coloureds and put some essential oil in to make the whole wash more fragrant cos I think that is what was lacking (although I cannot abide the strong smell of fabric conditioner on everyone these days).

Mohawk_3

I've been using them for years!

The old ones, that look like space ships with sponge around the middle, are two per wash. The problem I had with them was that eventually the little screws rusted up, so I couldn't open them to refill.

More recently, I got an egg thingy from Lakeland, which is easier to refill. Those ones have a bit of scent in them, but to be honest, I quite enjoy not having the perfume, but it's not horribly strong or artificial like some washing powders are.

If doing whites, I'd be tempted to add some of the environmentally friendly whitening agent, but you could also just add a bit of normal washing powder to the drawer.

From a financial point of view, they are well worth it, but if you have sensitive skin, or just want to cut down on chemicals for ethical/environmental reasons, they are excellent. And it saves having to lug great big boxes of washing powder home from the super-market!