Wash balls - Laundry balls - Eco balls (merged)

squeaky

Hi red balloon

We have an older thraed on these things (he sez ) that has quite a bit of disussion about them, so I've added your post on to the end of it.

You'll need to read from the beginning again to catch up

Vanderhum

Ok guys, I bought eco balls about 8 months ago because I moved into a house that has a septic tank. I cannot use standard washing products. because of the 30 day money back guarantee I thought I might as well try them out. Well they really do work!! I do an average of 5 loads of washing every week including our bedclothes and my husbands filthy work clothes and everything comes out smelling fresh and clean. Ok not so strong as some main brand powders etc but plenty nice enough for me. I wash darks on 40 degrees and whites on 60. If I have some whites that are really dirty like maybe a sheet got something spilled on it and it has dried in over a few days I do a 80 degree wash with a cup of soda crystals instead but this is rare. I do a boil wash once a month with no clothes in just a cup of soda to clean out the machine because one drawback of 40/60 degree washes, even if you use persil/bold etc, is that moulds are not killed off and you can get a slimy blackish residue on the rubber seal. during the summer everything goes on the line and towels just get thrown in the drier for 10 mins to resoften them after drying on the line. In the winter anything that go in the drier does otherwise on the clothes horse indoors. I also use the dryer balls and they definately work too. Anyway the upshot is that this product really does work and its not the same as washing with just water as there is a fresh clean smell that you wouldnt get otherwise. Oh yeah I also cut out the rinse cycle saving about a 1/3 of the amount of water I would use on each wash! I used to have eczema even when using a non bio washing powder - thats now fully cleared up! For those of you who dont think they will work for you at least use something like ecover powder because all the chemicals in standard washing products are really damaging the environment and your familys skin and thats not worth it just so your clothes smell like a perfume shop! I dont mean to be judgemental of people - i used to use the mainstream stuff too cos i didnt know that the alternatives were out there. ok ecover may be slightly more expensive but ecoballs certainly are not.

skintlass

I used to live in a house that had a septic tank and I didn't have any issues with using washing detergents (there were 6 flats and and all of us just used normal products). I do know someone who loves their eco balls for washing, I think I'll be sticking to half amounts of normal detergent for the time being.

Toxic_Lemon

I've used wash balls for about 10 years now. Absolutely would not be without them!

Toxic_Lemon

lisyloo wrote:

These are a complete scam.
There is no scientific basis for them whatsoever.

People think they are working because most of the dirt on your clothes will come out with just water.
People like the idea of not using chemical, saving money and not carrying heavy powder.

I now use normal liquid but I am economical with the amounts because I don't believe you need to use as much as the manufacturers would have you believe.

Sorry, I don't believe it's a scam at all.

Nor do I simply "like the idea of not using chemical". I like NOT damaging the environment in which I live. I don't like using chemicals - it's not an idea. It's a fact that they are harmful. I don't believe you need chemicals.

Vanderhum

Toxic Lemon - I totally agree with you!
Skintlass - a septic tank works on the principal of microbes/bacteria breaking down the solids into an effluent that then drains into an area of ground via pierced pipes to soak away. This does not harm the environment in itself if designed properly. There are more modern treatment systems that filter and treat the effluent a bit more first. If you flush/drain chemicals into this system they will kill off the bacteria and therefore the tank wont work as well as it should and those chemicals will also go straight into the ground possibly contaminating the groundwater! This is especially key if, like me, you have your own well water! We do not use any chemicals now for this very reason. The only time a small bit of say shampoo etc does get into the system is if we have guests using the shower etc. Some of the family just use our stuff when they stay over and a few of them have started using the same products because they have realised the impact they were having on the environment. Most of the time the greener products work out cheaper over time anyway. My ecover washing up liquid actually lasts longer than the fairy that i used to use and so i have roughly calculated that the cost overall is about the same. It would be even less if i bulk bought it.

skintlass

Ah I see - we didn't have our own well and as far as I can remember the subject of of detergents etc never came up at the house meetings - the cost of emptying the septic tank did come up several times as it was taking a chunk of the budget. On mains sewerage etc now as I live in a city but thanks for the info incase I move back to a place with a septic tank.

Kimberley

Does anyone use them and are they as good as they say they are?

http://www.ecozone.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=314

wasbrokegettingbetter

I was going to try them, but read a review somewhere that said they were useless.
Its a lot of dosh to spend if they don't work.

angelavdavis

I have been using one for about two months and have been very happy with it for standard washes. I bought mine from Lakeland and they supply a stain remover stick with the laundry ball so you can spot treat stains.