Wash balls - Laundry balls - Eco balls (merged)

lexa34

Roll up people: need some more experienced users to indicate on the poll!

Yes, it is a bit sad but I really want to try and get a picture if they work or not!
x

Pink.

lexa34 wrote: »

Roll up people: need some more experienced users to indicate on the poll!

Yes, it is a bit sad but I really want to try and get a picture if they work or not!
x

Hi lexa,

If you read back through the thread you'll find lots of people have posted about their experiences with laundry balls.

Pink

Volcano

zarazara wrote: »

I think they mus work, otherwise trading standards would have had then up in court by now.

....along with spiritual healers, astrologers and crystal sellers I presume....

lexa34

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi lexa,

If you read back through the thread you'll find lots of people have posted about their experiences with laundry balls.

Pink

I have done! I wanted to get some numbers on it.

orangekazzie

Can these washballs be used with a water softener system in place? I read somewhere that they aren't suitable but wonder why and if anyone has used the two systems together.

thanks for any response.

Judith_Proctor

The biggest problem with laundry balls (apart from the fact that they don't remove greasy stains at all), is that you're supposed to use them with a high temperature wash.

High temperature washes are very demanding of energy, resulting in more CO2 emissions, which in the long run is going to be more environmentally damaging that using a low-temperature detergent.

I'd suggest using a conventional detergent, but perhaps either halve the recommended amount, or only use it when you have a load with visible soiling (much of the cleaning action comes from the agitation of the water caused by the operation of the washing machine).

knittingnelly

I've had eco-balls (or a similar rip-off of them) and don't use them anymore as I found that clothes a) weren't that clean and b) started to get really smelly (my man is an electrician and works up a good sweat most days ) . I remember reading somewhere the huge amount of water it takes to process the chemicals out of water that goes into the drainage system from washing machines and it was horrific. What to do? I use Ecover laundry liquid which smells nice and does a good job. If laundry stays in the wet basket for any length of time I notice that it gets whiffy quicker if I don't use Persil or whatever but I should just be more organised shouldn't I? I guess that's my compromise - use eco but not the balls!

Scenic_Route

My Eco-balls got my "mucking out" jacket (covered in horse slobber, horse poop [which is really recycled grass] and general mud) as clean as the powder ever did. I did send off for new screws (wrote to the manufacturer) for the balls as the original ones had gone rusty (there is one screw per ball in the side of the them). They are great though I alternate between using them and soap-nuts with white vinegar and essential oils.

Miss_Piggy_2

Evening all
Was just wondering if any of you could give me some opinions on eco-balls for the washing machine. Am just looking at them in Lakeland and am wondering if they really work?
Any opinions much appreciated
Miss P
xx

Magentasue

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1177321&highlight=ECO+BALLS
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1177321&highlight=ECO+BALLS

Consensus seems to be that they're best suited to lightly soiled only. Some people like them, others found them useless. I've tried soap nuts and found them fine on some washes and suspect I'd find the same with the more expensive eco balls.

I'm using a soap powder/soda crystals mix and that seems my most successful attempt at cutting laundry costs so far, and it's supposed to offer my machine some protection against limescale in this hard water area.