Laundry Balls

[PLUMPUDDING]

Has anyone used these and what do you think of them? I've just decided to try them and used them for the first time today. The washing looks nice and clean and smells fresh.

They cost £34.99, but are supposed to last for 1,000 washes, and you don't need to use fabric softener so they should work out very economical. You don't need so many rinses as the water isn't soapy so that will save electricity. Hope they are as good as they sound.

[Weed]

It would be interesting to know just what in in the chemical formulation of the product.

I am always skeptical when a product promises do do everything in one go

[alan refail]

It would be interesting to know just what in in the chemical formulation of the product.

According to the makers - nothing.
http://www.capcarbon.co.uk/prod_info.asp?prodid=125

[PLUMPUDDING]

I've just looked on the box and it says the ingredients are: Higher alkyl sulfate, non-ionic surfactant, sodium metasilicate, calcium carbonate and sodium carbonate.

The clothes came out nice and clean - the food stains have gone from the table cloth and it all smells fresh. It was quicker too as I cut out one of the rinses.

I do think that the design of the balls will go some way to cleaning the clothes as they have a sponge ring round them, so will rub against the clothes as they swish around among the washing. Anyway, the first try was OK

[Geoff]

I'm afraid the only laundry balls I know is that washing should end up stinking of artificial perfume. Why can't we stamp out all these smellies and obnoxious air fresheners - who thought of that dubious label?

[PLUMPUDDING]

Hi Geoff, It may be a load of balls, but one good thing about them is that they don't have any artificial perfume and the clothes just smell clean.

[Primrose]

I've been wondering about laundry balls, but one thing puzzles me. If you're not using soap (liquid or powdered) how do you reduce the number of rinses required to save water if your machine is running automatically? I've read mixed reports on them and wonder if they work just as efficiently of heavily stained or very dirty laundry.

[Primrose]

I've been wondering about laundry balls, but one thing puzzles me. If you're not using soap (liquid or powdered) how do you reduce the number of rinses required to save water if your machine is running automatically? I've read mixed reports on them and wonder if they work just as efficiently of heavily stained or very dirty laundry.

[Weed]

Like so many 'wonder' chemicals I suspect that they contain a multitude of chemicals to cover any eventuality.

Enzymes to attack protein, detergent to deal with light soiling, whiteners of course to deal with stains.

[PLUMPUDDING]

Hi Primrose, They don't have detergent and bleach or enzymes, but they do provide a tube of stuff to put on bad stains before you put them in the wash.

I cut out a rinse cycle by using the programme that holds after the rinse and then re-setting it to spin. I've only used them once and haven't needed to use the stain removing stuff yet, so can't tell you if it works.

I'm still experimenting with things at the moment, but was pleased with the results of my first attempt.

I think some people use them most of the time, but about once a month use a soap power or liquid to brighten their whites up, but I'll keep an open mind and see what happens.