Aug 3, 2006
Wa-shit laundry ball
A UK company of the kind that sells all kinds of plastic tubs, microwaveable wine warmers, vacuum pack bags for duvets and other miscellaneous junk are touting a little plastic ball that could put an end to the detergent industry, at least that’s what they’re claiming. Various websites have picked up on the company’s PR puff with their mid-section explaining how “the science bit” will be beyond anyone who didn’t listen in chemistry at school…
Well, funnily enough, I did listen in chemistry at school and the following pseudoscientific nonsense is just the sort of thing anyone with even a vague recollection of electrolysis. This is what they have to say:
“Scientifically formulated pellets inside the Wash-It Ball ‘activate’ water molecules producing electrolytic oxygen and hydrogen ions, which unleash their natural power to lift dirt from clothing fibres.”
I asked chemist contact and pastel chef Dan Lednicer about the possibility that there might be a genuine reaction taking place and he said sarcastically that it sounded like they’d managed to build “nano fuel cells”, which, of course, they haven’t. What makes it worse is the mention of “natural” as if manufactured clothes and washing machines are “nature’s way” in the first place!
Independent tests have also demonstrated that the ball works for the first wash, because residual detergent from the previous wash remains on the clothes and in the machine, but after that you might as well bang your jeans against a rock by the stream.
So, we won’t be shutting down the detergents industry and sing the praises of the Wa-Shit laundry ball just yet.
Dear David-
I may sound like an add for the Green Wash Ball because I believe in it- it has worked for me and I do believe it should get recognition.
Kindest Regards,
Kris
Kris, your comment sounds like an ad, but you didn’t include a link to your Wash-it! sellers account, so I presume you’re not really a shill for the company. I guess you could see this as the modern equivalent to banging your clothes against a rock in a stream, but that really is as far as it goes. Hence my displaced hyphen in the post title.
I am a university student and I was sick of lugging heavy and not so eco- friendly detergent up and down my dorm stairs on a weekly basis. A few friends in Europe (why are they so much more eco friendly in Europe?) told me about this product (Green Wash Ball) they have been using—a green alternative to detergent. What? A rubbery ball with ceramics inside could clean my dirty nasty gym clothes!? I was a bit skeptical, but did recently try the Green Wash Ball It is amazing! My clothes came out clean,bright and and smelling fresh! Check it out- a great alternative to detergent. Who doesn’t want to save money (especially in this economic crisis) and help create a cleaner world for our children. I have suuggested the Green Wash Ball to all my family and friends!
I couldn’t find them in the catalogue, but that’s not the point, the product is actually the “Wash-it”, I just thought it was more appropriate to displace the hyphen!
That’s nothing,
IKEA currently have Nobfart glasses and arsepik rugs on sale. And there’s a shop in Turkey called Arcelik