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.
@Bart You suppose correctly, Bart. I do NOT own shares in a detergent company. A poll won’t do you any good, people who’ve paid 25 euros for a ball are hardly going to own to having been duped are they?
Hi everyone -
I’ve been using a washball (Like the OKOBALL) (And no, I don’t have anything to do with selling the product :-) for 2 months now – so, I hope my clothes should be detergent free.It works fine. Banging clothes against a rock – maybe, but the clothes are still clean – which is the objective of washing clothes, I think. The problem as i see it, is that there is no ‘science’ behind it. Can’t we carry out a poll, or even a study on these wash balls, to see if they are any good. The ball I purchased was 25 euros, and the claim is that it will last 1500 washes – I’ll let you know how I get on. I know nothing about the cheap balls, and reading reviews about them, I found people had good and bad experiences.
I don’t suppose ,Dave, that you have shares in any detergent company , do you? :-)
@Paise – Glad you agree!
This green ball “invention to end detergent” is full of bunk. Doubters are probably wondering what I have to add as proof that this green ball doesn’t work, well here it is.
Some years ago, DH and I replaced our worn out top-loader washer and dryer set because the washer wasn’t washing clothes without running 2 & 3 cycles and clothes were not drying without running the addition few cycles. We replaced the set with the Kenmore HE3T Front-Loader washer/dryer set and purchased the 13-inch risers that serve not only as risers to save bent-over-back syndrome but also serves as drawers for various washer additions such as bottles of Woolite, dryer Color-Mate sheets that prevent colors from bleeding when clothes are new, and other things belonging in the laundry room. The drawers in the risers put them out of sight and out of mind until needed.
The lady I spoke with before purchasing the set informed me that it would be best to wash our clothes the first time WITHOUT adding detergent because the top-loader machines do NOT remove all the detergent left in the clothes. I was advised to wash all the clothes at least once without adding detergent then once the clothes made the rounds through the washer and dryer, it was time to use the HE detergent, which by the way works much like dishwasher detergent in that it is low-foaming. If you use regular detergent for top-loaders in a front-loading machine it will over-suds and the machine will warn you about this then continue to run rinse cycles until the suds are gone.
So yes, there is merit in Mr. Bradley’s article regarding the lack of validity of this “green ball” from washing clothes ecologically or otherwise.
BTW, if anyone truly wants to go the energy efficient route, purchase a mid- to high-end front-loader washer and dryer set and use the HE detergent. These machines can detect soil levels in the clothes as well as the weight of the laundry to determine the amount of water necessary to clean the clothes well. By the end of the rinse cycle there is NO detergent remaining in clothes. The cycles run faster because the machine itself is more efficient. The dryer can sense the dampness in the clothes.
FYI, the model machine I have includes a sanitary cycle and a whitest-white cycle too. When I use the whitest-white cycle, which I do at least 1 to 2 times a month, the whites come out so white they are almost blue.
If you want to become more energy efficient and nature friendly, buy products like energy efficient home appliances that save on water, electricity, and the need for large amounts of detergents. I am using less than 1/10th of the detergent I used in an entire month now compared to the days when I used the top-loading washer w/dryer set. My hot water heater is energy efficient and water saving as is the dishwasher, the garbage disposal, refrigerator, and freezer just to name a few. The toilets, showers, and tubs in all the bathrooms are water efficient. We paid more to ensure water pressure and cleanliness when in use but it was worth it and paid for itself within the first year on the water bill and propane bill (our hot water is all heated by gas). The other appliances including the washer and dryer paid for themselves within the first year as well when including detergent, water usage, electricity, and time.
So no Dorothy, a so-called magic detergent ball won’t clean your clothes. That requires water AND real detergent but to be energy efficient, choose your appliances wisely. Paying more now will save a lot in the long run. You just have to learn where, what, and how to buy eco-friendly first. Get a subscription to Consumer Reports. That can give you tons of information about the energy efficiency rating of lots of appliances. Stick with the ones as close to the top as you can afford and you will do just fine, certainly better than wasting some $5 to $10 on a rip-off laundry ball painted green to pull you into the marketing scam.
Kris Says:
My clothes came out clean,bright and and smelling fresh! Check it out- a great alternative to detergent.
Kris, you have used the detergent stuck in the machine from the previous user. Your balls don’t work!