Enviro Wash balls

[Brengirl]

I'm a water treatment engineer and sorry to say but all the marketing claims are just hogwash, to put it politely! To be honest, you'd get the same results just using nothing in your washing machine.

I found this interesting article the other week while searching for advice on buying a new washing machine - it explains it better than me! :

UK Whitegoods - Content


I really hate to see people wasting money on these things!

HTH!

I am certainly not disputing the truth in what you say and have watched the clip. So, if the Dragon's Den crew did not back her I wonder who did? With all the publicity on the product if half the nation tried it out she would still have made a pretty penny.

[oldie]

Even if they are placebos they are not putting loads of harmful chemicals into the water system.

[*Lavender*]

But you'd be better off just reducing the amount of soap powder that you use, or even try without using any if the clothes aren't "dirty" but just need a freshen up. Most modern machines nowadays are so efficient that we really don't need to use as much soap powder as we are used to.

If you read the white goods article it explains why soap powders are good for the machine with regards to preventing limescale, smells etc. This is something I hadn't actually thought about, and if your washing machine is going to break down sooner than it should because of this, then it kind of defeats the environmentally friendly aims of not using washing powder, doesn't it?! And you can get "greener" soap powders that don't release nasties into the water system.

But with regard to the enviro wash balls - it's all a load of codswallop! "ionised oxygen which activated the water molecules" etc etc is scientific rubbish. Why do you think they also supply a stain stick? If it really worked the way they claim then you wouldn't need that!

My advice - reduce the amount of soap powder you use, even do a wash now and then with none. Save your money!

[oldie]

The fallacy in the whole argument is that lack evidence is proof that it does not work. Science does not work that way, it just means we do not at this moment have the evidence to prove either way. Looking back(as I can) over the last 60 years we have been told many times that some thing was/wasn't true, did/did not work only to find out the opposite.

[*Lavender*]

Well you could say there is "evidence" that they work as many people seem happy with the results! However, I suspect they would get similar results with little or no soap powder. Our clothes also contain some amounts of residual soap powder from previous washes, so that probably helps with the illusion of the eco balls "working".

Another point to consider is that in order for the dirt that is washed out of the clothes to stay suspended in the water, and not be re-deposited onto the clothes, you actually need a detergent to hold the dirt there. And another point to consider is the environmental impact of the manufacture of the wash balls themselves - What are they made of? How much energy did it take to make them? How much water was involved in the process? (remember all factories produce waste water!). So you may be reducing the amount of "chemicals" that you personally are flushing down the drain, but by buying & using the wash balls it is being put into the water system further up the chain!

My main bug bear though is their claim that they have "ionised oxygen which activates the water molecules" - as a water treatment engineer I can tell you that that is complete nonsense. Water does not work in this way, and there is no substance in the enviro wash balls which can have this effect.

Try reducing the amount of soap powder you use, switch to a "greener" version or use none, but please don't waste your money on these.

You can probably tell that this is a bit of a pet hate of mine! I shall now get off my soap box (pun intended!)

[ammi]

Im torn now. To try or not to try !

[Nicos]

I've never used them. I did try the balls you put in the tumble dryer- but the were just too noisy!!!

I'm wondering if the balls in the washing machine actually have a gentle beating action on the clothes?
That would certainly help remove some of the dirt!
I too have a septic tank and looking for ways to look after it.

Interesting thread!

[shirlthegirl43]

I will say once again, while there are relevant points about stored detergent etc, I don't use much detergent - usually about half what the pack says. Younger son's jeans came out cleaner from the enviroball wash than they usually come out of a detergent wash.

We don't have any limescale in the water here so no problem with that. I do have to do a boil wash now and again with Madmax's boiler suit which would look dreadful if I didn't so that clears any buildup in the machine (not that I have had that since I switched to a liquid instead of powder)

[zazen999]

Ditto Shirl. Clothes come out ok, and don't smell fusty [which sometimes happens if you wash with no soap, which I've done and forgotten to put the soap in]....so it must be doing something, even if it is indescribable scientifically. [And I forgot all about the stain stick until I found it last week..never used it.]

[Jeanied]

Just to add another 2p worth into the washing balls debate - I've just got some 'Wash n' Save' balls from Aldi - no claims of ionisation or activation - but they just bump around with the wash to get it cleaner - presumably with a beating action. Never wear out. My friend swears by them and I am about to find out!

[Eco-Chic]

I've been using wash balls of one sort or another for years and clothes come out clean, so it isn't due to residual washing powder left in the clothes.

I like 'em cos they take up very little space in the cupboard and it's one thing less to lug out of the supermarket every fortnight or so. I do have stain removers cos I pour as much tea, ribena, red wine and curry over myself as I get down my throat.