How to choose and use balls for washing clothes, down jackets and other things

Modern laundry washing is not at all a harmless procedure, as it involves the use of active chemicals contained in the powder. Powders are especially unsafe for children whose bodies are not yet strong enough. Today, the optimal solution to this situation has been found - to use balls for washing clothes in the washing machine. A unique alternative to powder or an additive to it during the washing process has already shown excellent results. Let's try to figure out what is the reason for this success.

Functional features of balls

Many people of the older generation remember very well how their grandmothers washed clothes on a board with a ribbed surface. And the result was the most excellent! The principle of operation was based on mechanical action on the fabric through the ribs of the board. They decided to apply the same method today, but only using special balls that come into contact with the laundry rotating in the drum.

It is now clear that small balls, which look like tennis balls, knock out residual harmful chemicals contained in laundry and make our clothes environmentally friendly for health.

It’s no secret that modern laundry detergents contain certain amounts of components that are dangerous to people’s well-being in the form of surfactants, phosphate compounds, synthetic fragrances, which accumulate in the body over time and lead to a whole “bouquet” of diseases. Not all people can afford to wash their clothes only with environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic powders, which is why laundry balls were created.

Types of balls

There are quite a lot of them, and the main difference lies in the form and principle of operation. Washing balls can be with many holes, magnetic, massage, etc.

Let's look at the most common and favorite options among housewives:

with tourmaline;
“hedgehogs” made of rubber for washing, drying, rinsing;
made of polypropylene for removing pellets;
magnetic, etc.

Tourmaline balls

This representative of new laundry products is considered an expensive solution, but by purchasing it you can save a lot. It has already been proven in practice that high-quality washing with tourmaline balls is carried out without powder and other rinsing agents for two to three years.

That is, a set of two balls with tourmaline will completely replace a batch of washing powder that will be needed for this period. Here's to some serious money savings!

The principle of operation of unique products is the effective impact of natural mineral substances on water (the filler includes up to 80 elements from the semi-precious stone tourmaline).

During the washing process, the mineral releases negative ions that penetrate the fabric threads and remove dirt. Tourmaline is able to eliminate stains that are deeply embedded in the fibers, unpleasant odors, and outdated mold.

Acting as an alternative to laundry detergent, tourmaline beads enhance the natural cleaning properties of water.

Helpful Tips:

Before the first wash, “magic” tourmaline balls need to be “recharged” with solar energy, i.e. keep in direct sunlight.
After each wash, tourmaline balls need to be dried.
Before use, set the temperature on the automatic machine to below +50 degrees.

The cost of original products (made in South Korea) is about 75 USD. But there are also cheap analogues. Here are the most common brands of these products.

Laundry Ball

The products of this company are environmentally friendly, have a relatively reasonable price, a two-year service life and consist of soft biodegradable surfactants that are safe for humans.

Negative ions clean dirty fabrics, their effectiveness increases with increasing washing temperature. If the laundry is heavily soiled, then before the procedure it is advisable to soak it together with the tourmaline ball. One product is enough for 7 kg of laundry.

Mayer Boch

These products are also developed on the basis of tourmaline. The manufacturer assures that washing balls do not deform the walls of the drum due to the polymer from which the product is made. And also, thanks to the uneven surface, it thoroughly knocks dirt out of the laundry and prevents things from clumping inside the drum.

The ceramic granules that make up this brand's balls include a variety of minerals with cleaning properties.

Smart Clean

The operating principle of this product is similar to the previous types. The electric current generated in the mineral helps to gently clean the fabric and preserve its colors and structure.

Rubber hedgehogs

They received this name for their appearance, because. look like balls with pimples. “Hedgehogs” can be plastic or rubberized. This is a budget option due to its modest cost, so the balls (two pieces included) are quite popular.

Most often, rubber “hedgehogs” are placed in an automatic washing machine along with washing powder, because they do not have individual characteristics of their composition.

Those who like washing with balls can try without detergents, but the results will be much worse. The operating principle of the “hedgehogs” is the uniform distribution of laundry throughout the drum and the mechanical action of knocking out dirt.

Basically, these laundry products are used to clean down jackets. When the drum rotates, the spiked surface of the hedgehogs hits the outer clothing and protects the filler from bunching up.

Pellet removal balls

These representatives are called the know-how of modern washing. They are designed to remove pills from clothes that form over the years as a result of frequent washing.

Woolen items are especially susceptible to fabric pilling. Bright polypropylene balls covered with tiny loops helped solve this problem.

During washing, they gently comb out pellets from clothes, and also collect small debris, animal hair, etc., and thereby protect the drain pump filter from contamination.

Magnetic balls

These products were invented by German engineers. The small structure has a rubber shell and a magnetic core in the center. Modern products are in demand by those housewives who are concerned about harmless washing. After all, magnetic balls are made of natural materials.

Thanks to the magnet, the water is softened, and the washing process takes place without conditioner. The rubberized surface of the ball perfectly removes dirt from the laundry, but does not harm the drum of the automatic machine.

Many housewives do not know how to use magnetic “balls” when washing different types of laundry. The products are produced in 12 pieces per package.

So here it is:

When washing woolen items, 4 balls will be enough.
For delicate wash and velor – 6 pieces.
With a full load of white linen – 12.

The advantages of using magnetic balls include their effectiveness at low water temperatures, significant savings in powder (you can use half as much as usual), no additional rinsing, environmental friendliness, reasonable price, improved washing quality, etc.

The downside is a loud knocking sound when the machine is operating.

In addition to the most popular additions to the washing machine, you can also use regular tennis, silicone, rubber children's balls, soap gel balls, gelatin capsules with a two-color component, etc.

All this can be purchased in hardware stores, markets, and specialized departments of supermarkets, but only consult with sellers in advance regarding their manufacturer. It is better to choose proven brands rather than new ones.

What are consumers saying?

Many of us have tested the effectiveness of laundry detergent balls in practice. But customer reviews are very diverse.

For example, you can often read consumer dissatisfaction regarding ineffective washing using cheap tourmaline balls.The manufacturer claims that inexpensive products are a banal fake, Chinese analogues that you need to be wary of. This is where negative reviews are born.

The effectiveness of balls with pimples for drying and washing was noted by many buyers, especially when cleaning down jackets and similar clothes. Some people simply haven’t seen any improvements, so they consider the balls an unnecessary element in the machine.

Experts believe that you should purchase an addition to the washing process only in trusted places and only well-known brands, which you can read about on the Internet or consult your friends about their benefits.

As a result, your clothes will be washed with high quality, will take on a fresh look, you will reduce the consumption of water and electricity, and most importantly, you will protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of chemicals that detergents are so rich in.