Eco balls

[princess_poppet]

I was given a set 6 weeks ago but had so much soap powder i have only just got round to using them properly

I have to say i am quite impressed! I did a load of coloureds including my d/d muddy smelling horse riding gear and it all came out as clean as normal!

Did a white wash and all but 1 item came out clean too. 1 Item had a tomato sauce stain on so i am not surprised it didnt get it completley out.

You can use a eco friendly stain remover on really tough washes then chuck in as usual with the wash.

I know they seem pricey at £30 a set of 3 but they last 1000 washes and i have to say i am quite impressed on my first 2 washes so far!

I know some ppl complain of the clothes smelling dirty on the first wash but i havent had this problem but i know this haoppen is the drum itself is dirty its is not the balls so it might be worth giving ur drum and seals a spring clean before using ur Eco balls for the first time! lol

http://www.greenwarehouse.co.uk/index.php?p0=detail&id=251&gclid=CIi5mc-okosCFQYhEAodcXZTRw

Or only £28 inc postage on EBay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200083955915&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2F search.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D200083955915%2 B%2B%26fvi%3D1

[Angel]

I live in a hard water area so use a water softener/limescale preventer. If I were to use an eco ball, would I still be able to use the water softener, or would I not need to?

[tiger]

It's got to be better for the environment.
I know that all the filler added to washing powder blocks drains as it forms a hard lump like concrete in the drain.

[princess_poppet]

i assume so Angel as i think our water is quite hard. I will read the packaging and let you know if it says any different X

I use them as it saves all the nasty chemicals they put in the powders and the packaging too so good for enviornment

Cheaper in the long run versus washing powder/liquids and tabs

Plus my d/d 3 yrs has severe eczema so i am hoping it will help a bit as her clothes and beddding will have less chemicals in too.

[M3chanical_animal]

I'm going to be buying these instead of washing powder next time :)

[Grace & Favour]

Saw the thread title - thought the subject was vasectomy!

[ohsobusy]

Saw the thread title - thought the subject was vasectomy!

:rofl: :D

[M3chanical_animal]

haha got to spread before I rep you for that G&F!

[scorour]

Saw the thread title - thought the subject was vasectomy!

tbh, the thread title caught my eye....and yes, I was dissapointed when I read the posts and there was nothing peverse :o

[princess_poppet]

tbh, the thread title caught my eye....and yes, I was dissapointed when I read the posts and there was nothing peverse :o

lol :D Do you expect that sort of thing from me then! :D

[scorour]

lol :D Do you expect that sort of thing from me then! :D

yes indeedy

[princess_poppet]

yes indeedy

:faint: ME! :tape2: :bolt:

By the way i have brought you an Ecloth for when u come to clean my oven! They are meant to be really good and makes it less work! Dont say i never give u anything!

[scorour]

:faint: ME! :tape2: :bolt:

By the way i have brought you an Ecloth for when u come to clean my oven! They are meant to be really good and makes it less work! Dont say i never give u anything!

Nice one, cheers. I still want a cup of tea and Value chocolate digestive bar (not biscuit, tight wad :p )

[princess_poppet]

Nice one, cheers. I still want a cup of tea and Value chocolate digestive bar (not biscuit, tight wad :p )

if your really good i might shout ya a choccie hob nob or jaffa cake bar! :p

[scorour]

if your really good i might shout ya a choccie hob nob or jaffa cake bar! :p

you must be minted with such luxuries....my body may reject them as it is used to Value biccies....like I always say though, I'll try anything twice ;)

[princess_poppet]

you must be minted with such luxuries....my body may reject them as it is used to Value biccies....like I always say though, I'll try anything twice ;)

Hey you not trying them twice! I biscuit only! :D

[Angel]

http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/ecozone/magno-ball/can be used in conjunction with the eco ball to soften the water and prevent limecale, for those of you who live in hard water areas.

[mutley muppet]

I've seen these in my local health food shop and wondered if they worked ok?
Is it really not necessary to use fabric softener?:confused:
I usually buy Ecover or something similar & get refill, but it still aint cheap.

[Angel]

I have just purchased one on ebay, so I hope it does what it says it will!

Princess - am I right in thinking that with the eco balls, once you have run out of pellets, that you can not purchase refills anywhere, therefore you need to replace the whole set?

[Hummer]

I have just purchased one on ebay, so I hope it does what it says it will!

Princess - am I right in thinking that with the eco balls, once you have run out of pellets, that you can not purchase refills anywhere, therefore you need to replace the whole set?

Now thats sounds eco silly.

[Angel]

It does, although I have not found where to purchase the refills .......

[6lilpigs]

I have two points to make, not good ones I'm afraid.

I bought the eco-balls about 2 months ago I think and I have gone back to normal powder. the clothes were getting dingier and dingier with each wash especially the school t-shirts even though I was using all three balls in only ever a half load. Probably using more elec this way aswell.
Second thing was when they say they will do 1000 washes I think this is 250 per ball and an extra 250 when you use the refill so when you need to use all three regular in each wash you actually get 250 washes. But I'm not definate on this.
Oh yeah 1 more thing I did a wash once took the washing out to inspect and thought that they had done an ok job then I noticed the balls on top of the machine so the machine with just water seemed to have done as good a job as with the balls.

I like to think I am very eco friendly but the ecoballs just didnt work for me

[M3chanical_animal]

Its good to see all side 5lilpigs - thanks :)

[princess_poppet]

the only down side i have found with them is whites or lighter u do need an eco friendly stain cleaner (liek the vanish put 1 scoup in each wash) to make sure they come out really clean.

Reading the leaflet tho i am pretty sure u use all 3 balls in the wash and they last for approz 750 washes not 250 washes each as u are meant to use all 3 balls at the same time.

I agree with lilpigs tho that u do need the extra top of a eco friendly stain remover with whites deffo but have found them good with colours so far but will keep ya up dated

[Hummer]

So should I buy these?
Ill get a right telling off if they are no good?

Question what about fabric softener?

[6lilpigs]

IAccording to my leaflet which I have to hand it just says 'Leaves clothes softer without conditioner'.
Again on my leaflet it says 'Very cost affective pack should be good for up to 1000 washes (depending on cycle time.)' They could do with being a bit more specific I think on cycle time maybe. I may have a double check on their site.
I dont mean to be a downer on them but I did also notice they werent to hot on grease marks, not heavy black oil because nothing shifts that but maybe if kids have had bag of chips and had little greasy fingers.

What people would need to do would be borrow one maybe and do a wash test for themselves get two basics white t-shirts add bit of mud, ketchup, greasy hand, wash one on short eco ball wash and the other on normal powder wash and compare honestly the differences. Then times the results by 10 washes and see how long the t-shirt would last before needing replacing.

[Maverick]

They will appear good at first as there will still be a lot of suds left of old powder in your machine.
I find soapnuts good, but nothing is as good as chemicals, Im afraid, clothes wont get as bright as that without them, depends if you are happy to have sligtly less bright clothes for the sake of the enviroment, ecover bleach helps with whites.

[6lilpigs]

I think thats the key thing though if they dont come up clean then you are more likely to replace them so more raw materials, more sweat shop kids in India on 6p a day. Half of my youngest sons clothes are clothes I was given for my first son after my cousins little boy had outgrown them so they have been threw four little boys so I am not one to chuck things out with the fashion. If they are well made and wash well they will do the rounds until the knees go in my household but they need to wash well.

So what do you do? buy lots of clothes or a normal powder.

[Maverick]

have you tried ecover powder?
Would you like me to send you a sample of soapnuts, think I sent Tiger some once, how are you getting on with them Tiger, still using them?

[tiger]

I used to use non bio powder but have been using soapnuts, partly for environmental reasons and partly because of allergies in the family. Neither works well on soiled clothes so I compromise and use a bio powder on anything that's badly soiled and soapnuts on lightly soiled items or things like towels that only need freshening up.
It's worth experimenting to see if you can get away with using less than the recommended amount of soap powder.

[tiger]

have you tried ecover powder?
Would you like me to send you a sample of soapnuts, think I sent Tiger some once, how are you getting on with them Tiger, still using them?

Yes, as you can see from my previous post. :)

[Maverick]

As tiger says, you can get away with a lot less than the recommended amount of powder if none of the alternatives please you, or try a mix of half and half soap powder and soda crystals.

[Hummer]

I have made them use Fairy Non Bio because I get itchy.

How do these soapnuts and balls compare to the cleaning power of that?

Also are you saying that the balls wear out your clothes?

And why the hell am I asking about soap powder???

[Angel]

What are soapnuts?

[tiger]

soapnuts (http://www.inasoapnutshell.com/?gclid=CILv7Z7nqYsCFQyDEAodPlZBcghttp://www.inasoapnutshell.com/?gclid=CILv7Z7nqYsCFQyDEAodPlZBcghttp://www.inasoapnutshell.com/?gclid=CILv7Z7nqYsCFQyDEAodPlZBcg)

[Angel]

Thanks tiger. I did not know until now that there are so many eco-friendly laundry options available.

I currently use fairy non-bio as I have eczma and generally sensitive skin, although I am considering the other options available.

[Maverick]

angel would you like a soapnut or two? Actually they are giving free samples away on the website now.

[Angel]

Thanks for the kind offer Maverick, I will obtain from the website though.

[Mamzie]

angel would you like a soapnut or two? Actually they are giving free samples away on the website now.

I mnay try these too, they sound pretty good, I guess.

[princess_poppet]

My little girl has Really bad eczema hence part of the reason i use the eco balls now but i do put in a scoup or 2 of the ecover stain remover so the washing comes up really clean

I saw about the soapnuts might have a go with those too

[Maverick]

pp they are good for excema, send off for a sample.

[tiger]

So should I buy these?
Ill get a right telling off if they are no good?

Question what about fabric softener?

I have made them use Fairy Non Bio because I get itchy.

How do these soapnuts and balls compare to the cleaning power of that?

Also are you saying that the balls wear out your clothes?

And why the hell am I asking about soap powder???

You don't need to use fabric softener with soapnuts because they leave the clothes soft. If you want to add fragrance to your clothes then add a few drops of essential oil to the drawer where you normally put the softener. I don't always bother because if I can dry the clothes outdoors, I just love the smell of fresh air on them.

The cleaning power of soapnuts is similar to that of non bio powder, it gets out slight soiling, but won't shift stains or grease.

If you get itchy from washing powders, Hummer, you might want to think about using less fabric conditioner. Either don't bother or just use it for every 2nd or 3rd wash as it can build up in the clothes.

[princess_poppet]

Fabric softner is the worse thing to use for pl with eczema or bad skin. I cant rememeber what the ingredient it is but it is a big no no. Its worse then using washing powder.

[tiger]

I remember one of my sons, who suffered from eczema, got a really bad rash and it turned out to be from fabric conditioner. I stopped using it on his clothes.

[Angel]

I have some soapnuts in the washing machine, are they supposed to produce suds?

[Hummer]

Okay I got a great answer on the soap nuts thanks.

But what about the balls?

Are they not as good cleaning wise as the soap nuts?

I would think cost wise the balls are better if they do indeed work?

And do they work at low temperature like the washing powders do now?

So many questions..

[princess_poppet]

Okay I got a great answer on the soap nuts thanks.

But what about the balls?

Are they not as good cleaning wise as the soap nuts?

I would think cost wise the balls are better if they do indeed work?

And do they work at low temperature like the washing powders do now?

So many questions..

I havent used the soap nuts yet hummer. I like the balls for coloured washes on 30 / 40 they are great

For whites tho i do add a eco friendly stain remover and then they usually come up fine on a 40 / 60 wash.

They arent perfect for whites but i have had no probs with colours with em at all but i do think they need the extra stain remover with whites or really tough marks / stains.

What were the soap nuts like?? :confused:

[Hummer]

I havent used the soap nuts yet hummer. I like the balls for coloured washes on 30 / 40 they are great

For whites tho i do add a eco friendly stain remover and then they usually come up fine on a 40 / 60 wash.

They arent perfect for whites but i have had no probs with colours with em at all but i do think they need the extra stain remover with whites or really tough marks / stains.

What were the soap nuts like?? :confused:

I think with powder you can wash at temp less than that, however not sure what temp our washers being run at so that may be irrelavant.

Will review how much powder we have and see about getting some balls.

Hummer has no balls yet :eek: