Nowadays, most people are looking for ways to make their lives eco-friendly while saving money. Washing with balls is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to wash clothes. Not only is laundry detergent expensive, it is also harmful to the environment and human skin. These activity balls eliminate the problems associated with traditional detergents while still getting the job done effectively. But many will ask: what are these, magnetic balls for the washing machine? How to use them? How often should I change them? A little patience, everything is in order.
What are magnetic balls used for?
If many have never heard of this ball before, it is necessary to start with the basics. There are many different types of balls, but they all have their own similarities.
Magnetic balls are small in size. They are often made of rubber or plastic. Magnets take part in softening water, influencing the random movement of insoluble salt molecules.
Technically, they contain magnets, "minerals", and some even contain a little detergent.
There are other ways to save money on laundry, such as making your own laundry detergent. Of course, making homemade laundry detergent is a good alternative to buying it. It's cheaper and healthier. However, to make your own detergent, you need to grind bars of soap, rinse with baking soda, etc. Laundry balls are an easier way to achieve the same end result.
Balls are an excellent alternative to traditional laundry detergent because:
- they save money;
- they help to use less water;
- They are eco-friendly, all natural and organic;
- they are antibacterial;
- they do not cause allergies;
- they are easy to use;
- they work on all types of clothing.
Which ones are better to choose?
To understand exactly what kind of balls you need, determine how and what you will use them for.
For example:
- Tourmaline and magnetic balls are suitable for washing almost any clothes.
- Silicone ones are suitable for processing delicate fabrics.
- Balls with PVC spikes will be needed for washing jackets and down jackets.
- Anti-pilling balls do an excellent job of processing woolen and knitted items.
- With ceramic granules they are suitable for everyday clothes without visible stains.
Proper use of laundry balls will help keep your clothes looking their best for longer.
How to use magnetic balls
The laundry balls are attached to the washing machine. Moreover, there is no need to sprinkle powder. To wash normal size clothes you need to throw one ball. A large number of things require two pieces. They are safe and suitable for all types of washing machines.
Unfortunately, laundry balls do not remove stains. It's worth pre-treating stains before washing to get the best results. You need to add a bleach mixture (such as 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide) to your whites to keep them bright and white.
First you need to attach two magnets to the side walls of the washing machine. They will remain in place at all times, performing their functions.
Tips for washing with magnetic balls are:
- if you need to wash cotton, you need to load a dozen small balls;
- there is a need to wash delicate fabrics such as velor, you need to take 2 times less balls - a maximum of 5 pieces;
- When washing wool, you do not need to load more than 4 balls into the machine.
When using balls, you should reduce the amount of detergent by half.
The balls are not afraid of high temperature and drum rotation speed, so you can set a comfortable cycle. But it is better not to set the temperature above 70 degrees.
The magnetic ball can also be used in dishwashers (on the bottom rack), in toilet tanks (to reduce hard water buildup in the toilet), and some people use them in their bath!
Popular brands of magnetic laundry balls
There is a large selection of laundry detergents on the market. Popular brands of magnetic balls:
Aquamag
Aquamag balls, produced in China, can prevent scale build-up on the heater because they soften the water. It does not provoke allergic reactions and can be used when washing children's clothes to disinfect linen and combat odors.
The weight of the product is 0.9 kg, so one ball is enough for a complete wash. To enhance the effect of using the device, soak the clothes with the powder and the ball for 30 minutes in advance, then load the clothes and the ball into the drum.
White cat
“White Cat” balls are produced by the German company TECHNOTRADE and are supplied in packs of 12 pieces. The magnet is covered with a rubber shell and its service life is unlimited.
The product removes scale and knocks dirt out of fabric fibers. One ball can quite soften the water. At a cost of almost 5,000 rubles, you need to carefully study the real properties of the device so as not to waste money.
On a note! If you can't find the balls in the household chemicals section of the supermarket, try ordering them from an online store.
Eco Life
The Eco Life ball also protects the SMA parts from plaque. These balls are made in Austria, but the product warranty is only 5 years. The manufacturer assures that using Eco Life you can save powder by a third and save 20% on energy costs.
The cost of the ball is no more than 500 rubles.
When do you need to replace magnetic balls?
Magnetic balls can be used about 1000 times. Of course, it is difficult to calculate how many times it was used. To roughly calculate how long the ball will last, just divide 1000 by the number of laundry times you do each week. It is also important to write the date on your calendar.
Laundry balls have a number of advantages over washing powder. They're better for your wallet, your health, and the planet.
What is a washing ball and why is it needed?
The washing ball is a device that has already earned the love of many Russian housewives. This is, as a rule, an inexpensive device that can significantly improve the quality of care for clothes and linen, extend their use and make drying and ironing easier. You can buy it in almost any hardware store, as well as in fixed-price supermarkets (for example, FixPrice). Many people order this product from online stores because the cost there is usually lower.
Washing balls perform the following functions:
- soften linen,
- improves the quality of washing,
- remove pills from clothes,
- prevent fabric deformation,
- reduce the consumption of washing powder and conditioner.
Environment
Because wash balls do not contain any chemicals, they are much better for the environment and water supply than traditional detergents. Washing balls also work in a way that increases the pH of the water.
Saving water is another advantage in favor of such washing. Since there is no detergent to rinse, there is no longer a need to run the rinse cycle on your washing machine. This saves about 20-40 gallons of water and all the energy needed to complete that extra cycle. Plus, the balls work great in cold water.
Reviews
There was a boom in magnetic balls back in the 90s; today such an accessory for a washing machine is extremely rare. Firstly, it is more difficult to deceive the modern consumer, and secondly, a lot of reviews about such balls and balls have appeared on the Internet. Here are some of the ones we found.
amerikanka, Kherson
I have been using White Cat balls for three years now and have not discovered any advantages. The balls are small in size, about 4 cm in diameter and weighing 35 grams. A long period of use showed that money was wasted, and quite a lot at that. In addition, the claimed removal of scale is complete nonsense. This was confirmed by a burnt-out heating element. I also didn’t notice any effect on the quality of washing. In general, if you really want to get rid of scale, then use citric acid, and to rinse your laundry better, do not forget about the additional rinse function.
ZhulikYS, Lipetsk
I bought a new product in the world of household chemicals, White Cat magnetic balls, and the seller praised them very nicely. Based on the results of long-term use, I noticed only a slight effect on the quality of washing; complex stains still remain. With the balls, I began to use fabric softener a little less, while the clothes are soft and pleasant to the touch. I can’t say anything about descaling, but I tested their effect on plaque in the toilet. After a week of stay, nothing has changed, the raid remains the same. The disadvantage of the balls is that they knock on the drum, although this does not harm the car, since they are rubber. Plus, they always get stuck in the duvet cover. Conclusion: it is better to buy ordinary cheap washing balls, the effect will be the same.
shenia, Minsk
Having seen the advertisement, I bought a miracle gadget – a green Eco Life magnetic ball, but I never saw the miracle. When washing, as the manufacturer advises in the instructions, I stopped adding water softener, reduced the amount of powder, and did not add conditioner. The laundry that comes out is really well washed and soft. But even without the ball it is absolutely the same; I conducted the experiment several times. However, I still put the ball in the machine, because the money is spent. But he's not worth the money.
greenline, Ufa
Through joint purchases, I purchased an Eco life magnetic ball for 380 rubles, which I called the “miracle ball.” This is because the manufacturer claims a lot of advantages. This means getting rid of scale, saving powder, eliminating rinse aid, and using it in a washing machine and dishwasher. I can’t say yet how well the ball works; I didn’t test it in my washing machine because it was broken, but my friend’s machine started coming out of white-gray stones after washing. Apparently this is the result of the ball's work. I think there is an effect, and it’s inexpensive.
As you can see, magnetic balls come in different sizes. Most users note that such an accessory is an unnecessary and ineffective waste of money. Some people really liked this ball. We are not dissuading you from buying, if you want to try it, try it, good luck with your washing!
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Reader comments
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User rating
Reviews about the product are varied - from negative ones, claiming that magnetic balls are useless and ineffective, to positive ones, recommending the product for use. Both sides provide facts from their practice of application.
Today, the popularity of laundry balls has decreased significantly, however, many women continue to use them. Since there is no consensus on the effectiveness of this device, it is better to check it yourself.
Flaws
A magnetic laundry ball has practically no significant disadvantages, but several shortcomings can be identified:
- during the washing process, the balls knock quite loudly on the glass and drum of the washing machine, since for the best result you will need 3-12 pieces;
- things filled with down, as well as large ones, for example, blankets, do not stretch well enough, since the products are not rigid and heavy enough for them;
- water for washing using magnetic balls should not be hotter than 80 degrees, the ideal temperature is 60 degrees, that is, it will not be possible to bleach laundry with high heat.
What can be substituted at home?
In a situation where there are no special balls at hand, and the down jacket requires cleaning, savvy housewives recommend using:
- small children's rubber toys;
- ping pong balls;
- plastic capsules from Kinder Surprise toys (for weight, you can fill them with well-crumpled pieces of foil).
When choosing an item that could replace special laundry balls, you need to pay attention to ensure that its surface is permanently colored.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
