To improve the quality of washing, place balls in the drum. They come in four types: with spikes, tourmaline, magnet, polypropylene loops for collecting pellets. The balls facilitate penetration of detergents and rinsing. When washing down products, they fluff up the fluff. From two to 12 balls are used per cycle, depending on the volume of clothing and the size of the balls. After washing, the balls are wiped and dried. Products with a magnet have an unlimited shelf life. Tourmaline lasts up to three years. The rest are recommended to be changed more often.
The balls are produced by the brands Boggart, Paterra, Eva, Bradex, Supra, Biotech, Josko. You can buy them in hypermarkets, home stores or online. Instead of special balls, purchase tennis balls or rubber bathing balls.
Before starting the cycle, special balls are placed in the machine. They enhance the effect of the powder, make fabrics softer, and remove pellets. Let's find out what types of balls there are for washing down jackets and how to use them.
What are laundry balls used for?
Balls make washing easier and help extend the life of things. The initial task of such devices is an additional mechanical effect on the fabric during processing, due to which dirt is washed off better and the material retains its quality longer. In addition, washing balls:
- can completely replace detergent;
- break down fluff in jackets and down jackets;
- promote better rinsing of the powder;
- help remove contaminants;
- eliminate pilling on knitted and knitted clothes;
- softens the fabric, eliminating the need to use fabric softener;
- completely hypoallergenic, which is extremely important for people prone to allergies.
Using laundry detergent balls will save detergent, fabric softener, water and electricity.
TOP 7 best
The effect is universal (suitable for any type of clothing), affordable laundry ball (diameter 14 cm), made of rubber. Soft spikes prevent the formation of lint clumps and add softness to terry fabric. Manufacturer China. The average price of one ball is 75 rubles.- Eva - balls are made of high-quality PVC (manufactured in China). Washing with Eva balls prevents the appearance of pilling and reduces the drying time of washed items by 25%. Can be used instead of fabric softener. The average cost of a set of two balls is 200 rubles.
- Bradex Magnet Laundry is a magnetic ball (diameter 5.5 cm), effective for washing children's and delicate laundry. Environmentally friendly product. Has an antistatic effect. The average price of one ball is 270 rubles.
- Supra Clean Balls Washing Ball - tourmaline ball (diameter 9 cm) will help you wash things without using detergents. Thanks to the filling of mineral granules, items acquire special softness and aroma after washing. The average price of one ball is 164 rubles.
- Biotech ECO Laundry Ball is a tourmaline ball (diameter 10 cm) filled with ceramic granules. Can replace traditional detergents. The average cost of one ball is 380 rubles.
- Jocko - small (only 6cm) balls and PVC with soft spikes provide high-quality washing and softness of laundry. Manufacturer Germany. Sold in sets of two. The cost of the set is 990 rubles.
- Paterra is a PVC ball (diameter 12 cm), covered with rounded pimples. Effective when washing down products (prevents the formation of fluff lumps, softens the fabric). The average cost of one ball is 195 rubles.
What things and materials are used for?
To understand which beads are right for you, consider the purpose of their use, as they come in different types, some of which, in turn, are suitable for processing certain products.
Type of balls | What products are they suitable for? |
Tourmaline | For clothing that comes into contact with the skin: underwear, T-shirts, T-shirts, blouses. Cannot be used for washing silk and wool. |
Pimply | For down jackets, jackets, blankets and pillows. |
Magnetic | For everyday clothes made of any materials. They do not cope with cleaning jackets, down jackets, and blankets. |
Antikatyshki | For woolen, fleecy and knitted clothing. |
If you use the balls correctly and wash only with products that are suitable for their properties, they will last as long as possible.
Where to buy washing balls?
Such devices are now very popular, so they are not difficult to find in the household chemicals department of supermarkets. As a rule, they are located next to laundry detergents.
You can find simple balls in an online store or retail outlets selling household appliances.
Linen balls are usually sold in a set of 4 pieces. If you can't buy them, you can go to sporting goods for tennis balls.
Types of washing balls and their principle of operation
In the assortment of washing balls you will find several varieties. Each type has a special structure and a unique principle of action.
Plastic and rubber
They have a studded surface. Due to the pimpled surface, washing efficiency increases significantly. They are mainly used for processing down jackets, jackets, and blankets. During the washing process, they break up the inner layers of fluff, preventing it from clumping. Hedgehog balls cannot fully replace detergent, but only perform mechanical additional actions in the drum.
Smooth balls made of PVC materials are also on sale. They, in turn, are designed for processing delicate fabrics.
Magnetic
They are a plastic ball with a small magnetic ball inside. They have a maximum service life of 20 years.
In addition to their main mechanical function, they soften water by demagnetizing it. If you use balls like these, you can skip the conditioner, since the clothes will be soft and pleasant to the touch after washing.
Tourmaline
In appearance, tourmaline balls resemble a baby rattle. Inside the plastic base are small granules of tourmaline, which contains more than 80 minerals. When in contact with water, the granules release alkali, which foams in the process and removes dirt from things.
When using tourmaline, there is no need to use washing powders and gels. In addition, the minerals included in the composition soften and disinfect water. This property not only improves the quality of washing, but also protects the washing machine from damage.
Tourmaline balls are relatively expensive, but their service life of 3 years fully pays for this cost.
When using tourmaline beads, follow these guidelines:
- When washing by hand, first soak the items in water;
- When washing in a machine, there is no need to pre-soak things;
- Before the first use, saturate the internal contents of the device with positive ions by keeping it in the sun for at least 30 minutes;
- The washing temperature should not exceed 50 degrees;
- After use, let the balls dry completely.
Tourmaline balls are a hypoallergenic product, so they can be used for washing children's clothes or clothes for allergy sufferers.
Anti-pellet balls
They resemble balls from the children's game "Darts". The plastic base is covered with ribbons with loops to which lint, wool and threads stick. During the washing process, the ball slides over the surface, thereby removing pellets.
In addition, the balls have a beneficial effect on the operation of the washing machine, since they collect lint and debris in the drum during operation.
These balls also work great for removing animal hair on clothes.
With ceramic granules
On sale you can find balls with ceramic granules. They are similar to tourmaline balls in their external structure, only the inside of such devices is not tourmaline granules, but ceramic. The manufacturer recommends not using powder, since the granules are made from natural raw materials, which, when interacting with water, create negative ions.
They can be used no more than 500 times. Before washing, soak the ball for 15 minutes, and be sure to dry it after.
Wool balls for drying clothes
Special dryer balls are made from sheep wool. Used in washing machines with drying function. They are helping:
- reduce the moisture level in products by 25%;
- make laundry softer without using conditioner;
- reduce the risk of pellets;
- prevent the filler from rolling off in down jackets and jackets during drying.
One sheep ball is designed for 1000 dryings. Just put it in the drum before the drying cycle and dry thoroughly afterwards. If desired, before the procedure, you can add a few drops of essential oil directly to the ball, and then the laundry will emit a light, unobtrusive aroma after drying.
Drying Features
Even if you have used all the above tips, the down jacket will still not look voluminous after washing, because its contents will get wet. In order for a down product to return to its original appearance, proper drying is needed. Some tips:
- The washed item cannot be dried in a horizontal position, as there will be no ventilation and the fluff will smell unpleasant. And the down jacket will take many times longer to dry. It is best to hang it on hangers in a ventilated area.
- From time to time the down jacket needs to be shaken and the sleeves turned out.
- Using a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner can speed up drying.
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.
What to look for when choosing?
Taking into account a few tips, choosing the right balls will speed up significantly:
- For each type of fabric, a specific type of ball is selected. Rubber “hedgehogs” are ideal for cleaning outerwear. Smooth PVC balls are effective when washing delicate fabrics. In order to wash woolen products with high quality, anti-pilling balls made of polypropylene are used. Magnetic and tourmaline balls are a universal means for washing items made from any fabric.
- In order to determine the required number of balls, you need to pay attention to the material they are made of. For high-quality washing, it is recommended to use at least four PVC balls, 6-12 magnets or tourmaline balls.
You should not skimp on balls, otherwise the washing result may not live up to your expectations.
Before going to the store, it would be a good idea to get acquainted with the most popular manufacturers, read reviews, and monitor the price level.
How to use laundry balls
Regardless of the type of balls and their manufacturer, the recommendations for their use are approximately the same. You simply place the required number of balls into the drum of the washing machine, and after washing, remove them and dry them.
How many balls are needed when washing different clothes and linens?
To determine how many balls are needed for one wash, you need to know the size of the washing machine drum and its loading level, and also take into account the purpose of the balls.
Variety | Load level | Required amount |
Pimply | Full load | 2-3 pcs. |
Magnetic | Up to 6 kg. | 6-12 pcs. |
Full load | 12 pcs. | |
Delicate fabrics | 6 pcs. | |
Wool | 4 things. | |
Tourmaline | Up to 5 kg. | 1 PC. |
Full load | 2 pcs. | |
Antikatyshki | Full load | 2 pcs. |
Tennis balls | Full load | 4-8 pcs. |
With ceramic granules | Up to 5 kg. | 1 PC. |
Full load | 2-3 pcs. | |
For drying | Up to 5 kg. | 1 PC. |
Full load | 2 pcs. |
Most often, balls are sold in sets of 2, 6 or 12 pieces.
For washing down jackets and down products
For washing jackets, down jackets and other products with natural or synthetic fillings, balls with pimples are best suited. They will create additional mechanical forces when the drum rotates, as a result of which the filler will not crumple.
Since these devices are made from painted plastic, check before use to ensure they will not stain the product. To do this, fill the balls with hot water and let them sit for at least 30 minutes. If the water has not changed color, then you can safely use them.
For one down jacket or blanket, it will be enough to place from 2 to 6 balls in the drum, depending on the dimensions of the product.
For washing your bra
For washing bras, special container balls have been created, consisting of two spheres: internal and external. Such devices help protect bra parts from mechanical damage during automatic washing. After it, the straps do not twist, the hooks and fittings do not break, and the cups remain in their original shape.
For washing sneakers
If you wash your sneakers in an automatic machine, you can enhance the effect of the detergent by using tourmaline, magnetic or plastic balls. They will help eliminate complex stains and prevent the internal seals of the tongue and backs from becoming crumpled.
How to wash down jackets correctly?
By following these tips, you can preserve the appearance of the product for a long time and extend its service life:
- Down jackets can only be washed with liquid detergents. It is desirable that they be special for down jackets.
- The water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees.
- It is advisable to use a delicate wash cycle.
- Before washing, close all zippers and other fasteners.
- You need to look to see if there is a “no washing” sign on the items. If available, only dry cleaning is suitable.
- The down jacket is wrung out only at low speeds.
- It is advisable to use tennis balls or special balls.
Advantages and disadvantages
During use, many housewives noted that thanks to the balls:
- the down in jackets does not get lost;
- contaminants are removed better;
- pellets disappear;
- powder and conditioner are rinsed out better;
- Detergents, electricity and water are saved.
Despite this, such devices also have disadvantages, namely:
- make a loud sound during washing as they hit the drum;
- suitable for washing in water with a temperature not exceeding 60 degrees;
- cheap beads can fade and ruin your clothes.
How to replace laundry balls
A classic replacement for special laundry balls would be tennis balls. Of course, they will not give the same effect, but they will cope with the task of breaking down the fluff when washing a down jacket. Add 3-4 tennis balls to the drum when washing and the fluff will not bunch up.
If you don't have tennis balls on hand, you can replace them:
- silicone balls from toys of a child or a domestic cat;
- a ball of thread, after putting it in a sock;
- walnuts;
- self-rolled foil balls.
Balls for washing clothes will become real helpers for many housewives. They will protect product materials from premature deterioration and save the family budget. Some of their types will help break down the filling in jackets and down jackets during washing, eliminate pilling, and even become a complete alternative to washing powder.
Customer Reviews
The opinions of people who have already used the balls are very mixed.
Either they don't work, or I don't understand something. They rattle terribly during washing, and they don’t really remove stains! Now children play with marbles.” “This is just a find! I started adding three times less powder, and things are washed with a bang. I wash baby items and diapers only with them. I still use conditioner for a pleasant aroma.
I always wash my down jacket with balls, now I don’t have to worry about the down getting wrinkled. But, of course, they won’t remove difficult stains, so you don’t have to wait for a miracle.
I have German balls. The instructions say that it has magnets. They look like rubber with spikes, but they are quite heavy. One blue one goes into the washing machine. The second red one is already drying. At least that's what the instructions say. It is also said that it saves energy and powder consumption. I like the effect. I recommend.
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