Mumsnet Talk

Do they work?

Are they noisy?

I'm contemplating them, but need convincing.

I have washer balls, they are good!

They're noisy if there's not much in the drier. Don't know if they work or not - things come out dry (but they would wouldn't they? It's a drier!)

Just make sure there isn't one inside a pillowcase when you put the pillow in & hit your kid over the head with it <guilty conscience>

I thought they were to make the clothes softer? Are they supposed to help them dry?

I think they speed it up a bit too by helping things to move about so you can get more in too.
They're noisy if they hit the sides.
Worth it though IMO

That are supposed to dry things 25% quicker I think. I have them and they can be a bit noisy but not too bad.

I must do a test and see if they actually do reduce drying time!

Chaos - is this just a thinly-veiled excuse for a double entendre?

If so, I heartily approve.

They are good if you've got small clothes, but they are easily tangled inside stuff if you are doing things like pillow cases.

Also, don't take them straight out and squeeze them because they feel warm and nice and squishy. They are full of very hot air. Ow...

I use them, not sure if they work. Sometimes they get lost in sleeves or duvet covers

Dammit, Olivia beat me to it.

No, it's just the way I walk.

Yes,they work,I used to have them but the dog found them and they vanished

If you want to dry a drier-load quicker,put in a bone dry bath towel with them.Honestly,try it,it works.

Love the Easter namechange Olivia !

Yes strangely enough since giving up, you know what for Lent they are bone dry
Yes I do have them really but havent really used them.

Washer balls?

No powder?

Where does one get washer balls??

My drier balls spend a significant amount of time being lobbed through the cat flap by ds.

A couple of tennis balls works just as well.

They're a bit clunky but they massively reduce drying time.

Mine got brutalised by the DCs broke so I bought more.

I got them in my corner shop for 99p or they would have been £3 ish in the supermarket or £5.99 from the Kleeneze catalogue.

I just bought DM a limescale ball to use instead of Calgon, and have friends who swear by the washer balls. I think they work in similar ways, in that you waste vast amounts of detergent to counter the limescale so can use much less with soft water or a softening method.

No.

I also don't have a dryer.

HTH

They help a bit. Although mine are from the 99p store so may improve the more expensive they are

Don't they trash your clothes even quicker than the tumble dryer manages all by itself? <fed up with holey t-shirts>

When they are actually in the sodding machine and not in a puddle outside, they seem to be rather effective. Drying time reduced and have halved the amount of fabric conditioner I use.

As to holes, I have just worked out that all the little teeny windows on the front of my tops are due to me washing up. My jeans button or belt rubs against the work surface thus ruining many many clothes.

snigger

That said, we do use them & yes definitely work, but go to Poundland - they sell them & they are exactly the same

Washer balls are good, but not for heavily soiled, stained stuff & needs a lighter load to really work