Eco Balls and Hotpoint Aqualtis

[PigeonPie]

I've just got my Eco wash balls and am very excited (aren't I sad?!), but want to know if anyone else is using them with an Aqualtis as I want to get the best out of them.

I've bought them primarily for washing the nappies but intend to do most things. I don't seem to be able to switch off the rinse cycle or do a quick wash at more than 30 degrees and as they're nappies, I'd prefer to wash them at at least 40.

All experiences gratefully received.

I have them and wash on a 40 cycle....but I have a Bosch.

I use them on a 60 cycle on a Bosch with no way to turn off the rinse cycle either. They seem to be fine. When I use them for clothes or towels I need to use a fabric softener though, even though it says you don't need to.

They are a bugger to refill though, when the pellets have worn down.

Oh, I've never used Fab Soft with mine, but will try that.

With you there mumdebump, changed mine a month ago and it took ages!

Thanks both. mumdebump, how long is your 60 cycle? Mine is 2 1/2 hours which seems very long and probably unnecessary, but I don't seem to be able to shorten it by much.

Probably won't use fabric softener as I never have, and the reason I'm using the balls is because DS2 has had nappy rash when I've used detergent in his nappies so I don't want to use any chemicals at all.

1hr 17 mins on cottons 60 cycle, 1 hr 34 for cottons stains 60, (God am so sad as I didn't even have to look that up!!! how much laundry do I do!) shorter for mixed fibres 60 cycle which I never run.

I don't use fabric softener for the nappies. DD also had reactions to detergent but is ok with the ecoballs (and they seemed to work much better than the gentler detergents at cleaning the nappies too - bonus). There was a tip on here to use vinegar in place of fabric softener if you are in a hard water area, it seems to work and doesn't smell on the nappies when they dry.

Thanks for that! Right, now I've got to work out how to reduce the machine run by an hour! My current cotton 60 is 2hours 25 (and I didn't need to look that up either!) which is far too long.

I think I'll need to take out shares in white vinegar. I used it the other day to wash the rubber bath mat in the machine as it was going rather manky and it did a pretty good job. So I'll try it with the nappies too.

At least now DS1 is out of nappies during the day I'm back to doing a load every other day.

Oooh, haven't tried vinegar on the bath mat. Might give it a go as it's v slimy underneath. Didn't know you could put them in the machine.

hi i use washer balls but find they don't get the stains out of anything clothes or nappies am i doing anything wrong cos i have been using them for a while now and it is annoying me cos some stuff has to be washed a few times and i use alot of stain remover spray which sort of defeats the object of using them just wondered if i am doing anything wrong as i think i will be going back to washing powder if i can't sort it out thanks

mumdebump, well, ours came from Boots and has washing instructions on it. It says 40 but I actually did it on a quick wash at 30 with 2 cups of wine vinegar and it was certainly a lot less manky on the back.