Done my first lot of laundry with the ecoballs!

[pippah]

I was inspired by the '3 loads a day' washing thread to be a bit more of an 'eco-warrior' so I went on EBay and bought some ecoballs (for £10 less than RRP) and some dryer balls.

We tried them for the first time yesterday on 30 degree wash. I am pretty impressed with the results as I was not convinced that they would work. The only stain that didn't come out was the bright orange satsuma juice from all over DS's bobdysuit, but I'm not sure that those would have come out with normal detergent. I decided not to pretreat with the stain remover to give them a proper trial, so maybe if I had, the stain would have faded a bit. Everything else (mixed coloured of mine, DHs and DSs) came out great, even at the low temp.

The dryer balls also seem to work...not need for softener in wash or dryer sheets (which I am v allergic to anyway)and fluffed up towels nicely, bedlinen also tried and came out really soft and nice. Drying time is reduced by about 1/4.

I think it will take a while to get used to the fact that there is no smell to the clothes, but otherwise I am pretty happy with my purchases. They should do me 1000 washes so 2 years worth of washing approx. I should therefore save my money back by not using powder, softener and using less energy to heat the water and less dryer time...

Hope this is not too dull, but I did have a request (sorry, I forget who from) to post when I had tried them out.

Mmm, don't get too excited...

I tried these for about 3 months. I was very very pleased for the first 3 months - things came out clean, and although there was no detergent smell, they smelt clean.

But, after a few months all my laundry started to semll musty, especially towels. They would come out of the wash with no smell, I would tumble them, put them away, but as soon as you dried yourself with them and they got damp, they smelt musty. Very offputting after a bath...

I also found my non-tumble dryable laundry became very stiff and rought to touch.

Also, don't believe the 1000 washes thing - if you read the small print, that is based on a 30 minute wash cycle - my washing machine takes at least three times that for each full wash (withoug pre-wash) , so one load of laundry for me counted as 3 washes...

I spent loads on refills, and it worked out pricey in the longer run...

I am on Ecover now, a happy medium!

that should be 'I was very pleased for the first 2 months'

There's some interesting stuff on MN about soapnuts too....my BIL is using them so am waiting to see how they go before trying them myself.

PG, I know what you mean about wash time. My current washer/dryer came with the house but it takes AGES! When we move I'll buy a reconditioned old monster with a quick wash.

oooo someone on mn knows the word mardy.

peegeeweegee - I found that with my towels when I switched to Surcare. They were fine for a while but after a few months they smelt yucky and so I switched went back on to regular stuff

Just seen this thread - I have just started a thread under chat about these balls:

I have just seen some JML tumble dryer balls in Woolies - £9.99 they are supposd to cut down on drying time, fluff and make the clothes soft. Has anyone got them and are they any good?

Are these the ones you use pippah?

I started using ecoballs a few weeks ago and have found them fine so far, will be interesting to see how long they last, no smells yet!

has no-one read my tea tree and lavender tip?

you're all going on about smells and I've already given you the damn answer

been thinking about this - and the comments about the musty smell etc - I wonder if the best compromise is to perhaps use them every other wash - maybe we do wash too often and a freshen up with these things is sometimes enough, but sometimes we do need detergent. (not sure logistically how you'd organise it, but maybe just using them for a week, then using dtergent, or the every other wash thing, with the hope that it probably all balances out...)

tea tree! tea tree!

no musty smells!

Cappucino, I am liking this tea tree tip. Do you put the drops in the drawer where you would have put detergent or fabric softener?

d'you know what, I think i'll try tea tree next time I wash DH's running stuff as it was stinky even after washing for an hour and a half

TTT, have replied to your dryer balls thread. Got these last week and love them.. Reuce my drying time by about 10 minutes - not the 25% they advertise. But there is less fluff and the washing is lovely and soft. Also - best bit for me, have not had to iron anything that went in with them Saving energy, time and effort!

Thanks Vanilla - the not have to iron part has definately sold them to me

docket yes

and earlybird when it comes to v sweaty stuff, I give it a rinse in white vinegar first before adding the balls

soapnuts are the job!

someone on MN recommended them and i'm in love with them! they work really well, even on nappies (although i add a dash of ecover bleach and tea tree to the nappies) and if you put some essential oil in the softner drawer stuff smells lovely.

they even work on icky disgusting socks dp has worn for days! and newborn bf poo!