THE WASHING THINGIE

[oldfella]

Did the washing (just a few smalls you understand) not a full blown big job, and used the plastic ball with thingies inside that you leave in the sun, and you use instead washing powder. IT WORKS so no more boxes a plastic bottles. so one more step in the right direction

[frozenthunderbolt]

could you posibly give more details; what it is / where you get it what it is called?
many thanks

[theabsinthefairy]

Do you mean these - I was considering them as an alternative.

Original EcoBalls® laundry kit - lasts up to 1,000 washes!
The Original EcoBalls® laundry kit saves money and the planet. You use them instead of washing powder, and yes, they do really work.

To use them, put all 3 EcoBalls® in the machine instead of washing powder. Each EcoBall contains mineral salts that produce ionized oxygen, penetrating deep into clothing, lifting dirt and grime away.

More information



EcoBalls® give you a clean, fresh, and sensitive alternative to conventional washing powders, and are reuseable for up to 1,000 washes (including the free refills), which is about the same as 50 boxes of washing powder. They cost on average 3p per wash (compared to 25-30p for normal washing powder), and so will save you quite a lot of money.
EcoBalls® are hypoallergenic and the kit includes free refill pellets and a stain remover.
No more hassle or expense of carting bulky powders and liquids home from the supermarket ever again.
Voted one of the Ten Best Green Household Products by The Independent (January 2005), and recently featured on BBC Newsnight.
If everyone switched to EcoBalls ®, 700,000 fewer tonnes of detergent would go into Britain's waterways every year.

[hoomin_erra]

How would they stand up in a house with 4 kids?

[Russian Doll]

How would they stand up in a house with 4 kids?

lol you got that question in before me...do you think it would cope with two toddlers that end up covered with soooo much stuff and two fussy pre teens..plus newspaper print from the hubby

[Annpan]

I find it worrying that you refer to your 5 1/2 year old as 'pre -teen' Is that how quickly childhood is over these days?

The eco-balls seem to do really well in tests... but someone on here (I think it was chickpea) did a test, and found that washing in just water was almost as effective

I am afraid I need washing powder - for many years I have suffered from OCD, I am not ready to stop using soap to wash my clothes.

[oldfella]

Yes, I'm sorry that I did not give the information but I felt sure you know of them. We found them through local gardening magazine and I now find that my OH has been using them for some month's, and tells me that she has told before how good she thinks they are but I can only plead old age for bad memory. She said that she adds a little fabric cleaner if you want the clothe smell of anything, other than fresh. Try them them we don't you think will regret it. Regarding the grubby kids, my daughter has two super grubbies and she swears by it.

Orignal EcoBalls

[ina]

What got me confused in your original post is the reference to leaving them in the sun? If I had to do that, I could never use them here...

[theabsinthefairy]

Most suppliers offer a money back guarantee if they are not up to the job of coping with young (or old) grubbers.

[oldfella]

Ina,


On the window sill in the light works OK