Laundry ball facts for kids
A laundry ball or washing ball is a product that people use instead of laundry detergent. Companies that make laundry balls often say things about them that sound scientific but aren't really true. They also make the benefits sound much bigger than they are.
Washing clothes with laundry balls works about the same as washing them with no detergent at all. Any cleaning effect often comes from the ball moving around in the washing machine. It can also be from using hot water instead of cold water.
Government groups like the Federal Trade Commission have stopped some companies from making false claims. Many groups that protect consumers also tell people not to buy these products.
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Types of Laundry Balls
Laundry balls come in different shapes. Some are flat disks, round spheres, or even shaped like doughnuts. Inside some balls, you might find ceramic pieces, magnets, or colored liquid. Companies claim these things make the balls work better. However, no one has proven that they actually help. Some balls can be refilled with small detergent pellets or other ingredients.
Why People Think They Work
Laundry balls are sold as a way to save money and help the environment. Companies say they use less water and energy. But tests have shown they don't clean clothes any better than washing without detergent.
Are Laundry Balls Safe?
Sometimes, a laundry ball can break open during a wash cycle. If this happens, the small ceramic pieces inside could damage your washing machine.
How They Claim to Work
Manufacturers often have different ideas about how their laundry balls work. This suggests that these claims are just made up. Some claims have no scientific proof. Others greatly exaggerate the benefits. Balls that contain a little bit of detergent might clean better than just water. This is because they have ingredients similar to regular washing powder, but in tiny amounts. Some people claim that normal detergent companies tell you to use too much powder. They also say these powders have unnecessary fillers or scents. Since many people use too much detergent, using a ball with less detergent could make clothes cleaner.
The cleaning effect of laundry balls often comes from simple mechanical action. This means the ball just tumbles around and helps scrub the clothes. Using hotter water also helps. Some companies say their products save energy. But their instructions often tell you to use hot water. Hot water cleans some stains better than cold water. This might make people think the balls are working. The mechanical action of the balls can help with some stains. But a simple golf ball can do the same thing for much less money.
Infrared Claims
Some companies say their balls release far infrared rays. They claim these rays reduce the surface tension of water. This would supposedly make washing easier. It's true that most materials give off "far infrared waves" at normal room temperature. This is just heat radiation. It's also true that heating water reduces its surface tension. However, the tiny amount of radiation from the balls is too small to make a difference. It's much less than the heat from the washing machine walls or the water itself, especially if the water is hot.
Magnetic Claims
Some products claim that magnets can help remove limescale from your washing machine. Limescale is a chalky buildup. They also claim magnets stop new limescale from forming. Some companies say magnets remove hard water minerals. Or they say magnets make water molecules not "stick" to pipes. They might also claim magnets reduce water's surface tension. These claims are very doubtful. The science behind them is unclear and not well studied. Good quality studies have shown these products don't work. The companies often use made-up scientific explanations, which makes these products seem even less trustworthy.
Changing Water Structure
Some magnetic products claim to "change the molecular structure of water." This is a pseudoscientific claim. It has no real scientific basis. There is no such thing as "magnetized water." Water molecules do not line up when a magnet is nearby. Water is very slightly repelled by magnets. But this effect is so tiny that most tools cannot even detect it.
Special Detergent Balls
Some laundry balls can be refilled with small detergent pellets. These pellets are often sold only by the ball's manufacturer. Critics wonder if the small amount of detergent released by these balls is enough to clean clothes well.
Protecting Consumers
In 1997, a company called Amway sold a ceramic washing disk. They removed it from their catalog after finding it had "no measurable impact on overall cleaning."
In 1997, another company, Trade-Net, sold a product called the Blue Laundry Ball. They claimed the blue liquid inside had "structured water" that would help clean clothes. A chemistry professor named Dennis Barnum said the liquid was just water with blue dye. He said the company's claims were "gibberish" and didn't make scientific sense. A newspaper tested the balls. They found the balls cleaned only slightly better than hot water alone. They cleaned worse than using regular detergent.
After many complaints, Trade-Net was investigated by consumer protection groups. The company was told to stop making false claims. They could no longer say their product cleaned as well as regular detergent. Trade-Net later offered a 'new' laundry ball. But they had to pay large fines to several states and the FTC. The company soon disappeared. The Federal Trade Commission has also fined other companies for similar false claims. However, some companies still sell similar products online.
A judge ruled against Trade-Net in 1999. The judge said the company could not prove their claims. They also did not tell customers about reports showing their claims were wrong.
Consumer groups around the world have tested laundry balls.
- In April 1998, the Australian Consumers' Association said laundry balls were no better than cold water.
- In 1999, the US Federal Trade Commission stated these products "do little more than clean out your wallet." They said laundry balls were barely better than hot water and not as good as detergent.
- In 2000, Good Housekeeping magazine tested several balls. They also concluded these products "do little more than clean out your wallet."
- In 2009, an Italian consumer group, Altroconsumo, found laundry balls didn't wash better than plain water.
- Also in 2009, a Spanish consumer group, OCU, found laundry balls were no better than just using water. They told people to use only a small amount of regular detergent.
- In November 2011, the Hong Kong Consumer Council found washing balls were not more effective than plain water.
Many organizations recommend against using laundry balls. These include Consumers Union, Maytag, and the Soap and Detergent Association.
In February 2011, the Spanish National Institute of Consume ordered 14 companies to stop their misleading ads. They tested the balls and found them to be as effective, or even less effective, than washing with water alone.
In August 2012, the Portuguese Consumer Rights Council asked for a ban on washing balls. They said none of the advertised benefits were proven in tests.
In October 2015, the Australian consumer group Choice Australia gave a "Shonky Award" to Nanosmart Laundry Balls. They said the balls "don't work." After testing, they found the balls had no effect. They also said the scientific claims were untrue. Choice Australia said they would report the product to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Companies can sometimes keep selling laundry balls by making very vague claims. This makes it harder for consumer protection laws to stop them.
Where They Are Sold
In the United States, laundry balls have been sold on home shopping TV channels. They have also been sold by people involved in multilevel marketing. You can also find them in stores that sell eco-friendly products.
When they first became popular, similar balls were made for other uses, like washing cars.
See also
In Spanish: Ecobola para niños
