This much we know!
In an effort to do my bit for the environment and to decrease my family's exposure to chemicals I switched from conventional washing powder and fabric conditioner to using more environmentally friendly alternatives, I have used them for 2 years. This much we know...
Eco balls are three plastic spheres with a firm foam "belt" around the middle of them. You put all 3 in the washing machine with your clothes and don't put anything in the washing powder drawer.
They are very easy to use, you just put them in the washing machine drum with your washing. You can only use them in washes up to 60 degrees. At the end of the wash you just take them out and store them somewhere dry until the next wash. You can use them again straight away if you want. My first set lasted me about 8 months before I needed to refill them. My eco balls came with a refill which made them last another 4 months.
Yes they do... up to a point. I was exceedingly happy with mine for about 8 months. I know many people are put off them because clothes don't "smell clean" and I assumed that this was simply because the washing didn't smell of whatever perfume had been added to their usual washing powder. I didn't think this would bother me as I'd been using a non biological, sensitive skin laundry powder with no obvious perfume. The "no perfume" smell didn't bother me until I had been using the Eco Balls for about 8 months and then the washing started to smell "not clean". This stale smell was particularly noticeable on my gym clothes which get very sweaty, and my children's clothes which get particularly dirty.
I was very happy with them on all my washing up to 60 degrees for about 8 months, then despite refilling the eco balls they never gave such a good wash as they had been. I'd say I got value for money out of the eco balls. I was happy to be using eco balls for environmental reasons and also because there were less chemicals coming into contact with my children's bodies.
Having said that, I don't use them any more. It just became a nuisance that I couldn't rely on my clothes being clean following a wash in the washing machine and having to re-wash things meant I was not saving money.
I think ecoballs could work for you if you used eco balls on washing that just needed freshening up rather than on dirty, sweaty clothes. Eco balls might be more successful if you just used them every other wash and used your usual washing powder in between.
Dryer balls are 2 spiky plastic balls that you put in the tumble dryer. They are supposed to cut down on your drying time and soften your laundry without the need for fabric conditioner.
I have been using dryer balls in my tumble dryer for 2 years. I think they do work, and they are still going strong after 2 years. I don't think they cut down on the drying time as much as some of the adverts for them claim, but I do think they soften the laundry.
Yes I do. I will definitely replace mine when they break or I lose them! Using dryer balls means that I don't have to use fabric conditioner which saves money and means less chemiclas close to my children's skin. My clothes don't come out of the tumble dryer smelling of "summer meadows" or "citrus burst" they smell of nothing and I like it that way.