Laundry Ball - Benefits Claimed By Manufacturers

Benefits Claimed By Manufacturers

Laundry balls are marketed as cheaper, environmentally friendly alternatives to ordinary washing powders or liquids. The manufacturers claim the following benefits, which are real:

• Lack of chemicals which may harm the environment.
• Hypoallergenic and anti-irritation.
• Reduced water usage (because less rinsing is required - this assumes the customer uses a different setting on their washing machine).
• Reduced use of energy by using cold water (see embodied energy).
• Can be re-used many times before refilling or replacing. This can range from 60 to 2000 wash loads.

but they have also misleadingly claim many benefits that laundry balls don't have:

• Removing stains as effectively as detergents.
• Removing germs and bacteria as effectively as detergents.
• Removing odors.
• Effective as bleacher.
• Effective as softener.
• Softening Hard water.
• Changing the pH of water.

However, the real benefits are comparable to the benefits of washing without any detergent and are sometimes worse.