There are 28 e-Views written by our customers, and 39 customer questions that been answered by our staff for Ecozone Ecoballs ® - the original Eco Balls
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Verified product ownerThe ecoballs even managed to remove 99% of lily pollen from a white shirt. I soaked in handwash and vanish for a few hours but the stain didn't change. washed in a normal cycle with the ecoballs and the stain was gone with only three tiny specks left :)
This e-View is rated: Helpful (2) Passionate (0) This e-View is rated: Helpful (1) Passionate (0) It works out cheaper per wash as you don't need to use the rinse cycle, so a second load of water does not need to be heated up.
for bad stains I do use a stain remover but I have to do that with the top selling liquid detergent
I still approve of these in principle – clean , easy, no chemicals, no packaging, and economy in direct comparison with powders. But overall, in terms of water and energy? Hmmm, the jury’s still out.
I washed towels at 60c, they came out clean and soft without using fabric conditioner. I normally wash towels at 90c and it takes well over 1 hour.
Next I washed cotton bedding at 40c, with excellent results, they came out clean and fresh.
My next wash contained clothing including smelly socks I used a 40c wash. Once again excellent result and the socks passed the sniff test.
Overall I would highly recommend these balls.
I saved on electricty and water by putting my washing machine on the rinse hold cycle and then turning it to spin. My towels washed in less than 1 hour.
Staff feedback- It's worth noting that Ecozone Ecoballs come with a 30 day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied*. If you find they're not for you, you won't be left out of pocket.*
We have sold over 3500 of these and have so far had 14 sent back to us (that's 0.4%). John
Staff feedback- It's worth noting that Ecozone Ecoballs come with a 30 day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied*. If you find they're not for you, you won't be left out of pocket.
* We have sold over 3500 of these and have so far had 14 sent back to us (that's 0.4%). John
Submitted by kelly on 21st Feb 2008
Submitted on 15th Nov 2007
Submitted by johanna on 28th Oct 2008
Submitted on 15th Nov 2007
I personally don't rate their cleaning power, they don't do a great deal to remove stains of any kind and seem to leave the washing smelling almost "musty" afterwards, so I only use them when it's warm enough to dry the laundry in the garden, to get that "fresh" smell.
Sorry but not impressed.
Sam x
Product Questions about the Ecozone Ecoballs ® - the original Eco Ballsback to top »
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Most Helpful Questions
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heather asked this question on 17th Jan 2008
Q: Can you use fabric softner with these balls. I know it says that you don't need it, but if you have guests it is nice to make the lining smell nice.
A: According to the manufacturers..."You should find that the garments are naturally soft without the use of fabric softener. If you do miss the synthetic smell we suggest that you only use an Eco softener such as Ecover, but do not add it to the wash. When the wash is complete remove the Ecoballs™ add the softener and switch the machine on to a short rinse" John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
philcooling asked this question on 16th Jan 2008
Q: The instructions on your page say "Take out and leave to dry" after a load - if you're doing two or even three loads on the trot (we have a baby, can you tell??) do you need to let them dry out in between or can they go straight back in the wash again?
A: They can be used immediately - without drying out before the next load is started - we'd better change the description to clarify this! John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
rosa asked this question on 8th Jan 2008
Q: Do the Ecozone Ecoballs have chloride in them?
A: The ingredients of the Ecoball pellets are as follows :-Higher alkyl sulfate, non-ionic surfactant, sodium metasilicate, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate. John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
Question asked on 23rd Nov 2007
Q: How are the used-up balls disposed of? Can they be recycled?
A: The balls can be refilled and re-used using the Eco Balls Refill kit. Andy
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
Question asked on 13th Nov 2007
Q: Where can I get refills of the pelletts once the ones supplied have run out?
A: You can get them from us! ecoball refill pellets (270g) will last up to 750 washes based on a 30 minute wash cycle. price is £19.99
We also sell replacement sponge rings too... POVID:33747 price £1. John
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
Question asked on 3rd Nov 2007
Q: Hello. Can I use a (Magno Fix) anti-limescale ball in the drum along with the ecoballs? thank you in advance, Ellen
A: Yes. Using a Magno Ball in the drum with Eco Balls is fine. Andy
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
sara asked this question on 4th Apr 2008
Q: I noticed several people say you don't need a rince cycle, but how can I avoid this on my automatic machine? I've looked in the user manual, and there aren't any programs without a rince cycle. Can anyone give me any tips? (apart from standing by the machine to stop it manually... I'm a working mum!). Thanks!!
A: Some machines allow you to select a program without a rinse cycle, however this is not the norm. No harm will be done by allowing the rinse cycle to complete. Hope this helps.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
sophie asked this question on 26th Mar 2008
Q: If i only do a wash once a week will they last for the 1000 washes (approx 19 yrs!) or gradually deteriorate over time? realistically what is the longest time the balls will last? thanks.
A: The Ecoballs themselves do not degrade, it is the pellets inside which are worn down. They wear down when they are wet, so providing the balls are left to dry adequately, the Eco-balls should, in theory, last for the estimated 1000 washes. Obviously, however, we have not had time to test this.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
emma81 asked this question on 26th Mar 2008
Q: In some of the reviews people have said they don't need to use a rinse cycle anymore with the Ecoballs, my washing machine won't let me bypass the rinse cycle. Will I still be "saving" if I used the Ecoballs? Thanks in advance. Emma.
A: As the cost per wash (just 3p) is significantly cheaper with the Ecoballs, then even with a rinse cycle you will be making considerable savings on each load of washing, as well as ensuring that harmful chemicals are not introduced into the water sources.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
tpw101 asked this question on 17th Mar 2008
Q: Hi,
I was just wondering how you propose these balls to work. Your website says they ionize the water so that it can penetrate the clothing better but which of the ingredients (Higher alkyl sulfate, non-ionic surfactant, sodium metasilicate, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate) do you think does this and what evidence do you have for that?
Best wishes,
Tom
A: Thanks for the query. The official explanation from the manfacturers is that the pebbles in the balls raise the Ph of the water, in doing so they create negative ions in the water; dirt is made up of positive ions, thus the negative ions attract the positive ions like two magnets.
We have received much positive feedback from customers regarding the performance of the ecoballs, and as they come with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, there is little to lose by trying them.
Hope this helps.
Thomas
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
nathalie asked this question on 4th Mar 2008
Q: Do these work at 30C? (I tend to do the vast majority of my washing at that temp)
A: Yes, Ecoballs work well at 30 degrees C. Hope this helps. Thomas.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
leese asked this question on 27th Feb 2008
Q: Are these as effective in hard water areas?
A: The Ecoballs are very effective at softening water in hard water areas. Hope this helps. Thomas
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
janehunter41 asked this question on 25th Feb 2008
Q: I used Ecoballs for ages, but eventually the outer cushion got warped. What caused this?
A: This is caused by the heat of the water warping the ring over time. Replacement rings are available at: http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/ecozone/ecoball-replacement-sponge-rings-(3)/
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
philcooling asked this question on 22nd Feb 2008
Q: Do these balls kill off yeast/fungal infections (e.g. thrush)? We've been using vinegar to do this but since the instructions say that they raise the pH of the water (make it more alkaline) and vinegar is an acid they will (probably) cancel each other out!
A: The Ecoballs™ mineral pellets change the water molecules to soften the clothes and change the water acidity to more alkaline (bacteria typically doesn't grow in alkaline conditions). However the addition of vinegar will not be conducive to the performance of this product. John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
bernadette asked this question on 8th Feb 2008
Q: Can you use ecoballs to wash woollens? I would normally use woolwash or delicate wool detergent or pure soap flakes.
Thanks
A: Eco Balls are fine for a woollen wash and work well at the lower temperature washes that woollens need. Andy
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
shahid asked this question on 13th Feb 2008
Q: Are these balls suitable for use in a washing machine connected to a water softener?
Thanks
A: Yes they will work fine with softened water.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
bert asked this question on 17th Jan 2008
Q: Can you use an Essential oil (like Lavender or peppermint oil) to the fabric softener hole? Or would that damage the pellets? Also, when the pellets wear out, what do you do with them: black bin or brown bin? Thanks!
A: The manufacturers of Eco Balls recommend if additional products such as fabric softeners are to be used to add fragrance 'do not add it to the wash. When the wash is complete remove the Ecoballs™ add the softener and switch the machine on to a short rinse.'
When the washing pellets have worn out please dispose of any remaining
pellets safely in the general waste and not by fire or in your garden. The pellets are biodegradable. John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
joanne asked this question on 16th Jan 2008
Q: My housemate has found the Ecoballs not to remove sweat, etc. well enough (I've had no problems). She has added a little washing powder in with the balls, is this ok or will it damage the ecoballs?
A: Whilst the addition of powder / detergent kind of defeats the rationale for using eco balls it shouldn't damage them. The key to looking after eco balls is to ensure they are left to dry out when they are not in use - as the pellets are active when in contact with water. Hope this helps. John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
amanda asked this question on 31st Dec 2007
Q: i usually do a wash to freshen my clothes rather than because they are dirty will eco balls do this if i am not using a nice smelling washing powder thank you
A: Eco balls are odourless when used - so clothes when washed with them will not have any fragrance. John.
0 out of 0 people found this question and answer helpful
Question asked on 12th Nov 2007
Q: How long do the eco balls take to dry between successive washes and is it necessary to use fabric conditioner
A: The length of time ecoballs take to dry between washes is obviously greatly influenced by the environment in which you are drying them in. However it should be noted that ecoballs do not need to be fully dry before they can be used on the next laundry load BUT once the day's laundry is complete they should not be left standing in water / or in the drum of the washing machine.
Ecoballs cannot be used in the tumble dryer, the dryer will shorten the life of the Ecoballs
Re adding fabric softener to the wash with the Ecoballs?You should find that the garments are naturally soft without the use of fabric softener. If you do miss the fragrence aspect we suggest that you could use an Eco softener such as Ecover, but do not add it to the wash. When the wash is complete remove the Ecoballs add the softener and switch the machine
on to a short rinse. John.
Latest Questions
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alex asked this question on 5th Sep 2008
Q: I have used these for a while now and have noticed that the white pellets have nearly all disappeared, but there are still a considerable amount of brown pellets.
What are the difference between the 2 colours of pellets and should there be a roughly even ratio of white to brown pellets?
Will having more of one colour effect the cleaning capabilities of the Eco Balls or do I not need to worry about having more brown than white pellets?
Many thanks.
Alex.
A: The white pellets in the Eco balls are designed as surfactants and the brown pellets as ceramics, and due to this difference the ratio is not supposed to be even, and it would be expected that the brown pellets would indeed last longer. However this is nothing to be concerned about. The manufacturer anticipates that your Ecoballs will need to be refilled or topped up after around 18 months of usage, when the cleaning power is not as strong. I hope this is helpful to you. Jo.
1 out of 1 people found this question and answer helpful
sarahhollingsworth asked this question on 29th Jul 2008
Q: Hi,
I bought some of these a few months ago and am very pleased with them however I do have one question. How ashall I know when to put the replacement pellets inside the balls? Thanks.
A: The pellets will, over time, dissolve and disappear; therefore, when you can no longer see or hear them, it's time to replace them!
(The manufacturer states that this should be after approx 1000 washes)
1 out of 1 people found this question and answer helpful
elizabeth45 asked this question on 19th Jul 2008
Q: I recently read in Ethical Consumer that some "eco-washing balls" are made from PVC. Are these PVC free? Thanks
A: I am pleased to tell you that Ecozone Ecoballs do not contain any amount of PVC whatsoever. Marty