Washing balls – buy or make your own?

Whitish stripes on a down jacket, pilling on a sweater, prolonged drying of clothes and allergies to powder - with the advent of laundry balls, you can forget about these problems forever. They prevent things from deteriorating and knock out the remaining detergent from the fabric, which is useful not only for the appearance of the product, but also for human health. However, when choosing balls, it is easy to get confused, because manufacturers are constantly improving the invention, bringing it to perfection. To avoid making mistakes when purchasing, find out what types of laundry balls there are and how to use them correctly.

Why do we need laundry balls?

Initially, balls were created so that when they rotate, they bounce off the drum and, thanks to mechanical action, make washing more efficient. But over time, they began to produce types that could remove stains even without the use of washing powder. Balls with loops have also appeared that remove pellets from woolen products and rid items of hair by wrapping the lint around themselves.

Their diameter varies from 5 to 10 cm, and one package can contain from 2 to 12 spheres. Balls for washing down jackets are sold both in large chain supermarkets and in ordinary household chemical stores. The average cost of laundry balls ranges from 50 to 350 rubles, but depending on the properties and country of the manufacturer, it can even exceed several thousand.

How many wash balls do you need?

When choosing the optimal number of laundry balls, it is important to remember balance. If there are too few of them, they will not be able to fully complete the task. You shouldn’t overdo it either - too much will increase the noise from washing, and will also negatively affect the condition of the clothes and drum. The optimal amount for each variety is as follows:

• tennis – from 4 to 8;
• plastic – from 4 to 10;
• magnetic or tourmaline - in a set of 6 to 12 pieces.

It is important to observe not only the number of balls, but also the load on the drum. It is best to wash a down jacket in a machine designed for large loads. This will leave enough space for the balls to move freely inside the drum.

Advantages and disadvantages

Laundry balls have won the hearts of many housewives and all thanks to their low cost and many advantages.

• When washed with balls, the filling in the down jacket does not come off, and the jacket retains its original shape and neat appearance.
• Intensive interaction with the material allows the balls to reduce the use of powder to a minimum. This is especially true for young mothers with infants and people suffering from allergic reactions to phosphates in laundry detergents.
• Thanks to the knocking movements, the laundry balls do not allow the gel to accumulate in one place, so there are no streaks or white streaks on dark items.
• Savings also play an important role, because the balls speed up the drying of clothes and rinse them in one rinse cycle, thereby reducing the use of water.
• They are also suitable for knitwear, as they prevent the formation of pilling.

But the balls have few disadvantages.

• The main inconvenience is that the balls tap loudly on the drum of the washing machine.
• It is also advisable to test them beforehand, since laundry balls made from low-quality material may fade.

In general, balls for down jackets and laundry are a profitable purchase that copes with dirt of any complexity and at the same time saves the family budget.

Can this be done if there are no balls?

There is a widespread belief that down products must be washed with tennis balls, without which the jacket cannot return its original beauty.

A method that arose two or three decades ago today turns out to be unnecessary and impractical.

Modern washing machines have many operating modes and a flexible system of settings. Thanks to new features, they delicately handle any (natural or artificial) filling, and allow you to answer in the affirmative the question of washing down outerwear without balls.

Automatic washing of a down jacket will not damage the filling if the necessary care is taken . Manufacturers recommend washing your jacket no more than twice a season (to maintain the quality of the filling).

Tourmaline laundry balls

The surface of these balls is made of rubber, but the main ingredient is hidden inside. In the middle of the “rattle” there are many small balls made of tourmaline and other minerals. The essence of their action is that they change the pH of the water and form an alkali, similar to washing powder, but absolutely safe for health.

Thanks to these properties, tourmaline balls can easily replace both cleansing gel and fabric softener. Negative ions disinfect water and remove dirt, penetrating directly into the fabric structure. But, tourmaline balls are the most expensive type of spheres. Thus, balls from China cost about 1 thousand rubles, while those from South Korea or the UK can cost two or even three times more.

The main advantages of tourmaline laundry balls:

• disinfecting effect;
• safety for the body and the environment;
• long service life (2-3 years);
• saving.

In addition, tourmaline spheres soften water and thereby protect the washing machine from the formation of scale and deposits. The absence of surfactants and other aggressive chemicals has a positive effect on the well-being and condition of the skin.

But the balls also have interesting features, for example, once a month they should be dried in the sun. To maintain beneficial properties for a long period, follow the manufacturers' recommendations.

• Do not expose the balls to temperatures above 60 degrees.
• When hand washing, soak the spheres along with your clothing for 1-2 hours.
• Items made from fabrics that require delicate handling must first be placed in a laundry bag.
• Do not remove the balls while rinsing or spinning.
• Use them in both warm and cold water (this will not affect the final result in any way).

Silver and zeolite granules allow you to avoid conditioning additives, as they effectively eliminate unpleasant odors and make the material softer.

How to use it correctly

Using balls for effective washing is not enough. To avoid unpleasant consequences and not spoil the item, it is important to know how to properly wash a down jacket in a washing machine. It is enough to follow a few simple rules:

1. Use only the delicate wash cycle.
2. The temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees, otherwise the balls may become unusable.
3. Use the “no spin” function if available, or set the minimum speed.
4. It is advisable to abandon conventional powder and use gels; when using tourmaline balls, you can completely abandon detergents.

Washing a down jacket with balls is very simple. It is enough to turn it inside out and load it into the drum, and then put the balls there. They can be divided into several parts and distributed as follows:

• place part of it on the bottom of the drum before loading the down jacket;
• put some in the pockets, sleeves and hood of the product;
• Throw some of it after loading the down jacket, directly onto it.

This will help distribute the balls evenly throughout the drum, which will enhance the effect of their work and help them contact all parts of the down jacket, preventing the filler from clumping from unused areas.

All the balls are simply placed in the drum without any protective bags or anything like that. They should move as freely as possible inside.

During washing, the balls can hit the drum loudly and noisily. There is no need to worry, this is normal. They cannot damage either the washing machine or the down jacket.

Why are plastic spheres with magnets inside needed?

These products are sold in sets of 6-12 balls, and at least 5 balls should be loaded into the drum (always read the instructions on the packaging). At the same time, you don’t have to worry that they will damage the washing machine, because their surface is covered with soft rubber. Such balls are constantly attracted to each other and, colliding with clothing, shake out all the dust from it.

The shelf life of plastic balls is from 10 to 20 years. Their main qualities are protection against limescale, saving energy resources, softening the fabric and increasing the efficiency of machine washing. But, it is better not to use magnetic spheres for large-sized blankets, down jackets and blankets.

How to wash a down jacket by hand?

There are several options for hand washing a down jacket. Let's tell you more about each.

Vertical

To avoid fluff being knocked down, you don’t have to soak the entire thing. If you need to remove one or more stains, you can do this using a napkin and water. To do this, hang the jacket on hangers and place it over the bathtub, then wash off the main stains with detergent.

After getting rid of stains, you need to thoroughly clean the product with cold water. Allow the liquid to drain (this will take at least half an hour) and dry the product in the same vertical position.

• All stains are clearly visible on the straightened product. You don't have to bend over all the time.
• The filler does not come off due to the lack of complete soaking.
• The item dries faster.

• Local cleaning may result in different colors on the surface of the down jacket.
• Soap stains may appear.
• Vertical cleaning will not get rid of unpleasant odors.

Horizontal

The meaning is no different from the previous version. Only in this case, the clothes are laid out horizontally, for example, on a special board above the bathtub. The foam is also washed off with a powerful stream of water.

In the bathtub or basin

The option is more labor-intensive, you will have to spend more effort and time. However, the method has its advantages:

• washing occurs evenly, so there are no stains or color differences;
• both the outer side and the lining are well cleaned;
• unpleasant odor is removed.

It is important to consider the disadvantages of the method:

• the product gets completely wet, so it’s harder to turn it over;
• the fluff sticks together more strongly compared to previous methods;
• The product takes much longer to dry.

To remove all stains on a down jacket, it is recommended to first dissolve a special detergent for washing outerwear with down and feather filling in warm water, let it cool, and only then place the product there. Be sure to leave it to soak for half an hour.

REFERENCE! After such washing, you can spin the product in the washing machine at minimum speed, if this is provided by the manufacturer. The item must be dried vertically.

Spiked balls

Round rubber balls with spikes of different shapes also cope well with washing. But it will not be possible to use them without chemicals, since the principle of their operation is only friction. But they are great for caring for down jackets and dark clothes, as they rid the material of powder grains. There are also types of spheres with pimples on the surface. They are useful for removing pellets, hair and fur. After use, remove the lint from the ball, dry it and use it again.

Choosing a powder

Most housewives have learned from their own experience that only liquid detergents should be used to wash down jackets. The powder does not rinse out completely and can leave unsightly white streaks on the surface of the fabric. For the same reason, you should avoid conditioners and softeners. It is strictly forbidden to use soap shavings and homemade laundry products prepared on its basis. Because of this, the fluff can easily clump together.

The choice of product also depends on the material from which your clothing is made:

• Almost any washing liquid is suitable for padding polyester;
• It is better to clean feather-down filler with special concentrates for down jackets;
• down jackets made of membrane fabric should be washed by hand using especially delicate detergents;
• down jackets with non-removable fur and leather inserts must be professionally cleaned;

Tennis balls

Many housewives use regular tennis balls. They will come in handy if you have damaged your down jacket by washing it incorrectly and the filling has become matted into unsightly pieces. Tennis balls provide a kind of massage to the underwear and smooth out the seal. They also wash off dirt very well, but there are some nuances to using. So, large tennis balls are suitable for washing (3-4 pieces per 5 kg of weight), but first soak them in bleach (for 1-2 hours) so that they do not fade in the future. It is better to choose a liquid powder, since dry granules clog into the fleecy surface.

Features of washing down products

If you choose dry cleaning, you must be prepared to spend a lot of money - this is not a cheap pleasure. Sometimes, 3-4 cleanings cost more than the down jacket itself. Therefore, if the down jacket is white or light-colored, a much more economical solution would be to wash it yourself. To do this, you will need a special liquid detergent and balls.

Inside the down jacket there is a mixture of feathers and down. This filling prevents us from freezing due to the large volume of air located between the fluffs. And such a layer needs special care when washing, because the fluff should not form into lumps. Many people claim that washing a down jacket in a ball machine solves this problem.

DIY foil balls

If you want to save money, reduce static electricity and increase the efficiency of mechanical washing, then roll aluminum foil balls with your own hands. For one wash, use about 3-5 balls about 7 cm in diameter. Their advantage is not only in effectiveness, but also in repeated use, because each sphere will last you from several months to six months.

A roll of foil costs no more than 100 rubles, and you can make a lot of balls from it, so this method is very profitable. The main thing is to spare no effort and make them tight and dense, smoothing out all the sharp corners. To improve your homemade balls, use the trick of experienced housewives and soak them in table vinegar.

What can be replaced

Without a suitable product at hand, housewives came up with many alternative ways to replace tennis balls. For example, to wash a down jacket you can use:

• children's ball toys of a suitable size;
• ball toys for animals;
• ping pong balls;
• small cases for Kinder Surprise toys;
• self-rolled foil balls.

It is unlikely that such alternative means will help achieve the same effect as special laundry balls, but if necessary, you can try them.

Thus, you can safely wash your down jacket in an automatic machine without resorting to dry cleaning services. The use of special balls will help maintain the presentable appearance of the product and will not allow the filler to crumple inside.

Do-it-yourself balls made of woolen threads and why are they needed?

Not only manufacturers are experimenting with balls for washing machines, inventive girls are also not standing still and coming up with new ways to make spheres with their own hands. The result of such efforts are balls of wool. In addition to friction, they promote the circulation of warm air, speed up drying and soften laundry.

1. Take 100% wool threads.
2. Wrap the thread around your fingers, then remove it from your hand and wrap it around the middle until you have a tight ball that looks like a tennis ball.
3. To prevent the product from falling apart in the washing machine, it must be felted. To do this, place the ball in nylon tights and secure it tightly with elastic bands around the edges.
4. Without removing the stockings, immerse the workpiece in the drum, setting the maximum temperature.

After such manipulations, the ball will become tight. During the washing process, the friction of the threads will make the laundry soft even without conditioner, and to give things a pleasant smell, drop a couple of drops of essential oil (both fragrant and environmentally friendly) onto the ball you created with your own hands.

What to do if spots appear

Often, after automatic washing, dark stripes and stains appear on clothes - this is “internal” dirt and dust. To remove stains on a down jacket after washing, try gently soaping the sponge with laundry soap and wiping away the stains, then rinse with water. Or use a stain remover for colored laundry: drop a couple of drops on the stained areas and after about fifteen minutes brush with a brush. In this case, the down jacket will need to be washed again.

If you notice greasy or yellow stains that have come from nowhere, then the “resuscitation” method will be as follows: drop a little dishwashing detergent on the stain, scrub with a brush and send the down jacket to be washed again.

Whitish stains on a washed item can only be eliminated by repeated rinsing.

General recommendations

To ensure that your underwear and down jackets are washed without problems, use our tips.

• Place items in the washing machine only inside out.
• Fasten all buttons and zippers so that small parts do not catch on the drum and tear your clothes.
• When using wash balls, do not set the speed to high.
• Do not dry down jackets and underwear with elastic fibers on the radiator.
• Store the balls in a ventilated room, away from dampness, pets and children.

Now you know why you need laundry balls, what they are like and how to make them yourself, and you can wash any item at home.

Drying Features

Even if you have used all the above tips, the down jacket will still not look voluminous after washing, because its contents will get wet. In order for a down product to return to its original appearance, proper drying is needed. Some tips:

• The washed item cannot be dried in a horizontal position, as there will be no ventilation and the fluff will smell unpleasant. And the down jacket will take many times longer to dry. It is best to hang it on hangers in a ventilated area.
• From time to time the down jacket needs to be shaken and the sleeves turned out.
• Using a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner can speed up drying.

Preparation

The inside of the down jacket is down or feather or padding polyester. If you put it in the machine and wash it normally, the down layer will become crumpled and the warm item will lose its functionality and appearance. In this process, the correct approach from the initial stages of cleaning is important. Initially, the winter jacket must be fastened with a zipper or all buttons and turned inside out. Without this action, the risk of deformation of the fasteners increases. Before choosing a washing mode, you need to read the recommendations on the label. When it says recommended hand washing, it is not recommended to put it in a machine.

The down jacket is washed exclusively on a gentle cycle using tennis balls. It is important to use special cleaning products and maintain the temperature to 30 degrees.