[PV post] Ecoballs

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 21:57

I'm going to order some of these too, I've read about them but wasn't sure if they'd work or not. Also think the wonder washer sounds like a great idea.
Most washing powder contains a nasty cocktail of chemicals so it can only be a good thing to stop using it.
Thanks for the handy hints!
Rach

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 21:58

Check this link for alternative manual washer and clothes wringer. US site but good for ideas.
http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/pro ... ts/1063411

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 21:59

Ecoballs doing well. Have done 2 washes now and everything seems fine. Have explained to wife that she has grown used to the smell of fresh chemicals". She denies this and says it is a fresh smell and she likes it. She is coming round slowly but says we haven't done a "dirty" wash yet.

She has said that it feels quite soft......

Went to Maplin and bought the wind-up/solar radio/torch for ?9.99. A bit cheap looking and plasticy to be honest but provided it isn't man-handled it seems good value and appropriate for PO. Has been put up with a couple of other battery torches that my wife says always lets us down when the power goes off. This one won't anyway!

Now lookong to find where I can purchase a Savaplug which can reduce the energy your fridge uses......

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 22:00

I've found the PO solution to clothes washing, and staying fit! Scroll down left hand side til u get to washing machine.
http://www.kjcoop.org/~bart/barts%20cca ... l_htm..htm
Rach

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 22:01

Snow Hope - well - they've not been dismissed out of hand so that's all very positive. Savaplug and some other goodies on www.naturaldiscovery.co.uk.

Anonymous wrote:I've found the PO solution to clothes washing and staying fit! Scroll down left hand side til u get to washing machine.
http://www.kjcoop.org/~bart/barts%20cca ... l_htm..htm
Rach

Wow! Thanks so much for that I've been looking into using a cycle to charge up a battery I really need to get fit - it seems perfect! If anyone can explain iin clear language what I need to do I would appreciate it.

This forum is turning out to be really helpful. It's amazing just what fuel savings we can really make when we put our minds to it.

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 22:03

Hate to be the one that breaks up the party but when researching this online, there appears to be very little scientific credibility for these ecoballs. 'Ionised water' may just be a bit of a con. It does prove, however, that you don't really need detergent to wash clothes. Water and maybe a bit of soap can shift most stains through abrasive action alone. I don't want to entirely discredit these ecoballs but I would hate to see people genuinely so keen to be environmentall friendly be so ripped off and help people get filthy rich on that exploitation.

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 22:04

Hello Guest, I am not sure where you have got this info. - any references?

I have been using it for a couple of weeks now with a good level of success. It got my jeans pretty clean, although not perfect. Maybe I shall try doing some washing with just water and no powder or ecoballs just to see the difference.....

PVPoster1 · Post by **PVPoster1** » 08 Jul 2005, 22:06

To theeggman and snow hope and others ...

As you've said, the 'fresh' smell is chemicals. It stands to reason that if you clean clothes then they must, by definition, smell clean. However we have been conditioned to think that the smell of fresh clothes is the smell after being washed in Aerial or whatever.

For a related reason, your partner may say that they don't look as bright as they did. This is because manufacturers also add optical brighteners and bleaches to their powders to make them look the way people expect (which can be a kind of blue-white). Have you ever wondered why you see so many glowing white flecks on your clothes when you're in a club and they are using UV lights?

It's the same sort of thing with people who think that real food tastes boring as they're so accustomed to the flavourings, enhancers, fats and sugars in mass produced and fast food that properly cooked, natural food can taste rather flat by comparison. It's all about re-education really.

If you still want to use washing powder then powders such as Ecover (and others) don't contain all this gunk. I've used the ecoballs for a few years now and find them just fine.

End of PV posts... You may resume your enviro-friendly washing!

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 10 Jul 2005, 21:46

The Ecoballs are still performing really well - wonderful softness and cleaning - obviously much better than water alone (I've tried that and it doesn't work!) and better than any environmental-type washing powders I have used, just needs the odd squirt of spot remover on stubborn stains. I haven't felt the need to use washing powder since getting my Ecoballs because I just love that fresh clean air smell rather than chemicals.

Today I tried them in the Wonder Washer. I can't say the wash was as good as the washing machine, but still adequate except for the whites. Of course, I don't know how the wonder washer would perform with detergent either yet.

I have decided that I will do my whites and big things like duvet covers in the washing machine with Ecoballs (maybe one wash a week) and the other things in the Wonder Washer, also with Ecoballs and see how I get on. It was good today because I only had a small few whites, a few mid colours and a few darks. I did them in the same water which I then used to water the garden (no detergent used).

All I need now is my mangle!

tattercoats · Post by **tattercoats** » 10 Jul 2005, 22:05

OK guys, info on the wonder washer too, please? From a quick Google it looks like a mains-driven mini washing machine with a refreshingly short cycle. Presumably easier on water and water use than standard white goods, but still mains-driven. Hmm.

I have vague memories of having seen something which I thought was a hand-driven washing device, which one inverted repeatedly by turning a handle (hang on, sounds like a butter churn... there's a thought... stop right there, Tattercoats) - anyone know what I'm talking about? Links, experience, anyone? People did wash clothes before machinery, I know they did...

Where's me washboard?

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 10 Jul 2005, 22:12

Definitely not mains driven (Moi?) It's a hand turned machine with the added benefit of giving the upper arms a thorough workout!! Can't remember which web page I got it from, but it was about ?20. If you do a google and can't find the info you need, let me know and I'll try to dredge up my receipts, etc., but this site shows it anyway http://www.sales-services.co.uk/html/wonder_washer.html
You get to easily keep the grey water for using elsewhere and without treatment too if you don't use detergent.

tattercoats · Post by **tattercoats** » 10 Jul 2005, 22:27

That's the bunny! Thank you!

Um - does anyone else see a butter churn in that? no? Coures, a butter churn also has the dasher going round, but you could add in a perforated disc to chunter around with the cream...

Not that one generally needs the amount of butter that that would make, but still, it's tempting.

And this works with the ecoballs, yes yes?

I like very much. Cheers, Eggman.

Tattercoats

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 14 Jul 2005, 09:22

The jury is still out for me on ecoballs, or more specifically whether it cleans much better than just hot water. I do use them and my clothes come out clean except for stubborn stains, but then again I don't get that dirty! I have tried using just hot water and it gets a similar result. Either way though it has shown me that I don't need to use even a tenth of the washing power I used to use. (And if you're going to use it, make sure it is Ecover).

isenhand · Post by **isenhand** » 14 Jul 2005, 09:28

<<The Ecoballs are still performing really well - wonderful softness and cleaning >>

and what does the wife think?

revdode · Post by **revdode** » 14 Jul 2005, 09:41

tattercoats wrote: Um - does anyone else see a butter churn in that? no? Coures, a butter churn also has the dasher going round, but you could add in a perforated disc to chunter around with the cream...

Alternatively you could try emptying the little active balls out of your eco-balls and use them empty... or not.

Laundry flavoured butter and butter coated clothes.