buffie Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Well my eco balls ( 1000 washes for about £35.00) have come and smell clean! The washing smells clean without the use of lavender so thats 1 up on the soapnuts. I will update on the results but easy to use and not fiddly, it's easy to get used to the non chemical perfume smell after a while. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Blue Sky Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 I tried eco balls a few years ago, but was disappointed with the results. Maybe they have improved since, or maybe your clothes don't get as dirty as ours Buffie! where did you get them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted May 3, 2006 Author Share Posted May 3, 2006 www.shopeco.co.uk p&p free. I'll see what happens but yes stains are the problem but I can cross that bridge when I come to it. It came with a free stain remover. Having seen some of you weren't impressed I'll keep you posted BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Thanks for trying them on our behalf, Buffie. I didn't try them when I 1st heard about them (many years ago) as my family were all such grass/mud & slime magnets, that even Ecover wasn't enough. Now we are down to a more civilised wash load, I find Ecover is fine for everything, except for the occasional Spag.Bol moment, or dripping fruit (mostly me, sometimes Esther). Therefore, I would like to give the Eco balls a whirl, but will let you test them first! I'll be watching this space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Me too. I use Ecover, but it's not great on stains, is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 I made my own washing powder for about a year until I realised that my nice white cotton sheets had turned into nice grey sheets so I'm back to Ecover Biological powder which works really well for us. For stains, I've got something called a Biobar which is terrific and you can get them from here - The Still Room. It looks a bit like a block of beeswax and you just wet it and rub it onto stains and wash as normal. Fantastic!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Ooh thanks for that Kate, sometimes I end up washing things more than once aas some stains don't come out first time Perhaps we're a rather grubby family! Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 Thanks kate at the moment I'm using a fairy bar but will change (old fashioned wash bar, green). You're right Sheila for us the eco balls are great and any muddy stains or poop, wine I rub with the bar and soakl!! Yes a bit more time but I feel happier about it. Eco balls are working because to be honest most wahses aren't very dirty just 'worn'. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Had some Eco balls. Was impressed at first, and liked the way the fabric was soft and floppy, as if all the cloggy powder residue had gone from it. After a while, but well before the 1000 washes were anywhere near up, I noticed that the clothes were smelling musty and that collars and cuffs were not acceptably clean so I reluctantly abandoned them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 29, 2006 Author Share Posted July 29, 2006 Yes I'm at that point clothes do get musty if you don't get them out quickly on the line. Wonder what I can try next? BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 I've sent for some Soap nuts. Have only used then for the 1st time this am. Washing still on line. We'll see. If they are no good, I'll resort to bulk buying Ecover washing powder at trade discount from a place called Lembas in Sheffield. Expensive outlay but..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 I use Ecover washing liquid (bought in bulk from Soorganic online), but still find the same: Great for most washes, but then when doing a white boilwash, on dishcloths and knickers for example, it just doesn't really get them white, so I have reluctantly included a scoop of Vanish crystalwhite every 4 or so washes. Its amazing stuff: goodness only knows what it does to the environment, but at least it gets stains out. It even removed a huge red wine stain from a favourite white T shirt 6 weeks after the "accident"! I figure that doing this very occasionally is better than constantly using non-green products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 30, 2006 Author Share Posted July 30, 2006 Yes may resort to this. I liked the soapnuts and great for car cleaning BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 Can't remember the last time I cleaned my car: You almost can't see what shape it is there's so much mud on her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Not sure what the whiteners do to the enviroment but they aren't actually cleaning your clothes/sheets any better. They contain optical brightners that stay in the clothes and reflect light back so your whites look whiter regardless. Whether it just looks whiter or is really is whiter may not be an issue I guess. What's the mad need for bright, bright whites any way. Sorry never really bothers me unless it looks dirty, when a good boil wash usually sorts things out for my stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Agreed wholeheartedly Trish: Its all in my head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 How are the eco-balls going now Buffie? Or have you abandoned them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Buffie told me not to bother with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
