Balls so Hot ?

Laundry ball

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For the fabric softener product, see dispensing ball.

The Swedish "Magicball" is an example of a pseudoscientific washing ball product.

A laundry ball or washing ball is a product that is promoted as a substitute for laundry detergent. Producers of laundry balls usually make pseudoscientific claims about how these balls work and exaggerate the extent of their benefits.[1][2] The product is often sold in home shopping or by participants in multilevel marketing schemes.[1][3]

While many people report that these balls work, the results are similar to or less effective than washing in water without any detergent.[4][5] Most of the effect can be attributed to the mechanical effect of the ball or to using hot water instead of cold water.[4][6] The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against some of the manufacturers of these products because of their misleading claims.

Contents

1 Types of laundry ball

2 Benefits claimed by manufacturers

3 Possible dangers

4 Claimed mechanisms of action

4.1 Infrared

4.2 Magnetic properties

4.3 Changes to water structure

4.4 Special detergent

5 Consumer protection

6 Selling channels

7 See also

8 References

9 External links

Types of laundry ball

These unbranded laundry balls were found to have nothing inside when cut open.

There are several shapes of laundry balls: laundry disks, globes, spheres or doughnuts.[3][7] Some of the balls carry components inside, like ceramic pieces, magnetic material or coloured liquid that is claimed to be "activated water".[3][7] Manufacturers claim that these components have certain effects on washing efficacy, although studies don't show any difference between the different types of balls.[7] Some balls can be refilled with pellets of special detergent, or other ingredients.[8][9]

Benefits claimed by manufacturers

Laundry...