Biowashball - Wash your clothes without detergent

[dantem]

I'm at the fourth wash and it's working real well. The clothes are clean, fresh and without the usual detergent smell, or toxic perfume :)

Only thing I don't know it's about this plastic material the biowashball is made of. It reads 'non-toxic', but what it really means? Are there PCB's?

http://www.biowashball.ch/presentationEN.html

The BIOWASHBALL is composed uniquely of natural ceramics contained in a plastic non-toxic sphere.

Compared to a normal washing process, Biowashball reduces risks of allergic reactions linked to the use of detergent, eliminates germs, contributes to well-being, saves money and protects nature.
- Well-being: no side effects due to detergent residue on your linen.
- Antibacterial: eliminates pathogen germs.
- Economical: eliminates detergents (a saving of approximately 1000 € over a 3 year period), on the electricity bill (washing at 50°C maximum for all your linen, even your white linen)..
- Ecological: (without phosphates) protects water and ground water.

Biowashball, environmentally friendly, replaces the soapnut used in India (fruit of the *Sapindus Mukorossis*) which has caused massive deforestation due to intensive use of the nut in India and Nepal.

It's rather cheap, 35 Euros plus shipping.

 

[stardust]

I have tested today a 100% natural washing (without washball). And the result was very positive.

What do you need ? Wood ashes and water...

* Take ashes ( for quantity I have try with approximately 1 kg)
*Sift it to remove the coal and just have ashes
* In a big container, put ashes and 2 or 3 l of water
* Mix it and let the mixture 2 or 3 days
*Then, take the water at the surface with a ladle ( for exemple) to avoid taking ashes.
*Filter with a coffee filter or absorbent paper : the liquid must be clear, a little bit yellow.


1/2 glass of this liquid will replace your detergent. 4/5 drops of essential oil of your choice and that's all !

It is also possible to replace softener by 1/2 glass of white vinegar if needed.


I've made my first test with a very dirty (and white) cover :

 

[Sinapi]

I'm a bit skeptical about the washball. For one thing, on the Operation page they claim "It is the powerful remote infrared rays emitted by the Biowashball which break the hydrogen molecules of water to increase molecular movement." On the one hand, they're saying it emits heat (even though you're probably using hot water anyway), and then they say it breaks hydrogen molecules of water, which is nonsense because water itself is a molecule made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. So I assume they meant to say it's either breaking hydrogen bonds, which would happen at water's boiling point, or electrolysis is somehow taking place and converting water into gaseous oxygen and hydrogen molecules. If the company doesn't know the difference between an atom and a molecule, I'd take the rest of their claims with a huge grain of salt. But if it's working for you, then that may be irrelevant, and the company just needs better marketers.

If you look at their safety data on the Certificates page, they claim there aren't any PCB's needed to make the plastic, so they didn't test for them. They do say there are very small amounts of pthalates as contaminants, but as long as you're not eating it, I wouldn't worry, as it's still less harmful than conventional detergents. :)

I've been using the recipe floating around on the internet with two parts borax, two parts washing soda, and one part grated soap, which works fairly well with some vinegar to soften it. I may try stardust's lye recipe, though. It's like making soap in your washing machine, if you have too many grease stains on your clothes.

 

[daddycat]

"Seventh Generation's co-founder, Jeffrey Hollender, wonders why more people haven't stumbled upon laundry's big, dirty secret: "You don't even need soap to wash most loads," he says. The agitation of washing machines often does the job on its own. "
_http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703808904575025021214910714

 

[SMM]

"Seventh Generation's co-founder, Jeffrey Hollender, wonders why more people haven't stumbled upon laundry's big, dirty secret: "You don't even need soap to wash most loads," he says. The agitation of washing machines often does the job on its own. "
_http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703808904575025021214910714

This is true, except for very harsh stains or chemicals

 

[dantem]

"Seventh Generation's co-founder, Jeffrey Hollender, wonders why more people haven't stumbled upon laundry's big, dirty secret: "You don't even need soap to wash most loads," he says. The agitation of washing machines often does the job on its own. "
_http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703808904575025021214910714

LOL! Forgot to update at the time (2008). Washball was as good as a normal load wash with no soap, it's only when you don't have grease and glue stuck on your clothes that it can work. Hot water and agitation do the rest.
At least I've been saved from some chemical pollution.

Stardust's must be a very effective and economic one. The 'wash with ashes' it's a very old washing technique, but it was a very slow one. That trick done by filtering the ashes could be a super-economic and survival magic here!

 

[Ollie]

...

... Washball was as good as a normal load wash with no soap, it's only when you don't have grease and glue stuck on your clothes that it can work. Hot water and agitation do the rest.
At least I've been saved from some chemical pollution.
...

That has been my experience as well.

 

[l apprenti de forgeron]

Thanks for sharing. Interesting info.

 

[stardust]

Stardust's must be a very effective and economic one. The 'wash with ashes' it's a very old washing technique, but it was a very slow one. That trick done by filtering the ashes could be a super-economic and survival magic here!

Yes, very old technique, and I've find in a "survivalist website" some others tricks with ashes, like making one's soap in forest with white ashes and pine resin (used as antiseptic).

I don't know if the liquid obtained with ashes could replace soda in soap, but I will make some experiences, cause I know that the old "Alep soap" was made with laurel ashes ( and olive oil and laurel berries's oil)

 

[Sinapi]

Didn't see this was from 2008. I still think the website needs better marketers, considering all the pseudoscience on it. Whenever it gets cold enough out here, I'll experiment with the wood ashes. Thanks for sharing!

 

[dantem]

I don't know if the liquid obtained with ashes could replace soda in soap, but I will make some experiences, cause I know that the old "Alep soap" was made with laurel ashes ( and olive oil and laurel berries's oil)

Hoping you'll find a chance to keep us up to date! Don't do the 6 year thing like I did ;)
Maybe we'll come back with the old soap recipe with pork lard, water and caustic soda? Don't know really how it's made, and caustic soda isn't really so readily available to a survivalist. Or not?

 

[3DStudent]

Don't know really how it's made, and caustic soda isn't really so readily available to a survivalist. Or not?

Like stardust said above, you can use the lye water made from wood ashes. If you get the lye concentrated enough so that an egg will just float enough to expose the diameter of a US quarter, you can add fat and make soap.

Lye water soap:
_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuzCD7EP1ZM
_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE-gJHpUuQE

This is for liquid detergent and is a bit involved. I think just using lye water may be enough to wash, but fwiw:
_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TpYqYDU5vU

 

[stardust]

Like stardust said above, you can use the lye water made from wood ashes. If you get the lye concentrated enough so that an egg will just float enough to expose the diameter of a US quarter, you can add fat and make soap.

Thank you very much for this advice (and videos) ! I will test soon and give you the result.

 

[anothermagyar]

Thank you guys for the infos!
I always thought if we can make soap at home, we can use it for washing clothes,
in the past when I ran out of detergent and didn't have the money I just got a bar of soap
get the cheese greater and shred the soap to the washing machine.
It worked fine!
;D

Stains are treated with extra soap before you load the machine.
Making soap at home is not that hard.
I will experiment with it.
Thanks again!