June 17, 2025, 2:45 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The internet knows everything. Yet, certain myths persist stubbornly. Those searching online for eco-friendly ways to get laundry clean often come across mentions of the wash ball or wash sphere. That’s why myHOMEBOOK, along with an expert, delved into the matter for this article.
If you want to wash clothes in an environmentally friendly way, there are several methods. From ivy to soap nuts to wash balls. But do these wash balls actually work?
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Wash Balls Are Popular
Laundry is simply part of everyday life. It regularly consumes energy and contaminates water with chemical residues. With rising energy costs and growing environmental awareness, people are looking for affordable and eco-friendly alternatives. Wash balls or laundry balls are often at the top of the list.
Allegedly, these ensure bright white laundry without detergent or with only a small amount. The small balls, usually made of hard plastic, contain–depending on the provider–ceramic beads, minerals, or magnetic particles. The manufacturers of these wash balls emphasize that these additional substances change the pH value of the water, release ions, or reduce surface tension, thus removing dirt from the clothes.
Disappointing Result
“Wash balls and similar alternatives to detergents were already studied in 2013 at the University of Bonn,” explains Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW) to myHOMEBOOK. “The conclusion at that time was: ‘One result shows that none of the detergent alternatives studied delivers a better cleaning result than washing with plain water.'” The National Institute for Consumer Research in Oslo, Norway, reached a similar conclusion.
The study found that the cleaning effect is mainly due to the mechanical movement of the drum and the water. For heavily soiled laundry, water alone is not enough. Therefore, the expert advises fans of alternative products: “If you achieve a satisfactory washing result with wash balls alone, you should try using just water.”
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Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips
That would certainly be ecologically valuable, but with the result of still walking around in stained laundry that also smells. If you really want to wash sustainably, you should pay attention to the dosage. Many modern detergents are available as concentrates. Therefore, small amounts are usually sufficient. Dosage instructions can be found on the packaging.
Even better is the use of ecologically certified detergents. Recognizable by the “Blue Angel” or the EU Ecolabel, these products contain fewer chemical substances, are biodegradable, and usually do not contain microplastics or harsh fragrances. Eco-detergents clean reliably even at low temperatures.
In general, a water temperature between 86 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit is sufficient to remove dirt from laundry. Only for underwear, towels, or in households with people who have health problems or where small children live, should the water be heated to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, less heat not only saves energy but also protects the fibers.
Of course, the machine should always be well-filled for each wash cycle. Regularly starting your washing machine only half-full unnecessarily drives up water and electricity costs. Whether full or half-empty, the water consumption remains the same. Pre-washing can also be skipped. It is more ecologically valuable to pre-treat heavily soiled areas with gall soap or an eco-friendly stain remover. Additional energy can be saved when drying, as on warm days, fresh air and the sun take over the drying process, completely free of charge.