How do balls help when washing down jackets in a washing machine?

How to wash a down jacket yourself without unpleasant consequences? This question is very relevant.

Dry cleaning services are quite expensive, but keeping things in good condition is necessary.

Washing balls have become an indispensable assistant for owners of down jackets. These simple items help to wash the jacket efficiently and maintain its original shape.

Why are they needed?

The main task when washing a down jacket is to preserve its filling in its original form. It is precisely because there is a layer of air between the down particles that makes the jacket so warm and light. Under the influence of water, the filler becomes compacted and clumps together, significantly losing its warming qualities and presentable appearance.

Balloons useful for the following:

• constantly moving inside the drum of the washing machine in a chaotic manner, they hit the jacket, preventing fluff from collecting into lumps;
• the impact on the down jacket literally “knocks out” all the old dirt from the surface of the fabric;
• when rinsing, thanks to intense movement, all excess household chemicals are removed, with which the item was saturated during washing;
• the consumption of detergents is reduced due to the fact that with such a process, things are washed perfectly even with a small amount of household chemicals;
• Due to active mechanical action, the time required for rinsing and spinning is reduced, thereby saving energy and water.

Varieties: which ones are there and which ones are needed?

The variety of laundry balls allows you to make a choice according to individual preferences, guided by functional purpose, appearance, and cost.

Balloons differ in the type of materials from which they are made:

• polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
• polypropylene;
• tourmaline;
• magnetic.

By purpose:

• for washing and drying;
• to remove pellets;
• to soften the fabric.

Also balls have differences in:

• sizes;
• forms;
• colors.

Balls are sold in supermarkets, household appliances and household goods stores, and online stores.

For all balls, there is the same procedure for use: they are placed along with the clothes in the drum of the washing machine and taken out after the process is completed.

An undeniable advantage is the long useful life such devices, which ranges from 3 to 10 years depending on the type and conditions of use.

The disadvantages include increased background noise, which occurs during washing due to the balls hitting the walls of the machine drum.

Hedgehogs

These balls owe their name to their appearance. The spiky surface really resembles a bristling hedgehog.

They are made from polyvinyl chloride, a material very similar to rubber. The price is quite affordable and is about 120 - 150 rubles for a set of two units.

These balls can be used both for down jackets and for other clothes and linen.

PVC

Instead of many "spikes", the surface of these balls is covered with bulges, some of which have holes. When washing, water enters the ball, and when the drum rotates, it acts specifically on the clothes, improving the washing efficiency and removing excess detergents, preventing the formation of stains on the fabric.

The cost of such a ball is higher than that of a hedgehog. Its purchase will cost 300 rubles apiece. The service life of PVC balls is 3-5 years.

After use, the balls must be dried to avoid stagnation of water in them and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

Magnetic

They are a smooth ball with holes, inside the shell, which contains a magnet. When washing:

• a magnetic field is created, which reduces water hardness,
• the effect of detergents is enhanced.

The noticeable weight of the balls has an active “massage” effect, which allows you to wash even significant stains.

The pricing policy for balls with magnets varies depending on the manufacturer, material and size of the product, on average ranging from 100 rubles per unit of product.

Tourmaline

The intriguing name hides a plastic container reminiscent of a baby rattle.

Inside are small balls of red, gray and white colors, consisting of mineral compounds, including tourmaline.

When using these balls, an alkaline environment is created in the water, which has a disinfecting and cleaning effect, which allows you to significantly reduce the amount of funds used.

The cost of tourmaline balls is quite high and amounts to 1300-2200 rubles for a set of two balls. The period of use is about three years.

Polypropylene "anti-pilling"

This type of ball is used to remove pellets from the inside of jackets. They are brightly colored and consist of a large number of small loops on the outer surface.

Exactly loops act as attachments that collect:

• pellets,
• threads,
• hair,
• other small debris

preventing clogging of the drain filter washing machine.

The greatest efficiency in use is shown when washing woolen fabric. Most often sold in sets of 6 or 12 pieces. The cost of a set of 12 pieces is about 700 rubles.

Option from Fix Price

Balls are the conventional name for these products. They made of fairly hard but flexible plastic and look like openwork butterflies.

They are sold in the Fix Price chain of stores, in sets of 3 pieces, the cost of packaging is 60-70 rubles. The operating principle is the same as that of PVC balls.

Tennis balls

A popular analogue of special balls for washing down jackets are regular tennis balls. They can be purchased at sporting goods stores.

Before washing, Be sure to soak the balls in hot water with bleach added to prevent unwanted staining of the jacket. Then rinse thoroughly.

A set of three balls will cost 300 rubles. Useful life is about 3 years.

Photos of various models

How many pieces does it take to wash a jacket?

The effectiveness of washing largely depends on the uniform impact on the surface of the clothing, so you should use at least 4 balls at a time. Operating experience has proven that The best results are obtained by distributing the balls inside the jacket pockets and sleeves.

For balls with magnets and tourmaline balls, this number can increase to 6 pieces.

The compact arrangement of the down jacket inside the drum of the washing machine is of great importance for high-quality washing. A neatly folded item is better “beaten” by balls when washed, as a result of which the filler is evenly distributed and dries faster.

Another point concerns the dimensions of the balls; the smaller the weight and size of the ball, the greater the number of them needed to achieve maximum effect.

What can be replaced?

In addition to tennis balls, as an alternative to special balls for washing down jackets in the washing machine, children's rubber hedgehog balls or balls with a smooth surface with a diameter of at least 10 cm can be used.

Some housewives recommend trying washing a down jacket using knitting threads. For this tight balls of thread are placed inside a clean sock, tied and sent to wash.

Thrifty users came up with an interesting method.

In order not to spend money on purchasing special balls, you can wash jackets using regular raw potatoes.

• Several fist-sized tubers are selected,
• wash thoroughly,
• are placed in separate plastic bags,
• tighten the knot tightly
• evenly distributed inside the drum,
• start washing.

The disadvantages of these methods are the fragility of the materials used and the danger of unwanted staining of the down jacket fabric.

Conclusion

Summing up and summarizing the information, as well as user reviews on the use of balls, based on our own experience, we can conclude that for washing down jackets PVC balls are the most suitable.

Magnetic balls also work well, while polypropylene and tourmaline balls are not entirely suitable for outerwear.

The right choice will help keep your down jacket in perfect condition for a long time, as well as save time and money.