With a new baby on the way, and frankly just growing up in generally, I have begun doing what many people in the country have - looking for ways to better the planet by removing unnecessary chemicals from my everyday life. Sometimes it is the food I put in my family's bodies, or the household cleaners we choose to use. In this case, I was able to try a detergent free laundry solution!
I
certainly didn't know such a thing was possible before I learned about SmartKlean. Even after it arrived and I
read all the included instructions, as well as their website and past
testimonials, I STILL wasn't convinced that such a thing exists.
According to the box, the SmartKlean Laundry Ball performs a physical process to naturally boost the water’s ability to clean and soften, without leaving behind a chemical trace on your clothes, your skin, or our environment. Sounds great!
But wait...I’m supposed to believe that this little green plastic ball that sounds like a baby rattle when shaken, is going to help my Mojave Desert water clean? (think Erin Brockovich, people! That's our water!)
Although
I am not filled with much scientific knowledge, the way it is explained actually makes sense.
The green outer shell is filled with four different kinds of small ceramic pellets and two magnets. Together these eliminate bacteria and mold from your fabrics, elevate your water’s pH levels to help lift dirt and oils, eliminate chlorine and reduce surface tension, reduce size of water clusters and increase dissolved oxygen, decompose impurities and odorous bacteria, and ensure sterilization.
The outer ball itself has a shape and texture designed to agitate the water to beat the dirt off your clothes. All of that sounds like exactly what is needed to get the job done! It’s best read The Laundry Ball's Science for the full scientific breakdown.
The green outer shell is filled with four different kinds of small ceramic pellets and two magnets. Together these eliminate bacteria and mold from your fabrics, elevate your water’s pH levels to help lift dirt and oils, eliminate chlorine and reduce surface tension, reduce size of water clusters and increase dissolved oxygen, decompose impurities and odorous bacteria, and ensure sterilization.
The outer ball itself has a shape and texture designed to agitate the water to beat the dirt off your clothes. All of that sounds like exactly what is needed to get the job done! It’s best read The Laundry Ball's Science for the full scientific breakdown.
It says
that is it great for general laundry, delicates, baby clothes, cloth diapers, wool, wetsuits,
sports and outdoor gear, and light stains. Although it does add that for set in
stubborn stains you should pre-treat with a stain remover. They even have a stain stick you can purchase for $9.80 + $4.50 shipping.
Also, you should know that Borax or other washing soda is recommended for extreme hard water. I was a little annoyed reading that, thinking, ‘well, what DO you do then?’ Then I had it pointed out to me that even big name detergents make those same recommendations. Well then…
Also, you should know that Borax or other washing soda is recommended for extreme hard water. I was a little annoyed reading that, thinking, ‘well, what DO you do then?’ Then I had it pointed out to me that even big name detergents make those same recommendations. Well then…
It
sounded like it was about time to just put it to the test!
The
first week, it was hard for me to choose the SmartKlean Ball over my trusty bottle of
TIDE. I found myself trying it with clothes that were routine, rather than
clothes I really NEEDED clean, if that makes sense. When it came to my husband's Army uniform, or baby clothes, or cloth diapers, I just couldn't trust it and would
chicken out on giving it a chance. The clothes were always coming out seemingly
clean, but how could I really know?
The
answer was obvious, I had to let go and use it on clothes that NEEDED
it. In deciding to make the official full switch from detergents, the first
thing to do was clean our machine! This is essential for the laundry ball to work
to its full potential. Our washer is probably around 8 years old and I know
that we have never cleaned it in the 4 years its been in our possession.
I had no idea just HOW gross it was. Over time, grime, mold and detergent residue build up inside the nooks and crannies of your machine, preventing your clothes from achieving their best clean. My husband, Daniel, spent a few hours making it sparkle again, but that will be another post for another day!
I had no idea just HOW gross it was. Over time, grime, mold and detergent residue build up inside the nooks and crannies of your machine, preventing your clothes from achieving their best clean. My husband, Daniel, spent a few hours making it sparkle again, but that will be another post for another day!
Now that we had a clean machine to work with, we were ready to give it a try.
First up, we challenged it hard: Army PT’s. Stinky, smelly, August-in-the-Mohave-Desert sweat filled, Army PT’s. To my absolute amazement, they came out smelling like, well, nothing. Which is way better then what they went IN smelling of!
First up, we challenged it hard: Army PT’s. Stinky, smelly, August-in-the-Mohave-Desert sweat filled, Army PT’s. To my absolute amazement, they came out smelling like, well, nothing. Which is way better then what they went IN smelling of!
After
that success, I decided to really let go, and just start incorporating the SmartKlean Laundry Ball into my routine regularly. I never once was disappointed. Clothes
never came out unquestionably clean, and the whole process was much quicker, from just being
able to keep clothes moving without stopping to measure detergents or otherwise.
The
only hang up I had was entirely mental. The Smell! Or, rather, lack there of.
Fabric softener would change that, as my Bounce dryer sheets do the trick. (Though you should be aware that SmartKlean eliminates the need to purchase EITHER of those anymore - the SmartKlean ball acts as a fabric softener, too!) Also, you can add a few drops of essential oils on a piece of cloth in the dryer, to add a scent.
Fabric softener would change that, as my Bounce dryer sheets do the trick. (Though you should be aware that SmartKlean eliminates the need to purchase EITHER of those anymore - the SmartKlean ball acts as a fabric softener, too!) Also, you can add a few drops of essential oils on a piece of cloth in the dryer, to add a scent.
So
aside from the scientific obvious answer of ‘chemicals are bad’, why should you
make the switch?
The
entirely biodegradable, BPA and PVC free SmartKlean Laundry Ball and packaging can be
purchased for $45+$5 shipping. Sound expensive? What about when I tell you that
the ball is good for 365 loads! With that math, it would cost roughly $170 to
achieve the same with a bottle of my usual. To put it another way, SmartKlean
costs just .15 cents per load.
On top of the money you save on your grocery bill, how does saving money on your utility bills sound? This laundry ball operates on cold water only, so no need for your water heater to run. Not using detergents, you eliminate the need for a rinse cycle, saving 10-12 gallons of water per load! I can only imagine how much that will help your water and electric bills. So, you know, there’s that.
On top of the money you save on your grocery bill, how does saving money on your utility bills sound? This laundry ball operates on cold water only, so no need for your water heater to run. Not using detergents, you eliminate the need for a rinse cycle, saving 10-12 gallons of water per load! I can only imagine how much that will help your water and electric bills. So, you know, there’s that.
But
if financial savings aren't incentive enough, how about a few environmental factors?
Without ever having given it much thought, it seems like common sense that the
water in your washer has to drain to somewhere. Which means, somewhere out there
your soapy, chemical filled water runs off into some body of water, changing pH
balances, overgrowing algaes and harming wildlife. Not anymore!
You
will also be extending the life of your machine by cutting down the wear and tear. Chemicals
can be very harsh on the inner workings, creating rust spots and minimizing the
life of your appliance. Furthermore, one of the processes the ceramics in the
SmartKlean Laundry Ball perform is to strip the water of chlorine. Some of you
may be quite surprised to learn just how much chlorine comes out of your faucet
along with your regular water.
You
are leaving no chemical residue on you and your family’s clothing anymore, either. This is big for us, as I have had sensitive skin my entire life. Early
in life, I had to be very brand specific as everything was causing to me break
out in hives. I always have to keep an eye on my children, waiting for the day
that they show signs of it as well. This really puts my mind at ease!
The
only aspect that I saw as a negative, initially, is the size load. Because of
the physical process of the laundry ball, it needs ample room in your machine
to agitate the water. If you overload it, it wont have the proper space to do
its job. Smartklean suggests sticking to no more than 18lb of clothes, or no
more than ¾ of the way full. As someone who really hates household chores, I
was annoyed by not being able to pack it full to lessen the work. However, I
have since seen the trade-off and just needed to shift my priorities. Though if
you just can’t wrap your head around any added loads that would accumulate, you
can buy a second ball to add to your loads to accommodate the size.
The only
other thing to keep in mind, is that although it is thoroughly cleaning your
clothes, it does not contain any optical brightners, so you may want to
occasionally add Oxyclean or something similar to keep whites white.
The
only upkeep to the ball itself, is to sit in in the sun for 1-2 hours roughly
once a month. This helps recharge the ceramic balls inside, maintaining its effectiveness.
I'm a fan, and ditching my detergent for good!
SmartKlean on Facebook
The combined value of this giveaway (including shipping) is $59.80, and the contest will end just before midnight on Monday, September 8th.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Rafflecopter, then leave the name you commented under and your email in the box in the Rafflecopter entry. (This lets us contact you if you win!) This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning.
Good luck, everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Shared with:
~ Giveaways in Blogland, Happy Winsday, Moms Win on Wednesdays, Moonlight & Mason Jars, Wake Up Wednesday, Wednesday Wealth, Wednesday Whatsits, Whimsy Wednesday, Win It Wednesday, Win It Wednesdays, Winning Wednesday, Winning WOW! Wednesday.
~ Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Great Canadian Giveaway Link Up, Great Thursday Giveaway Linky, Home & Garden Thursday, It's A Party, Lilac's Linky, Linky Love, Share Your Cup Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Thursday Giveaway Linky, Thursday Tell All, Thursday Treasures, Thursday's Giveaways.
~ A Hen's Friday, Anything Goes Friday, Fabulous Finds, Freedom Fridays, Friday Giveaway Linky, Friday Favorites, Friday Giveaway Link Up, Friday Giveaway Linky, Friday Unfolded, Giveaway Linky Party, Handmade Hangout, Let's Get Real Friday, Linky For All Giveaways, Party Bunch, Round 'Em Up Friday, {TGIF} Fun Friday, Weekend Re-Treat, Windy Pinwheel Giveaway Link Up.
~ No-Rules Weekend, Say G'Day Saturday, Serenity Saturday, Show & Tell Saturday, Super Saturday Giveaway Link Up, Sweeping Saturday, Sweepstakes Saturday.
~ Around the Blogosphere, Creative Style "Anything Goes" Link Up, DIY Showcase, Living Montesorri Now Giveaway Linky, Sunday Linky Edition, Sunday Stroll.
~ Best Giveaways Around, BBW Weekly Giveaway Linky, Contesting Monday, Link Your Giveaways, Making Your Home Sing Monday, Mommy Monday, Monday Giveaway Linky, Monday Funday, Monday Madness Giveaways, Monday Morning Link Up, Winning Rocks!.
~ Apron Full of Giveaways, Bless Their Little Giveaways, Giveaway Linky By Country, Got Giveaways?, Handmade Tuesdays, Healthy Tuesdays, Hip Homeschool Hop, Link Up Your Giveaways, Terrific Tuesday, Treasure Hunt Tuesday, Tuesday Giveaway Linky, Why Buy It?.
~ Aquariann's Giveaway Linky of Treasure, Bacon Time Giveaway Linky, Blog Giveaway Linky, Chic Monkey Giveaway Linky, ChicNSavvy, Cuckoo For Coupons, Ongoing Giveaway Linky, Rafflecopter Giveaway Linky, Rafflecopter Giveaway Linky List, Raindrops & Sunshine, Sweeps Factory Giveaway Linky.
I learned that there are a lot of imitators out there that are much lower quality and not biodegradable: http://www.smartklean.com/html/beware_imitations.html I think I've seen some of these, because I've long wondered what is the point of being ecological if you have a big plastic thing to dispose of! The SmartKlean is ceramic and fully biodegradable, and also has no fragrance.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I was skeptical but cutting chemicals and irritants out of my family's everyday life is very important to me, especially with my first little one on the way. This is my first time coming across anything like this and it's kind of blowing my mind that we can change the way laundry is done altogether! I love the videos on the SmartKlean site that explain and show how ph balance works when it comes to laundry and how the SmartKlean ball changes the alkalinity of the water it comes in contact with. I really hope these take off soon for the sake of our health as well as that of the environments'! Thank you for such an informative review! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you learned something. I agree, the video's on their website were a great help in making me finally let go and try it ;)
DeleteThe SmartKlean is ceramic and fully biodegradable, and also has no fragrance.
ReplyDeleteI really wanna try this SmartKlean and prove that it really works and make laundry time more anjoyabke and a lot cleaner.
ReplyDeletemy daughter has been telling me to try this since she loves it.
ReplyDeleteMy personal favorite:
ReplyDeleteRemoves chlorine from wash water preventing its residues on clothing.
I have actually been wanting to try this for a while - such a neat alternative to using all the harsh chemicals out there on our clothes. this actually helps your clothes to last longer.
ReplyDeleteI learned that it cleans without suds.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI learned that it is hypoallergenic so it is good for those with sensitive skin!
ReplyDeleteI like that it washes 365 loads of laundry without using any soap or detergents and takes the place of fabric softer and dryer sheets.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! No detergent? This would be great for our septic tank! Thanks for the information and the opportunity to win the prize!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using no detergent. The site's videos are really helpful in explaining just how the ball works. It would be neat to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteSo cool that it doesn't need soap! I wonder if it would work well enough for cloth pads and diaper covers?
ReplyDeleteI learned that it effectively washes 365 loads of laundry without using any soap or detergents.
ReplyDeleteI learned and like that it Effectively washes 365 loads of laundry without using any soap or detergents...SOunds awesome,I so what to try this!
ReplyDeleteuntil today I had never heard of this. I can see why people would be skeptical about this. I like it because it leaves no trace on our aquatic eco systems and is completely biodegradeable.
ReplyDelete"Effectively washes 365 loads of laundry without using any soap or detergents. Replaces fabric softener and dryer sheets. Helps to conserve water and energy." --- this is a 'too good to be true, have to see it to believe it" type product!
ReplyDeleteWow, 365 loads without soap. If you did one load a day, it would last a whole year.
ReplyDeleteI learned that it effectively washes 365 loads of laundry without using any soap or detergents.
ReplyDeleteSmartKlean Ball can prevent 8-16 gallons of chemicals from reaching our water systems.
ReplyDeleteI like that it's detergent free and biodegradable.
ReplyDeleteIm definitely intrigued. It would take some mental adjustment on my part not to have that fresh scent you get with detergent, but I love the energy savings aspect so it seems a good trade off.
ReplyDeleteI learned that I can wash my cloth diapers with it! Ahh that is awesome! Plus you just have to use cold water when washing them when otherwise I always need to do a hot rinse! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI like that it is earth-friendly. It said that it cleans through a physical process and that the mineral ceramics help to remove the dirt and grime. We have well water and when using regular detergent it never seems to get our clothes super clean. I would love to try this and see how it compares to regular detergent.
ReplyDeleteOmg, I heard about this product a while ago and it's just awesome. reduces waste (it's ZERO WASTE WEEK) and saves money!
ReplyDeleteI learned they are biodegradable!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I had no idea this even existed until I read this blog. The SmartKlean Laundry Ball has to be the best thing to happen to laundry since detergent. I love that it has the ability to naturally boost the water's ability to clean and soften without leaving anything on your cloths. I would really like one. I would be so excited to do my laundry.
ReplyDeleteI learned that a paste of lemon and salt is a great spot treatment for tough mildew stains
ReplyDeleteI learned that it has no fragrance! Best that way!! :D
ReplyDeleteI love that there is no detergent included.
ReplyDeleteI definitely entered. You share some really great products and giveaways! I can see why you thought this was too good to be true. Hopefully I win so I can try it. Thanks for sharing this with us at the Creative Style Linkup!
ReplyDeleteI've learned that it is safe for use with septic systems.
ReplyDeleteI learned you have to wash clothes in cold water or risk damaging the oroduct
ReplyDeleteI learned they are biodegradable!
ReplyDeleteI learned and like that it Effectively washes 365 loads of laundry without using any soap or detergents.
ReplyDeleteI have used Smartklean for about 7 years. I have had severe allergies to smells and chemicals in traditional laundry products all my life. This product is one of the few things, and I mean few, that work as advertised. It has changed the quality of my life considerable because of the chemical free aspect alone. The list is long in regards to all the advantages of changing the way we think we can clean our clothing.
ReplyDeleteYour information about SmartKlean Laundry Ball very interesting, thank you. It should be useful for you: https://topstuf.com/
ReplyDelete