|
You might have heard of or seen ads for green balls, a "new" environmentally-friendly alternative to laundry detergent. There are several types, but one much publicized is True Green’s, the merits of which are explained in a nice user-appealing video on YouTube. The only question that really matters, though, is this: what’s in it?
Here is what we know about the content of these Green Wash Balls:
-there are ceramic micro beads and magnets; far infrared and negative ions; and an antibacterial agent that "eliminates mold, pathogenic organisms, and unpleasant odors" - it does NOT contain harmful synthetic detergents, perfumes, dyes or oils Well, it sounds terrific, but what are those far infrared and negative ions? And that mysterious antibacterial agent? Like with so many other so-called green products, we are kept in some sort of a transparent darkness: we think we know what’s in it, but we don’t know it all. Besides, could it be that the ball does nothing else but shake the water (a natural detergent…) a bit more, hereby lifting perhaps a bit more dirt and grease? But even that is questionable. Final counter-argument: it’s made of plastic… Although we, at JustLiveGreener, have not tried this new ball or any other, we are very wary of “trade secrets” and mysterious ingredients, whether it is about cleaning products, cosmetics or anything else, and if we don't know exactly what's in it, we just don't buy it. So our advice is to stick with stuff we know: soap nuts (100% natural, they are the shells of the soap nut tree), white vinegar, baking soda, cold or warm water, and elbow grease. Happy Green Laundering!
 |