However, if it rolls off a shelf in your laundry room, for example, and hits the hard floor it may crack. The Downy ball is made of plastic, and generally is supposed to be designed to be sturdy, since it goes through the wash repeatedly. In addition, if you overload your washing machine it may cause the ball not to open, so next try to add less clothing to the machine at a time. Try wiping off the stopper and cleaning it with a few drops of laundry detergent. This is not uncommon because fabric softener is oil based, and easily clumps as it dries. Sometimes this happens because the stopper gets residue caked on it, which make it difficult to slide open and closed. There have been times I've put it into the wash and when I get it out it is still closed, and has never dispensed any softener into the wash. The Ball Does Not Open And Dispense Softenerįirst, speaking from personal experience I will say that this product is not fool proof. Here are some of the most common problems I've encountered, or heard about, and suggestions for fixing them. Troubleshooting Problems With Your Downy BallĪs simple as the design is for this fabric softener dispensing ball, it is no surprise that some people have problems with it working properly. However, you can still purchase them online (see the referral links below). (By the way, if you're having trouble with a yucky dispenser, check out this video on cleaning your machine to get rid of washing machine smell).Ī related result of the fact that these balls are not used in the newer designed washing machines means they are not as easy to find in stores anymore. I know some people don't like to use these built in fabric softener dispensers, because they easily get clogged and dirty (in both HE and standard top loaders) but I would not recommend using this product in your HE machine unless the instruction manual for it specifically says you can. Instead, most HE machines have a fabric softener dispenser in them, and you should use this dispenser instead. When the washing machine enters the last rinse cycle and begins to spin the ball around, with the rest of the clothes, the ball is designed to open up and release the softener onto the clothing.īecause the Downy ball is designed to open up during the final rinse cycle of standard (non-HE machines), you should not use this fabric softener ball in an HE machine. It is important that the ball be at the top, and not covered with clothing, for it to work properly.īasically the ball floats at the top of your washing machine load during the washing of the clothes. Then, throw the filled ball onto the top of your clothing. At the beginning of the washing cycle open the stopper and pour in your fabric softener to the approprite fill line and pull the stopper closed. The ball is designed with a rubber stopper in the top. Instead, it can be used to dispense any type of liquid softener in your washing machine at the right time. Although it says "Downy" in its name, you don't have to use Downy fabric softener in it, although the fill lines are premeasured for that brand. Therefore, someone invented the Downy ball. Obviously, if your machine doesn't have a dispenser you are out of luck, and I've already identified that it is a pain to have to pay attention to when your machine gets to the right cycle, and I myself often miss it. There were problems with both of these methods. Therefore, originally you had two options for adding the softener, either in your washing machine's fabric softener dispenser or adding it manually during the rinse cycle. If you've ever used liquid fabric softener in your washing machine I'm sure you know about making sure it gets onto the clothing at the exact right time - not to soon, not too late, but just right, during the final rinse cycle.įor those of us without a fabric softener dispenser, this product was invented to keep us from having to stand by the machine waiting for that exact right time.Īs explained in more detail in my article about how to use liquid fabric softener, you can't place the softener into the machine at the beginning of the load or it will not work properly. Here is the ultimate guide to using a Downy ball in the washing machine properly, to dispense fabric softener, plus reviews and troubleshooting tips for some common complaints about the product.
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