The fabric softener ball, popularized by fabric chemicals company Downy, eliminates the need to add liquid fabric softener in the middle of a washing machine's spin cycle. The product is an ingenious invention that saves time and simplifies washing by eliminating-realized only now-unnecessary steps.
The concept behind the fabric softener ball is rather simple. In fact it is so simple people often look for additional parts when they first get a hold of their purchase. The ball applies simple laws of physics to mix fabric softener with laundry at just the right time.
The ball consists of three main parts. The clear round base obviously holds the fabric softener. It also exposes that weird solid thing in the middle-the rubber weight. Such is the heart of product and is what's responsible for scattering the softener. The last main part is the rubber gasket. The gasket is connected to the rubber weight. It is also responsible for keeping the softener inside and letting it flow through once needed.
The ball is simply placed afloat the still stagnant water in the washer after all laundry and detergent have been set up. When the washer is turned on, water and laundry spin-naturally, the ball spins with them. Physics tells us that its natural tendency will make it reach the edge of the washer's cylinder and whirlpool-think outer most part of a tornado. Once it hits the wall of the washer, it loses its momentum. However, because the rubber weight is technically "not attached" to the ball, it keeps up with the momentum of the whirlpool. This momentum is what makes it detach the rubber gasket, which them releases the fabric softer at just the right time.
Limitations
A fabric softener ball can only work with a washer with a vertically-aligned cylinder. Such is also known as a top-loading washer. In other words, it cannot work with a front-loading washer (because it has a horizontally-aligned cylinder).
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