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The Downy fabric-softener ball has to be one of the simplest inventions ever. The ball is a self-contained timing device, meaning that you don't have to wait for the spin cycle to insert the liquid fabric softener into a load of laundry. The ball utilizes Newton's first law of motion -- "An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force" -- in an ingenious way to dispense the liquid at the correct time during the wash. Initially, the ball floats on top of the water in a top-loading washer (front-loading washers cannot use the ball because it needs a vertically aligned cylinder for the release mechanism to work). The ball stays this way through the first few normal cycles. The liquid fabric softener is kept inside the ball by a rubber gasket connected to a rubber weight that hangs toward the center of the ball. The seal that is formed can withstand a fairly hefty force, which you can see for yourself if you try to open it. As the spin cycle begins, the ball is thrown against the side of the washer with a great deal of force. This is where Newton's first law comes into play. As the ball travels towards the side of the washer, both the hard outer shell and the rubber weight in the center are travelling at a certain speed and in a certain direction -- they have momentum. Once the ball hits the wall, the outer shell is immediately stopped, but the rubber weight can still move inside the ball. The weight keeps travelling with the same momentum toward the wall. Since the weight is connected to the gasket, once the weight reaches a certain angle the gasket is popped and the seal is compromised. At this point, the ball sinks, and the water in the base of the washer flows in to mix with the fabric softener. The mixture then flows out of the ball and into your clothing at precisely the right moment -- and you didn't have to time it yourself!

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Q: Does the downy ball work
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Get Your Favorite Fabric Softener With Downy Coupons?

Downy is an amazing product that softens laundry and gives it a beautiful fragrance. Downy is great for your clothes but it can be rather expensive. If you want to use Downy on your laundry but don't want to pay the retail price, use Downy coupons. Downy coupons gives you the ability to save up to 50 percent on all Downy products. With Downy coupons, you can save on Downy fabric softener and Downy sheets. Downy coupons can be found on Downy packaging or online.


When was Downy created?

Downy was created in 1960.


How does the Downy Ball softener used in the rinsing cycle know when to open?

During the rinse cycle, the momentum caused by the washer, causes the weight that is hooked to the seal inside the ball to pull the seal open. For details of how the downy ball works see the How Stuff Works related link below, and for even more additional information, see the info contained in the link straight from the mouth of the manufacturer themselves.


Where does the semi colon go in Dear Downy?

Dear Downy;


When was Chris Downy born?

Chris Downy was born in 1955.


When was Downy Emerald created?

Downy Emerald was created in 1758.


What will happen to a plant if you water it with downy?

The chemicals in Downy may kill it.


Does tide work better than downy?

Tide is a detergent used to remove dirt from your clothes. Downy is a fabric softener, used to make your clothes feel nicer -- these product are not comparable since they are designed to do different things.


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What is downy made of?

Downy fabric softener is made of a mixture of ingredients, including water, conditioning agents, preservatives, and fragrance. The exact composition of Downy may vary depending on the specific product and formulation.


What is the scientific name for the Downy woodpecker?

The scientific name for the Downy woodpecker is Picoides pubescens. The Downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America. It is also one of the most common woodpeckers.


Downy isang banlaw?

Downy ang isang banlaw is a common tagline used in advertisements for Downy fabric softener in the Philippines. It conveys the idea that using Downy in the laundry process can make clothes smell fresh and feel soft with just one rinse.