This is not the type of ball discussed in the article - It is just designed to collect hair and lint during the wash cycle.....Top picture shows 6 unbranded laundry balls I bought on eBay; bottom picture shows one of them after I cut it open with a knife and found it was empty. The product's description said it would release "eco-friendly anion molecules", which it also described as "activated clusters" that eliminate mold and pathogens, prevent skin allergies, clean, bleach, sterilise, "kill bad germs and save good germs", soften fabric and prevent the buildup of static electricity, and "bring more fun to your life".