# Where is Laundry Ball Archive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 21, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137 "2001-01-21T17:35:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Alonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alonist)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/1 "2001-01-21T17:35:18Z")
I started a “laundry capsule” thread a week or two ago after I could not find a search that would bring up Cecil’s “laundry ball” columns, which used to be accessible by the simple search “laundry balls”. Were they lost somehow during the recent revamping of the Archives search engine? I was able to find a copy of the columns offsite at [http://www.worldwidescam.com/cecil.htm](http://www.worldwidescam.com/cecil.htm). Can anyone come up with an onsite search that will bring those columns out of the archives? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/2 "2001-01-21T18:25:34Z")
I can’t remember now if I ever saw the laundry column online. However, it can be found on pages 7-10 of Cecil Adams’ book «[_The Straight Dope Tells All_](http://www.straightdope.com/otheroutlets/books.html)». You might be interested in also reading this Staff Report: [How do Downy laundry dispensers work?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdowny.html) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/3 "2001-01-21T18:43:47Z")
I think **alonicist** is right about the column being online at one time. I always try an Internet search when the SD search function is slow or isn’t working right. A Google search for “straightdope” and “laundry ball” turns up a broken link: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970926.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970926.html) ---
**Author:** ![SDP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDP)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/4 "2001-01-21T20:57:29Z")
Clearly it was online here at some point: [Google’s Cached Copy.](http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.straightdope.com/columns/970725.html) That’ll get you the original column and illustration. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/5 "2001-01-22T01:05:23Z")
And “laundry balls” plural turns up another broken link. > [@](#): > > Do “laundry balls” that supposedly replace detergent > really work? Week of: 25-Jul-97. Dear Cecil … > > [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970725.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970725.html) Still, if you’re just looking for laundry ball info, Cecil’s not the only one who has the Straight Dope. [http://www.flimflam.com/scam12.htm](http://www.flimflam.com/scam12.htm) [http://skepdic.com/refuge/laundry.html](http://skepdic.com/refuge/laundry.html) [http://www.choice.com.au/articles/a101284p1.htm](http://www.choice.com.au/articles/a101284p1.htm) [http://www.syntac.net/hoax/Laundry/index.php](http://www.syntac.net/hoax/Laundry/index.php) [http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971106a.cfm](http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971106a.cfm) And not surprisingly, the Soap and Detergent Association says they don’t work either. 😃 [http://www.sdahq.org/sdalatest/html/lda/](http://www.sdahq.org/sdalatest/html/lda/) ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/6 "2001-01-22T04:54:59Z")
Slight mixup, sorry. The laundry ball column should now be visible at [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_007b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_007b.html) ---
**Author:** ![Alonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Alonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alonist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-laundry-ball-archive/51137/7 "2001-01-22T14:35:09Z")
Thanks, everybody!