Do nano silver bead laundry mashers effectively clean laundry?

Question

I just received some “Laundry Mashers” as a gift. They are plastic devices that purportedly contain "nano silver infused ceramic beads" and are intended to replace the use of detergent in a washing machine for 200 washes (according to the FAQ).

Question: Do I need to add detergent or softener for the Laundry Masher to work?

No. Your Laundry Masher is 100% detergent-free. The plastic core contains lightly scented, anti-bacterial Nano Silver Infused Ceramic Beads that work with the mechanical action of the Laundry Masher casing to produce a cleaner, softer load of wash.

I can’t find any independent reviews showing whether or not they’re effective. (Many of the reviews seem to be written in a style that leads me to believe they were written as promo pieces for the manufacturer.)

This Reviewopedia article talks about the science positively, but highlights that there’s not a lot of evidence available that is better than detergents.

While the science behind the HyperWash beads is legitimate, there is limited information available on whether it is more effective than conventional laundry detergent, pods, and powder.

The use of antibacterial Nano Silver Infused Ceramic Beads has been studied for years, and it has been used as a source of medication in the 19th century. Because of its antibacterial, antifungal, and microbial qualities, it can perform various tasks and be incorporated into other materials for added value.

I can find multiple legitimate sources that indicate that nano silver particles can kill bacteria, but I’m wondering if there’s any evidence that merely having nano silver beads swirling around in your washing machine would be able to:

1. kill bacteria.
2. clean your clothes of oil, dirt or other grime.
3. remove odours

all of which would be required to be able to effectively replace detergent.

Answer 1

It's a Laundry Ball. This is a very popular fake product, well-documented in the linked wikipedia article. The central question to ask for any laundry ball is, "Is this product better than plain water at cleaning my clothing in a laundry machine?" The answer is no. Different companies come up with different shapes, technologies, and pseudo-scientific explanations, but none of them actually measurably work.

The FTC intermittently attacks companies who make this sort of product, though the more careful companies usually try to keep their claims vague/implied to fend off the FTC:

Two Florida companies and three individuals who marketed and sold laundry detergent substitutes have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they made false and unsubstantiated advertising claims for their two products -- "The Laundry Solution" and "The SuperGlobe." According to the FTC's complaint, the defendants falsely touted the products as effective substitutes for laundry detergents that not only clean laundry but do so without polluting the earth's waterways by emitting a negative charge or by means of "structured water" or "IE crystals."