Happy Holidays! Free US shipping on all orders over $150!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Holiday Shipping recommended order-by dates and selected international retailers.

Continental USA  Dec 16
HI, AK, USA territories  Dec 10
Canada  Order from Beach Relief
UK, EU  Order from Rainbow Brands or Babipur
NZL and AUS  Order from CaliWoods

We do not guarantee delivery dates. Predicted delivery dates can be impacted by weather and high shipping volumes. Please plan to order gifts early.

International shipping discounts.

Get discounted rates on international shipping with the following: 

 Orders up to $159

$25 USPS International shipping
 Orders over $160

$45 UPS International shipping (orders to Canada will ship with USPS)

We recommend you also check our Retailer shops page in case there is a shop closer to you.

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Who can use Cora Ball?

Anyone can use the Cora Ball, in any washing machine; front loaders, top loaders with and without the center spindle, anywhere.

Where can you get a Cora Ball?

In addition to getting a Cora Ball online at this website, we have amazing retail partners all over the globe. The best way to reduce footprint, and in many cases cost, hassle and cost associated with customs, and extended shipping time while supporting some incredible shop owners, we recommend looking for a shop in your region before ordering from here. Find shops here! If there aren’t any shops in your area, we’d love to help you, just click on our product pages.

Can I wash all of my clothes with it, even delicates?

We  recommend that you DO NOT wash anything with lace, tassels, chunky or wide-knit, crocheted sections, or fraying threads with Cora Ball. The stalks on the Cora Ball might catch these delicate items and potentially cause damage. The good news is that these items are not contributing much microfiber according to current scientific understanding, so leaving the Cora Ball out of the wash for your delicates is OK. Sometimes a bra or bikini strap will wrap around the Cora Ball; don’t worry, it is easy to unwind and unless the straps are made of lace, they will be fine (we’ve been testing with our own delicates for years and except for lace, have not had trouble).

How many Cora Balls should I use?

For most homes, one Cora Ball will do the job. For families with especially large washing machine, we recommend up to 3. 

How much microfiber does it prevent?

According to a recent paper published out of University of Plymouth, The Cora Ball prevents 31% of the microfibers per load from washing downstream (Napper et. al., 2020). The effectiveness depends on several factors including the materials in the load, wash settings, wash frequency and the presence of pet hair (which helps catch fibers)! We are constantly testing to learn how it works best so we can share with Cora Ball users.

Has there been any independent testing of the Cora Ball?

Yes! There have been two independent tests investigating the effectiveness of the Cora Ball. The first out of Dr. Chelsea Rochman’s lab at the University of Toronto. It was lead-authored by Hayley K. McIlwraith and is now published in the peer-reviewed journal, Marine Pollution Bulletin. 

The second test was conducted by the International Marine Litter Research Unit, School of Biological and Marine Sciences at University of Plymouth, lead-authored by Dr. Imogen Napper and published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

The results: the Cora Ball is an effective solution for microfiber pollution! Cora Ball prevented 31% and 26% of microfiber pollution in the Napper and McIlwraith studies respectively. Most notably, the Cora Ball was proven to PREVENT microfiber shedding, which can increase the life of your clothes!

Can I see the fibers it collects?

Cora Ball catches AND prevents microfiber pollution. On the days you wash your heavier items, like fleece, sweatshirts, etc., you are likely to see the fibers stuck in the Cora Ball. Sometimes, after everyday clothing loads, you may not see much. It may be there accumulating and tangling up with hair and larger fibers, it’s just too small to see and you will be able to remove it when the tangles do get big enough to grab. But, even when you can’t see the fibers in Cora Ball, Cora Ball is preventing microfiber shedding in the first place!

How does it catch tiny fibers?

The fibers tend to tangle together into fuzz balls that you can see and pick out of the Cora Ball. When we look at a microscope image from a pinch of what a Cora Ball collected from a 3-load test, we can see different colors and sizes all bunched together.

Do I have to clean it after every wash?

No, you do not need to clean the Cora Ball after every wash. We recommend, cleaning when it’s easy to clean - you’ll see big tangles of hair and fiber, then you can go for it.

How do you clean it?

When you have tangles big enough to grab, you just move the stalks to the side and pinch the tangles to pull them out. They come out easily.

Where do the fibers go?

The only option at the moment is to put the fibers in the trash, along with your dryer lint. It’s the same stuff. At this point, we cannot recycle laundry lint (from the washer or the dryer). But, Rozalia Project, and our partners, are working hard to figure this out. We look forward to the day when we can upcycle all of this material into new clothes or something durable and long lasting. Until that happens, the trash is better than straight to our public waterways.

What is the Cora Ball made of?

Cora Ball is made entirely in the US with recycled content, including reground Cora Balls, and is 100% recyclable with the Cora Ball take-back program.

Is the Cora Ball recyclable?

Yes! Please do not put it in your blue bin. We hope you will use it long into the future, but if you are done with your Cora Ball, please contact us.

How long will my Cora Ball last?

Cora Ball lasts 5 years or more under normal washing conditions. It was designed as a long-lasting and durable product, not for just a few uses.

Does it cause the clothes damage or make more microfibers?

According to Napper et. al. 2020, the Cora Ball helps reduce fiber shedding off of clothes, so the Cora Ball effectively protects your clothes helping them last longer while also protecting the ocean.

Though this paper was recently published, from the start, our design team was driven by concern for plastic and man-processed fibers entering the marine environment, and for the longevity of your clothes, so we used 3 design strategies to keep the Cora Ball from making more microfibers themselves. Shape: the rings on the outside are smooth and round and that is what comes in contact with the clothes; Material: the material is extremely soft and stretchy - softer than some of your clothes! Finally, motion: the Cora Ball moves with your clothes around the wash, not against them.

The items that do have potential to get past the rings and stuck in the stalks are: lace, crocheted/chunky knits, tassels or items with fraying ends - all of which could still be in the same wash, we recommend they are put in a wide mesh bag for delicates.

Can I put the Cora Ball in the dryer?

Yes, you can. If you accidentally throw your Cora Ball in the dryer, not to fear! We chose a material that can withstand the heat and action of a dryer. 

Why is international shipping so expensive?

We agree that shipping outside the US is incredibly expensive and wish we had more control over that. We have two suggestions: One is to see if you have a friend who might be interested in getting a Cora Ball too - to get the per Cora Ball shipping rate down. The other is to stand by - we've had a great reception about this product and are looking for international distributors. Once we have those relationships, the shipping will come way, way down for you, or even better, you will be able to purchase a Cora Ball at a shop near you in person.

Are there customs, taxes, VAT or other fees for international shipments?

There very well could be. We are eager to offer Cora Balls to ocean conscious global citizens everywhere, but every country has different customs laws. We declare the value that you paid on the customs forms and advise you to look into your country's policies prior to purchase.

What are your customer service hours?

Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm EST
Order cancellations, changes, or address changes will be addressed before 11am EST each weekday. 

What if my package was sent back to Cora Ball?

This can happen in the event that your delivery service deems the package unclaimed. The time period varies by location and country. We’ve had packages sent back from apartment building’s’ mailrooms, and because of nonpayment at customs offices in international location. In the event this happens, we are happy to reship your Cora Ball(s) to you. We will email you a link for re-shipping fees.

If you know you are going to be away when your Cora Ball is likely to arrive, we recommend making a plan for someone to collect your packages.

My tracking number says delivered, but I do not have a package. What do I do?

Unfortunately, this has happened. Our experience is that it was either delivered to the wrong location or was stolen.
If the post office has delivered your package, but it has gone missing, please contact your local post office to find out where the courier delivered the package.

We do not guarantee delivery dates. The delivery speed shown at checkout is an estimate and we do not refund late deliveries. Please plan accordingly.

We are not liable for lost, stolen or late packages. Please see our Refund Policy for more details. 

My Cora Ball is Damaged. What do I do? 

Cora Balls have been made to last years of washing and hundreds of loads of laundry. However, we all do laundry differently and the spindle of the Cora Ball can wear out. 

Our warranty covers one year of free spindle replacement. If your Cora Ball spindle has broken less than 1 year from the date of your purchase, please contact Cora Ball customer support here to claim a replacement spindle. For any other replacement parts, please contact the Cora Ball customer support team and we will be able to help you!

We try our hardest to retrieve all materials for recycling, so we can discuss ways of getting the Cora Ball back to Vermont in the most economical way for everyone!