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There’s a new toy taking the world by storm, and they’re not just for kids. If you haven’t heard about Orbeez, they’re the magical little balls that are adored by children, overworked parents, avid consumers of marijuana, and old ladies with foot problems alike.
So, what are Orbeez? And why are they so universally appealing? Maybe it’s the rainbow of beautiful transparent colors, or perhaps it’s the way they seem to magically grow before your eyes. The sensation of running your hands through Orbeez is a therapeutic experience for people of any age, and they’re completely safe and biodegradable.
Essentially, Orbeez are kind of like multicolored diaper pellets that grow when you put them in water. And if that sounds like a strange thing to package and sell as a toy, you’re definitely not alone. Nonetheless, Orbeez have gained great popularity in recent years, so it’s worth looking at what exactly they are, and why they’ve become such a hit with people of all age groups.
What Are Orbeez?
If you’ve ever used one of those ice packs that’s filled with little gel balls, you’ve probably got a decent idea of what Orbeez look like. They’re tiny absorbent polymer balls that you buy in a pack. When you stick Orbeez in water, they can grow up to 100 times their original size. The purer the water you put them in, the more they’re going to grow.
Polymers, according to the Orbeez website, are several molecules joined together that grow when the water is absorbed in the spaces between the molecules. Think of polymers like tiny little sponges that readily soak up water and therefore grow in size. Polymers are most often talked about in reference to synthetic polymers, which were a big breakthrough in making plastic more durable. Orbeez, on the other hand, are made of natural polymers similar to the ones developed to irrigate fields, so they’re not harmful to the environment and are completely safe for children.
As was mentioned before, Orbeez are very similar to diaper pellets, which work pretty much the same way. If it sounds gross to you that people are playing with diaper pellets, don’t worry. Orbeez have never been previously used in diapers.
By putting Orbeez in warm or hot water, you’ll cause them to expand from the size of a grain of rice to about half an inch wide. This process doesn’t occur instantly, however. Many have reported leaving their Orbeez unattended only to find their sink or bathtub overflowing with colorful balls when they returned. Once the Orbeez have expanded, though, they hold their shape very well and will never leave you feeling wet. You can’t pop Orbeez, and I dare you to try. Some have reported that they feel a strange slimy residue on their skin after submerging their body in Orbeez, but that residue will come right off in the shower.
Although it will be difficult to shower, of course, if your shower is full of Orbeez.
Why Do People Love Orbeez?
Orbeez have a wide range of uses that make them a great time for people of any age. First of all, simply adding water to them and watching them grow is absolutely mesmerizing. People nowadays love to watch therapeutic videos on Instagram of glass being blown or aloe vera leaves being cut up, and watching Orbeez expand gives viewers a very similar sensation.
Beyond their colorful and intriguing appearance, Orbeez also feel great to the touch. They’ve really caught on with the stoner community, because they apparently feel incredible to play with when you’re high.
I wouldn’t know.
Orbeez can also be used for a soothing foot bath for those who need to let off a little stress. In fact, they even sell Orbeez packaged as a foot bath complete with a little tub.
There are also Orbeez products that allow you to color your own Orbeez. They come as completely transparent balls, and you simply add food coloring to the water that you place them in, and you can make your own color combinations! They’re a great way to get out some creative energy. You can even use Orbeez to decorate around your house!
Orbeez are also pretty bouncy once they’ve expanded, so you can drop them on hard surfaces and watch them pop right back up. Just be careful you don’t lose a bunch of them under your couch.
Overall, Orbeez are a fun science experiment, they’re extremely satisfying to the touch, they’re colorful and fun to look at, and super easy to dispose of. The real question is: why wouldn’t people love Orbeez?
Are Orbeez Safe?
Now, for any parents out there reading this that think a bunch of small pellets that look like colorful candy sound like a child safety nightmare, rest assured, Orbeez are a fairly safe toy. The natural polymers that make up Orbeez are completely non-toxic, and will cause no harm if ingested. If you were to ingest Orbeez before they’ve expanded, they will not expand in your stomach. Orbeez can pass safely through your digestive tract and cause no problems.
That being said, fully expanded Orbeez could cause a potential choking hazard, and it’s better to supervise your children if they’re playing with Orbeez. According to the manufacturer of Orbeez, they’re suitable for children ages five and older.
Orbeez are also safe for the environment, as they’re 100% biodegradable. In fact, since these polymers were originally developed for irrigating crops, Orbeez make a great addition to the soil in your garden or flowerpot. Feel free to bury Orbeez in the soil around your plants, and they’ll continue to provide moisture to your plants, helping them grow big and strong. Remember, though, that because Orbeez are so good at retaining moisture, you won’t have to water your plants as often.
Orbeez sitting in direct sunlight will decompose in about 1 or 2 years; however, when they’re buried beneath the soil, they can last as long as 7 to 9 years. That means you can reap the benefits of their moisture-retaining abilities for almost a decade!
Orbeez are also completely safe to throw in the trash, but it’s probably better to put them in a bag or container before they go in the garbage can. Having a spill and being forced to painstakingly clean up hundreds of Orbeez probably wouldn’t be all that fun.
The one thing you should remember when disposing of your Orbeez is to never put them down a drain or a toilet. If they should get caught in your drainage pipes and start to expand, they can cause major clogs or potentially even a bursted pipe. Apparently, a man in France filled his bathtub with Orbeez and tried to dispose of them by pulling the drain plug, and he ended up with Orbeez clogging his pipes up so bad that they began to come out of his toilet.
Types of Orbeez Products
While Orbeez are pretty much the same regardless of the package you buy them in, the manufacturers do have several different Orbeez products that are tailored to specific uses. Here are some of the most popular Orbeez products:
- Orbeez Luxury Foot Spa: This comes with a foot tub and 2,000 Orbeez that you can feel growing right around your feet. There are even LED lights on the tub to tell you how much longer you have in your soak.
- Orbeez Spin & Soothe Hand Spa: This comes with a tub that spins around, creating a relaxing whirlpool of Orbeez for you to stick your hands in.
- Orbeez Wow World Wowzer Surprise: This comes with a pack of Orbeez that has a hidden toy inside. There are 20 different Wowzers to collect, so you’re going to have to buy a lot of Orbeez to get them all!