Downy Dryer Ball Review

I have 2 homes, in one I have the newer washing machine that has a very handy liquid fabric softener dispenser right on the agitator, and at the other home I have an older model that doesn't have anything for that at all.

I had heard about the Downy Dryer Ball so went out to get one thinking this will make things a little easier for me at the home with the older washing machine... 

I filled the ball to the line, pulled the cork into place and tossed it in the washing machine right at the beginning like it says to do. Then during the first spin cycle it's supposed to pop open and spill out all the softener in the water during the first rinse cycle...mine didn't! I tried it many times with the same result every time, it would pop open but it would float on top the water and never spill out, so every time I went to place my clothes in the dryer there at the bottom of my washing machine was the ball still holding all the liquid softener I had put in it earlier!

Now I listen to the machine and when I hear the rinse cycle start up I add the softener myself! No ball for me!