MX -
The mechanics behind cleaning the ball with the hot water bath technique is this: Materials will expand when exposed to higher temperatures, and shrink when exposed to colder temperatures. The heat of the water will make the oil trapped in the ball expand out to the surface. Soap will bond with the oil, effectively removing it from the ball. Most of the oil, attached to the soap, should remain in the initial wash water. Rinsing in hot water is done to dilute and remove any residual soap/oil mix. The amount of oil trapped in the ball will determine how many cycles, but I always recommend using a decent amount of liquid dish soap, followed by two rinses with clean hot water. You should not have to wash the ball more than twice to restore the reaction of your ball. I hope this information is helpful.
