SOAP NUTS
Soap Nuts are made from the shells of a special tree grown in Nepal.
They have been used for hundreds of years in India as a natural cleaning option, and can easily be added to your washing machine in a bio-degradable cloth bag.
The shells themselves are removed from the fruit and left out to dry in the sun;
They're naturally rich in saponins- nature's pure cleaning solution.
When the shells are in contact with water, they release a unique soapy substance.
Soap Nuts are free of synthetic chemicals, fragrances, toxins, and most of all, the fillers that are used in commercial detergent today. They're just as powerful as standard detergent.
So I was wondering for a while now about these soap nuts I was reading about and I decided to try them out
Lots has been written about the soap nuts on the web...I tried using them and here is my own impression of the Soap Nuts -
Soap Nuts are made from the shells of a special tree grown in Nepal.
They have been used for hundreds of years in India as a natural cleaning option, and can easily be added to your washing machine in a bio-degradable cloth bag.
The shells themselves are removed from the fruit and left out to dry in the sun;
They're naturally rich in saponins- nature's pure cleaning solution.
When the shells are in contact with water, they release a unique soapy substance.
Soap Nuts are free of synthetic chemicals, fragrances, toxins, and most of all, the fillers that are used in commercial detergent today. They're just as powerful as standard detergent.
So I was wondering for a while now about these soap nuts I was reading about and I decided to try them out
Lots has been written about the soap nuts on the web...I tried using them and here is my own impression of the Soap Nuts -
PRO
First of all they are Organic Laundry Detergent!!!
I can make this statement since I know the soap nuts grow on trees...So it's a good thing no chemicals are involved in your washing process especially when we talk about cleaning our precious's cloth diapers!
These are REALLY easy to use! Just place 4 Soap Nuts broken in half in the small muslin bag (usually attached to the package when bought in stores), tie it closed, and throw it into the drum of your washing machine along with your articles of clothing that need washing.
Soap Nuts release the soap better in hot water, but you can still use cooler water if you need to run a cold wash-you might just need to use a few more nuts for a deep clean.
You can reuse this batch for 4 or 5 loads of laundry. The soap nuts will be mushy and grey when they need to be composted for your garden. (another advantage !)
You can also make a Soap Nut Liquid (which I prefer using ) by simply boiling approximately 12-15 whole Soap Nuts with 3 cups of water for 30 minutes. When it is boiled down, you will have about 2c. of liquid left. Add extra water, if needed, to keep it at that amount. When cooled, remove the soap nuts, and pour it into an airtight plastic or glass jar. It is better to make the liquid in smaller batches as it can spoil.
I add 5 drops of aromatherapy extract to the Soap Nut liquid for extra good smell-try adding eucalyptus or pine and it will make your laundry small like forest (use ONLY natural extracts!!!! )
Use 3Tbsp (45mL) of soap nuts liquid detergent per large load of laundry.
They are REALLY economic as you may understand from the 4 shells per load...which may be reused about 5 times!!!
The Soap Nuts liquid had easily remove new stains but couldn't handle with the stubborn old ones (but I won't hold that against them as my old regular well packed with chemicals detergent couldn't handle the stains either )
So don't expect from it to remove the yellow stains (you know about what stains I'm talking about :D) from the cloth diapers,I let the SUN do that job.
But they handle very well with the usual "natural" body smells,so your laundry will smell clean and be fresh after the wash especially if extracts ^^ were added.
Some say the Soap Nuts are good for your washing machine as well,as saponin is an acid substance which will help your washing machine work better-I think that's a good news :)
AGAINST
The Soap Nuts have that brown pigment which with time may leave an impression on your clothes (mainly whites) so just use vinegar or baking soda for now and then with your whites
NO "good" smell of freshly made laundry like we use to with the regular detergents will appear while using Soap Nuts ...That is if you won't follow my advice and add the extracts (if added you can erase this from the against list )
SO I guess that's it with the "against" list :D
That being said my conclusions are that Soap Nuts are GREAT!!!
Not only are you getting a clean laundry ,you also helping to save the environment and save money, too
First of all they are Organic Laundry Detergent!!!
I can make this statement since I know the soap nuts grow on trees...So it's a good thing no chemicals are involved in your washing process especially when we talk about cleaning our precious's cloth diapers!
These are REALLY easy to use! Just place 4 Soap Nuts broken in half in the small muslin bag (usually attached to the package when bought in stores), tie it closed, and throw it into the drum of your washing machine along with your articles of clothing that need washing.
Soap Nuts release the soap better in hot water, but you can still use cooler water if you need to run a cold wash-you might just need to use a few more nuts for a deep clean.
While you won't see big bubbles of suds in the washer, the cleaning solution is pure and will remove all grime and dirt from your laundry in a natural way.
You can reuse this batch for 4 or 5 loads of laundry. The soap nuts will be mushy and grey when they need to be composted for your garden. (another advantage !)
You can also make a Soap Nut Liquid (which I prefer using ) by simply boiling approximately 12-15 whole Soap Nuts with 3 cups of water for 30 minutes. When it is boiled down, you will have about 2c. of liquid left. Add extra water, if needed, to keep it at that amount. When cooled, remove the soap nuts, and pour it into an airtight plastic or glass jar. It is better to make the liquid in smaller batches as it can spoil.
I add 5 drops of aromatherapy extract to the Soap Nut liquid for extra good smell-try adding eucalyptus or pine and it will make your laundry small like forest (use ONLY natural extracts!!!! )
Use 3Tbsp (45mL) of soap nuts liquid detergent per large load of laundry.
They are REALLY economic as you may understand from the 4 shells per load...which may be reused about 5 times!!!
The Soap Nuts liquid had easily remove new stains but couldn't handle with the stubborn old ones (but I won't hold that against them as my old regular well packed with chemicals detergent couldn't handle the stains either )
So don't expect from it to remove the yellow stains (you know about what stains I'm talking about :D) from the cloth diapers,I let the SUN do that job.
But they handle very well with the usual "natural" body smells,so your laundry will smell clean and be fresh after the wash especially if extracts ^^ were added.
Some say the Soap Nuts are good for your washing machine as well,as saponin is an acid substance which will help your washing machine work better-I think that's a good news :)
AGAINST
The Soap Nuts have that brown pigment which with time may leave an impression on your clothes (mainly whites) so just use vinegar or baking soda for now and then with your whites
NO "good" smell of freshly made laundry like we use to with the regular detergents will appear while using Soap Nuts ...That is if you won't follow my advice and add the extracts (if added you can erase this from the against list )
SO I guess that's it with the "against" list :D
That being said my conclusions are that Soap Nuts are GREAT!!!
Not only are you getting a clean laundry ,you also helping to save the environment and save money, too
As I said, It's NUTZ not to use Soap Nuts!!!
I want to try these!!
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