... There were lots of ecofriendly alternatives to many household products but the soap nuts caught my eye, and no, before you say anything it wasnt just because they have got the word nuts in the name either!
What Is A Soap Nut And How Does It Work.
Soap nuts are fruits of a tree called ... Read review
Soapnuts, the truly environmentally friendly alternative to chemical laden laundry ... more
detergents. Soapnut shells are sustainably produced (they grow on trees), bio-degradable and compostable. The soapnut tree or Sapindus Mukkrossi are native throughout India and Nepal, the shells have the active ingredient saponin and have been used for centuries as both a washing detergent and in skin care products. To use Soapnuts for your laundry, simply place 6 8 half shells (or equivalent pieces) into the cotton bag provided. Place the bag in your washing machine and wash on your usual cycle. There is no need to add fabric conditioner as soapnuts leave your washing fresh, clean and soft. The soapnuts can be re-used up to 5 times so between washes store the bag&nuts in a jar. When the soapnuts are exhausted they will appear darker and soft then all you need do is add them to your compost heap. As they are natural and chemical free they are gentle on your clothes and skin so are suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Postage & Packaging:£4.39 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Soap Nuts are washing detergent that grows on trees - Used for Millennia, now rediscovered ... more
for the modern world. Soap nuts are mild and soft cleansing for your washing machine Ecological and economical compared to other brands of detergent. Two pounds of soapnuts can be used for more than 100 loads of laundry. In India and Nepal, the soapnut (sapindus trifoliatus) has been used as a vegetable washing detergent since time immemorial. The up to 15 metres high soap nut tree grows mainly in South India. The ripe soapnuts are harvested in October. When removed from the tree the soapnuts are sticky and golden in colour. They are dried and their colour becomes reddish-brown. Then the nuts are cracked and the black kernel, which can neither be eaten nor used for washing is removed and the shell, which contain saponine (a natural detergent), are packed up in cotton bags. How does it work? The somewhat sticky saponine in the shells of the soap nuts acts similar to normal soap. As soon as the shells get in contact with water, this natural saponine soap is released and creates mild suds. Place 4 to 5 half shells in one of the provided cotton bags. Tie the bag and place it with your laundry in the washing machine. Start your machine as usual, with or without pre-wash. The remains of the soapnuts can be composted or be disposed of through organic refuse. The soap nut can be easily used in your washing machine. Unlike common washing powders and liquids that contain considerable amounts of chemicals, the soapnut is environmental friendly and is gentle of the skin. Used for all fabrics and with all temperatures. Tips: No need for fabric softeners Works well with delicate fabrics such as silk and wool When washing in cold to warm water, soapnuts can be used for a second time the same day In the case of heavy stains, we recommend adding one tablespoon of stain remover. For a fragrant wash add your favourite essential oils
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Plenty Disadvantages: Will need something extra for whites.
...many household products but the soap nuts caught my eye, and no, before you say anything it wasnt just because they have got the word nuts in the name either!
What Is A Soap Nut And How Does It Work.
Soap nuts are fruits of a tree called Sapinadis Mukorossi (soap tree) which are grown in both India and Nepal. The soap nuts are gathered between mid September and mid October. A soap nut tree can produce between ... .../>
The soap nuts are round,about the size of a 1 pence piece and are golden in colour with a sticky surface. They contain a little black nut which is either eaten or disregarded by the farmer. It is not the nut but the shell however that is used for the purposes of cleaning. The shell contains approximately 12% saponine. This is a moderatley sticky substance which behaves like a natural soap on contact with warm or hot water. The shell of ... more
I discovered this product having been sent a free sample of some eco friendly disposable nappies. I have two children in nappies at the moment although I'm currently working on getting my two year old out of them during the day time. Anyway, I like these nappies and so I had a good look at the catalogue that was sent with them. There were lots of ecofriendly alternatives to many household products but the soap nuts caught my eye, and no, before you say anything it wasnt just because they have got the word nuts in the name either!
What Is A Soap Nut And How Does It Work.
Soap nuts are fruits of a tree called Sapinadis Mukorossi (soap tree) which are grown in both India and Nepal. The soap nuts are gathered between mid September and mid October. A soap nut tree can produce between 200 and 1500Kg of soap nuts and as these trees grow naturally beside other crops that the farmer may already be growing, they are a fantastic source of extra income for the farmer.
The soap nuts are round,about the size of a 1 pence piece and are golden in colour with a sticky surface. They contain a little black nut which is either eaten or disregarded by the farmer. It is not the nut but the shell however that is used for the purposes of cleaning. The shell contains approximately 12% saponine. This is a moderatley sticky substance which behaves like a natural soap on contact with warm or hot water. The shell of the soap nut allows the saponin to dissolve into the water giving a solution which cleans effectivly. Saponine is a glucoside (a type of sugar) and is therefore totally biodegradeable.
Uses Of The Soap Nut.
The soap nut is extremely versatile and can be used for many different applications. The main one being to wash clothes. The instructions that came with my soap nuts gave clear guidance on how many halves to use per wash at each temperature and also differenciated between hard and soft water areas. The amounts range from just three halves on a sixty degree wash in a soft water area to six to eight halves in a hard water area on a thirty degree wash. There is more needed for a cooler wash possibly due to more Saponine being released at higher temperatures. However the nuts can only be used once at sixty degrees but twice at thirty. I have since read on a website somewhere that if wasing at thirty they can be used up to four times and still work just as effectivley, but I will give my experiences a little later.
They can be used as a general purpose cleaner by boiling 12 halves in water for ten minuites and using the cooled liquid in a spray bottle. One litre of liquid will yeild approximately 500ml of liquid for use this way. It is best to add some lemon juice to the liquid as this helps preserve the solution for approximately two weeks. This liquid can be used on work surfaces, bathrooms, floors and even to wash your car if you are really going for green.
An alternative for shampoo is another surprising use for these versatile little nuts and is reportedly great for anyone who is really sensitive to any form of chemical shampoo as it is non allergenic. It is also great for anyone who has dandruff on a long term basis. Pets also benefit from using this as a shampoo again as it is chemical and synthetic free. It is meant to be highly effective against fleas and lice, but as I dont have any pets except the husband ( and he dosnt get fleas that often) I wont be able to comment on this particular application.
The soap nuts can be used to clean jewellery by soaking half a lemon in the soap nut solution ( made in the same way as described for all purpose cleaner). By pressing a toothbrush into the solution and gently scrubbing any dirty jewellery it will clean without the need to send it off to the jewellers and without the need for environmentally damaging chemicals.
Dishwasher tablets can be replaced by 3 or 4 soapnuts placed inside the dishwasher inside a cotton bag. Putting half a used lemon will also make dishes spakle and shine just as well as any chemical infested and expensive dishwasher tablets.
My Experiences Of Soap Nuts.
I have been using these natural washing powder alternatives for about three months now and I have to say that it would take an awful lot for me to go back to washing powder. They can be purchased for £12.50 for a 1Kg bag and in our house where we do approximately 20 to 30 washes per week ( washable nappies! + dirty little children = lots of washing ), this amount is going to last at least 6 months. I am able to wash all my clothes on a 30 degree short wash and nappies on a 60 degree long wash and have been able to stop using fabric softners as the soap nuts are better at keeping the water softer. This is in a hard water area aswell!
The soap nuts do have some disadvantages, they will not keep whites white as they do not have any bleaching agents in them. For whites I need to add some Ecover Laundry Bleach. This is chlorine free and a much better environmentally friendly product. This does mean that colours come out really well as the lack of a bleaching agent in the nuts means the colours are not lost.
The only other disadvantage is that they will not remove any hard to shift stains such as chocolate or grass. For this I just add half a cup of soda crystals which are only 50 - 60p for a bag and I find this generally does the trick, but there are plenty of stain removers both eco friendly or not on the market.
Even with these extra items needed the cost of washing has been slashed from about £30 a month to about £5 a month. Worth it dont you think?, and helping to lower that all important carbon footprint that is the buzzword on every news readers tongue at the moment.
I was dubious about the smell of them when I first opened the bag as they have a kind of sweet vinegary smell but was pleasently surprised by the end result. They simply smelt like clean washing, no chemical fake perfumes but just clean. If you do prefer to have a smell on your clothes then a few drops of an essential oil in the rinse will perume them for you. If you really prefer really soft clothes then adding some fabric conditioner will eliminate the need for ironing, even when line dried in a hard water area. Do not take this lightly as up until now I ironed socks and tea towels and basically anything that wouldnt melt, so this really is a good claim.
I have not been brave enough to use them as a shampoo, but did find they cleaned effectivley as a surface cleaner, and while they did not lather I used some on my hands after they had come out of the washing machine and they worked quite well.
I have seen several reports about the allergic properties of these soap nuts and as we dont have any allergies in this house I cannot personally comment, but my instincts would be that these are about as gentle as it comes and anyone allergic to washing powders or anyone with eczema should give these a try. I would be interested to hear from anyone that does so I could add it to this review.
These unfortunately can only be ordered online at the moment so shop around and give them a try.
I hope you find this useful, thankyou for reading. Sarah.x
Advantages: Environmentally friendly, clean fresh laundry Disadvantages: not good for difficult stains
...when my wife started using Soap Nuts as our household cleaner, it sparked my curiosity to learn more.
What are Soap Nuts?
Soap Nuts are actually not nuts at all. They are berries (also known as Soap Berries) that grow on trees in India & Nepal. There are two main varieties of Soap Nuts: sapindus trifoliatus (The Small Soap Nut) and sapindus mukorossi (The Large Soap Nut). The Large Soap Nut is the most commonly used in cleaning (probably due to ... ...quite effective.
How do Soap Nuts Work as a Detergent?
Soap Nuts contain large quantities of saponin in their shells, which acts as a natural, gentle detergent when it comes into contact with water. Without added chemicals, fragrances or dyes, Soap Nuts are safe and gentle for handwashing delicates, yet tough enough for regular laundry. They will leave your laundry soft, clean and fragrance free, without the use of fabric softeners.
Will Soap ...
mejohn 10.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Soap Nuts
Advantages: clean & fresh smelling clothes, inexpensive, environmentally friendly Disadvantages: nod good for difficult stains such as red wine & blood
Soap Nuts (Soapnuts) - The Environmental Detergent
Have you ever thought about all the chemicals that we pour down the drain daily? What impact do they have on our environment? What does this mean for our children's future? How can we minimize the harmful chemicals we use & save the environment at the same time? Soap Nuts are the answer.
What are Soap Nuts?
Soap Nuts are not actually nuts at all, but berries (also known as soap berries) that grow ... ...which acts as a natural soap when it comes into contact with water. What can I use Soap Nuts for?
The most common & easiest use of soap nuts is as a laundry detergent. Just place three or four half-shells of soap nuts in a muslin bag (provided with most soap nuts orders) and throw it in with your laundry instead of regular detergent and you are on your way to becoming environmentally friendly. When using soap nuts in your laundry, you do not even ...
mejohn7779 13.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Soap Nuts
Advantages: cheap, extremely eco friendly Disadvantages: The bag can get lost in the washing and end up all over the house nowhere near the machine!
...ecover, bio d etc and soap nuts come out on top by far. Spread the word. And I'm learning that you can use them for all sorts of cleaning from household to personal. I get mine from Spirit of Nature. There so simple and so effective - working well to remove most stains and more then the other eco brands that I've tried. For stubborn tomato stains I use sunshine to return white to white and for heavy grease and chocolate I use a little bit of washing ...
squirrelled 19.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Soap Nuts
Advantages: 100% Renewable resource, natural, no chemicals Disadvantages: Hard to find, don't get stains out fully.
Soap Nuts are just that - nuts. They grow wild in Nepal and India and are a natural source of Saponin - the part of soap powder that does the cleaning. They come from a bush or tree in Nepal. The bush grows wild and the nuts can be harvested easily to provide a completely renewable resource. The ultimate in Green washing products!
I just found these on Ebay and they are so easy to use! To use them you take about half a dozen shells and chuck them ... ...washing smells of lavender.
Soap nuts have no added chemicals and so are great for my son who has excema. I have struggled with the fact that they have no bleaching agents or optical brighteners so I alternate them with powder. So I do all the washing for a month with soap nuts and then the following month with sensitive skin powder. The combination deals with stains and the soap nut month cleans out any powder residue that affects the excema.
...
roosarah 12.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Soap Nuts
Advantages: Renewable, sustainable and natural, incredibly versatile Disadvantages: not great on dazzling whites
I love soap nuts! I even grew my own mini soap nut tree and bonsai'd it. I've found so many uses fro these leathery berries and the solution you can make by simmering them gently in water. They can be used to wash pretty much anything. I use them to wash me, my kids, our clothes, car, pets, floors, windows and surfaces. The solution is handiest in a spray bottle and used like a conventional surface cleaning spray, adding in a few drops of tea tree ... ...kept the greenfly off my roses this summer and the blackfly off my beans.
An all round brilliant *green* product that I would recommend anyone to try.
They are a bit rubbish at getting white clothes dazzling white though so I'd have ecover laundry bleach on hand too. ...
EthicsTrading 03.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Soap Nuts
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Advantages: envirmentaly friendly, good for sensitive skin, good price! Disadvantages: not great for stains or whites!
there - 1 wash with soapnuts and my sons botty is fresh as a daisy - problem solved overnight! and for once they are soft rather than crispy and stiff!
All in all i think the environmental and sensitive skin pro's definately outwiegh the cons with this product - however I wouldnt recomend you use these on something very stained! ...
sportyminx 12.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Soapnuts
Advantages: Natural, cheap, environmentally friendly, easy to use, sustainable resouce Disadvantages: Not available on the high street
normal detergents, so they are better for your clothes, your skin and the environment.
Soapnuts natural habitat is in India, and in Nepal. Their botanical name is Sapindus Mukkrossi, and the family name is Sapindaceae.It is the seeds which grow on the tree which are the soapnuts that you will be able to buy online. They are brown, round and in a dry state quite hard. When they are in your washing machine, the water turns them soft and this is when the Saopnin, or natural soap, is released.
When you order Soapnuts from the internet, you will usually be sent a bag full of the shells. Sometimes they are not split and will have a nut inside which you just throw away as they are of no use to us. When you have the shells, simply put 6-8 of them into a thin cotton sock and tie a knot in the end so that the shells cannot come out. Put this into ...
mummy2harry 06.11.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Soapnuts
Advantages: easy to buy, allergy foundation approved, non greasy, easy to use Disadvantages: never use on nappies and towels as makes them waterproof over time
My 5 year old daughter and my 3 year old son suffer from eczema My son's is very mild, and related more to certain oils and bath soaps and such. My daughter, however, flared up into scar making measly appearing spots during a horrific flare up last year and ever since has been extremely sensitive. Rough clothes set her itching, and itching to scratching, and a flare up happens. Use of soaps and chemicals on her clothes does this as well. So I switched to soapnuts to wash her clothes, double rinse if I had to use stain remover, and use Fairy fabric softener on her clothes as they have to be super soft to not start the itchy rub cycle and fairy is the only softener bearing the seal of approval from the British Allergy foundation.We even bought an eco tumble dryer so her clothes will be fluffy and soft. More about that in a moment, as it ...
