Soap Nuts Trial

Forget-me-Not · Soap Nuts Trial

Not sure where to put this thread, hope this one's fine.

I've just bought Soap Nuts, I bought them for £5.86 from Lakeland. www.lakeland.co.uk , should do 50 washes!!!!

I think I do at the most, 12 washes a week, so that would mean a months washing for the price of depending on what used. (I was using Ecover) just more than a weeks worth.

The instructions look clear but aren't necessarily, there's a table for soft or hard water, how many half nuts to use per wash depending on temperature. Bicarbonate of Soda can be added for whites for whitening.

I read a lot of reviews first from all over the place and most seemed very good, higher than for the Eco balls, which were a bit hit and miss ratings wise though my Mother likes them.

Just put in a load, happens to be bathroom mats and cleaning cloths. Can't see any soapyness yet but maybe I put in too little, mabe I thought what is actually a quarter nut is a half.

The nuts are from an Indian tree and can be composted afterwards. Described as renewable raw materials, though being from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, if the Indian tree was in fact in India as opposed to here somewhere then theres air miles involved. Not sure where tree was but the average laundry detergent plus fabric conditioner which isn't needed with these, has lots of miles and chemicals to it, plus packaging. The box here is simple cardboard and includes a draw string bag for use.

Will be back with results from a weeks washing. (Not sure if anyone else uses or has used them?)

Beth

wildgarlic

I'm pretty sure the trees are in India but probably no airmiles but ship miles.

If you like them then check out the prices in the food co-op section - they may be cheaper.

Forget-me-Not · Soap Nuts

I'm hopeless! Didn't realize in the co-op.

Beth

wildgarlic

Not hopeless at all - the list is quite confusing (not to mention very long!)

Hopefully we'll find a way to make it clearer for anyone interested in ordering, but meantime if you are looking for something there is no harm in asking whether we can get it. (same goes for anyone!)

Julie

I had a handful that WG gave me ages ago. Some months back, I put them in an empty ecover bottle and added hot water. I left them for weeks and gave them a shake every day, but all that happenned was the water turned a dirty brown colour. I felt it and it wasn't even remotely soapy or even slippery. It made no bubbles in the washing up water even when I used half of the contents. I chucked it down the sink

Can anyone tell me what I should have done, or if there is a life span for these things - which seems improbable, seems more likely that it was my technique. I did put the used nuts in the compost though, so it wasn't wholly wasted.

I have an idea regarding air miles though; there are native plants (weeds) that contain saponins and we could perhaps run a trial with some of them alongside this one if anyone else thinks it a good idea?

wildgarlic

I have a feeling that to make a liquid soap you need to whizz up the soapnuts with water in a blender - I've got some instructions somewhere. I will see if I can find them.

Forget-me-Not · Soap Nuts

Only used once so far, very little evidence of bubbles but things came out fresh, clean and soft. Will keep people posted. I just stuck them in their bag in the washer.

Beth

Julie

Can you reuse the nuts more than once?

No obvious jokes please

Forget-me-Not · Soap Nuts

On the box it says you can if a 30 degree wash. But somewhere else I'm sure they said yes a good couple of times until yous see the wash deteriate. I need to double check where I read this. I've got a feeling it was amazon but not sure.

Beth

wildgarlic

You can use them for more than once - I seem to recall even 6 or 7 times (but don't quote me) - sorry not had chance to look out the instructions as I've had visitors.

peppercat

I got mine from the Natural Collection catalogue and they do come from India but are Fairtrade so doing someone some good. The instructions with mine were 6-7 half nuts per wash (in a little cotton drawstring bag that came with them) supposed to soap up at 30 degrees or more (I haven't time to stand and watch the washing machine) and can be used twice then composted. I find the wash is fine at least as good as with Ecover liquid.

Sunflower

I've used these and found them good in my wash, except that bits of nut kept escaping from the little bag and clogging my machine. My fault almost certainly but I've returned to ecoball.
However, I've made handwash with it by boiling the nuts in water (rough quantities 15 nuts to 250ml?). I boiled it for about 20 mins, then when it was cold added few drops of lavendar and put the whole lot in a container. Doesn't really froth but you can feel the soapiness and makes your hands feel soft