"Are you nuts?" was pretty much the response I got from my
husband when he first heard about soap nuts. "You're going to wash
clothes with these?" he asked as he held a few of them in his hands. "Do
you want to explain to me how exactly they are going to get the clothing clean?"
Well,
I didn't really have an explanation. And, quite honestly, I had my
doubts. I mean they were, after all, just a bunch of nut shells.
So,
with a bit of trepidation, I put 5 of them in the little cloth
drawstring bag that accompanied them, and I tossed them into the water
with a load of towels. I skipped my usual vinegar rinse, since the
instructions said not to use fabric softener and vinegar is my fabric softener. And, of course, I did not add any detergent.
After
the cycle ran, I was eager to check the results. The first thing that
hit me as I pulled a towel from the washer was the amazing scent! Like
my husband said, the towels smelled like they'd just come in from the
clothesline. Amazingly clean smelling!
I tossed the
towels in the dryer with my wool dryer balls, as it was not a
hanging-on-the-line kind of a day, and let me tell you -- they came out
looking and smelling clean. Plus, as an added bonus, they were super
soft and fluffy as well. I must say that static was an issue as the
curtains I'd added to the wash clung to the towels like a co-dependent
girlfriend or boyfriend. But to be truthful, I haven't found anything
that works on static so far.
Next, I did a load of
throw rugs. Same pleasant results. Then it was time for my delicates,
which I never put in the dryer. Even after drying on the line in the
basement, they still had the same fresh, springlike scent. Amazing. I
think I'm in love.
But what exactly am I in love with? Eco Nuts, Organic Laundry Soap in the form of dried fruit shells from the Sapindus mukorossi tree
in Nepal, India and Indonesia. Sounds strange, I know, but you have to
try these to believe it. Residents of India and China have been using
these for centuries and finally, Europeans and Americans are finally
catching on to the wonders of these magical little soap nuts!
Here's what the flyer in the package of sample Eco Nuts says about them:
"Eco Nuts contain saponin,
a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant, breaking the surface
tension of the water to penetrate the fibers of your clothing, lifting
stains from the fabric and leaving dirt suspended in the water to be
rinsed away."
It sounds like a wild sci-fi experiment to me!
The flyer continues:
"Eco Nuts are
gentle on both clothes and skin, making them ideal for those with
sensitive skin, eczema, allergies and psoriasis. Because they are so
mild and leave no residuals, they are perfect for baby clothes and cloth
diapers. The antimicrobial properties of Eco Nuts also make them great for septic and grey water systems."
Did you read that ... perfect for baby clothes and cloth diapers? How many commercial detergents can truly boast that claim?
And
here's the thing, these mighty soap nuts work well in any temperature
water, which means all the cold water washing I do is just fine. And
they can be used in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines.
Eco Nuts even
work well as a multipurpose soap. You simply put 5 of the soap nuts in
the little fabric bag you use for your wash loads and soak it in a cup
of hot water for about five minutes. Add this mix to a bucket of
water and you're good to go! From outdoor equipment to delicate jewelry
to even Fido and Fluffy! Soap nuts are multi-purpose little cleaning machines!
There's something else to love about Eco Nuts -- the company uses absolutely NO PLASTIC! They only use aluminum bottles, recycled cardboard and paper scoops.
But my daughter is allergic to peanuts! Can I still use soap nuts?
Absolutely! Why? Because soap nuts aren't actually nuts at all. They are a berry fruit similar to the lychee. All Eco Nuts products are cruelty-free, paraben-free and vegan.
Why should you buy Eco Nuts over other soap nut brands? And it's not just because they sent me this sample to try for free! This is why:
Eco Nuts™ are
wild-harvested, meaning they are gathered from wild trees grown without
any kind of chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. The saponin actually
tastes bad to insects so no pesticides are needed, and the trees
naturally love poor uncultivated soil. They are organically grown by
mother earth and certified USDA Organic by EcoCert at the source.
I'm
hard-pressed to think that I would go back to liquid or powder
detergent ever again. In just a few loads of laundry, I became an Eco Nuts convert. Give them a try. I'm pretty much betting you'll be joining me in the Eco Nuts fan club!
Click here for a list of retailers in the U.S., Japan, U.K. and Canada currently carrying Eco Nuts. Canadian friends can contact Jill at Green Baby Clothing Company
and tell her Green Grandma sent you! Of course, she ships to the U.S.
as well, so my friends in the States can place their orders with her as
well.
If you truly want to reduce your environmental impact, Eco Nuts is just one more product that will help you do just that.
Keeping it green,
Hana
Click here for more information about the amazing world of soap nuts!
I am so glad you reposted this. I have been wondering about natural washing alternatives. My husband thought I was nuts when I mentioned the nuts. I really think I should give them a go though :)
ReplyDeleteAs you can tell, Haley, I highly recommend them! Maybe you could win a box next week. Check out the giveaways through the end of the month starting on Monday.
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