Soapnuts

Linda32

Thanks all, I'll try tying the bag.

natlie

Hi
these may have been mentioned before I get mine from
http://www.inasoapnutshell.com/index.html
they do free samples to, they can be used in the dishwasher too and only cost 3p per wash compared to 25p per wash for powder
hope this helps
Nat
xxx

Pink.

Hi natalie,

We have a long thread on soap nuts, so I'll add your thread into it as it helps to keep all the suggestions together. The posts are listed in date order, so you'll need to read from the beginning to see all the replies.

Pink

snowball2

Can anyone report back what the effect on excema has been since using soapnuts, big improvement or no noticable change?

Thanks

Snow

chloe99_2

hi all - just caught up with the soapnuts thread - what're your thoughts on them after a few months using them?

I have heavily stained baby whites which don't come clean in a normal non-bio wash (using full amount of powder at 50 degrees) and line dried in the sun.

Are soapnuts for me are are they really mild and not really suitable?

What do soda crystals do (have I got that right? is that the same thing as washing soda?). Is it suitable for babies skin? thank you

mamaoba

I'll try to answer a couple of your queries as i've now been using soap nuts for over 2 years, (prior to that i made my own laundry gloop)

1. Excema - a total godsend! I'm an excema sufferer and it has made a HUGE difference to my life. Most ordinary washing powders irritate me no end and the boots sensitive skin washing liquid is worse than useless. (Yup before anyone asks i'm middle-aged and had tried virtually every barnd on the market before switching to soap nuts).

2. babies - I've used soap nuts for my son's white nappies from day one. every so often they do require a soak in ecover bleach (every couple of months maybe?) and I line dry as ofetn as possible as sunlight is a natural bleach. he has perfect peachy skin at 2 despite a dairy allergy (often linked with excema etc) and i put this down to not using harsh detergents, only washng him with plain water and the smallest amount of baby bath I can get away with to get him clean, and using olive oil instead of all those commercial mineral baby oils. I add a cup of white (distilled) malt vinegar to the fabric conditioner drawer for it's anti-bac and anti-fungal properties. It also helps keep nappies etc nice and soft as i live in a really hard water area.

3. You WILL NOT get the same cleaning power as a bio detergent, soap nuts act like a non-bio only. This means occasionally you will need a stain remover (I use stardrops and do a double rinse so none is left to irritate my skin) or a smidgen of whitener/bleach to keep your whites sparkling. For a "sports wash" add 1/2 a cup of washing soda crystals (at 52p a packet it still saves a fortune!) Traditional fairy or sunlight laundry soaps are good for the usual household kids stains as a pre-wash treatment if you need it.

4. They are VERY economical. A 1kg bag lasts me just over a year, and I have to do a lot of washing of tablecloths, aprons etcs that have had paint spilt on them etc for work.

5. I don't get on with those daft cotton bags they give you but use the net laundry bags you are supposed to use with laundry tablets instead as i find the soap nuts don;t then all come out into the machine during the wash. You can get those wee bags off the regular detergent manufacturers websites for free. I get a new one every January from them

Savvy_Sue

Have been using these for a while, and today I noticed a problem.

ONE of my bras appears to have 'bits' stuck over the inside surface of the cups (cotton). It's as if little bits of varnish or glue have been applied and then mostly removed. It's a sort of yellowy colour.

It's only the one bra, and nothing else seems to be affected.

Is it the soapnuts or my bra? :rotfl:

Lillibet_2

Is it where a soapnut has disintegreated? I find they fall apart in layers as they are used. Has one escaped it's bag/sock & shed over the bra?

Linda32

Savvy_Sue wrote:

ONE of my bras appears to have 'bits' stuck over the inside surface of the cups (cotton). It's as if little bits of varnish or glue have been applied and then mostly removed. It's a sort of yellowy colour.

Hi, I didn't have the "bits" but I did notice stains on the bedding when I started using soapnuts which are yellowy too.

Mine have never washed out but I don't use soapnuts anymore, just balked out washing powder.

I'd try to brush the bits off and wash again, if it helps I always wash my bra's and tights inside pillowcases.

Savvy_Sue

Lillibet wrote:

Is it where a soapnut has disintegreated? I find they fall apart in layers as they are used. Has one escaped it's bag/sock & shed over the bra?

I suppose it could be, although the neck of the bag is still closed and there still seem to be plenty of them in the bag!