Soap Nuts

gibby

I though a friend was taking the mick when they told me they are now doing all the washing with soap nuts.

anyone else tried them yet?
do they work?

thanks

G

Savvy_Sue

If you search the board (you might need to do both soap nuts and soapnuts) you'll find several people swear by them.

I only use them for our sheets, because DH has severe eczema and uses a lot of moisturiser. Because I don't change the sheets as often as he changes his clothes, we get a build up of moisturiser on the sheets. I started to find that washing with detergent left white flakes all over the bedding: as if the moisturiser had come out of the fabric and re-constituted itself in solid form.

I can't really comment on how good they are for stain removal because we have reddish bedding: we're going to get blood on it, so I'd rather it wasn't too obvious between washes. Sorry if that's TMI, but there it is.

Soapnuts do the trick for us! In fact I must order some more ...

oldMcDonald

I got a sample pack from an online company, they are still waiting to be tried out 2 months later!!

I originally got them with the idea that they were 'greener' option. After reading up more about them, I now feel for us that they are not the route to take. In my mind, any 'green-ness' about them is lost after they have been shipped (or possibly flown?) halfway across the globe.

I tend to have many different ways to tackle the washing. Clothes that aren't dirty as such, but need freshening as they have been worn a couple of times, are washed with nothing more than water and a drop of vinegar. Clothes that need cleaning are washed in either 'gloop' or a little grated soap (just a few shreds are needed, and we are in a hard water area). Really dirty stuff, such as that the kids have thrown half their dinner on or rolled in the mud in) are more of a challenge!! I usually use a little borax in with the gloop/soap, this is as good as the non-bio I used to use.

I've had the kids out collecting conkers all weeked with the idea of trying them out on the coloured clothes at some point (I believe they can turn whites slightly light blue?), and I'm quite looking forward to playing about with them to see how it goes.

pipjes

i did contempalte using them, but as they have to be flown in to the uk, i didnt go that route, instead, i use white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and occasionally soda crutals or borax for all my washing, washes well, and great for my son who has sensitve skin. altho i do add a few drops of rose essential oil to make it smell yummyy!!

briantheboyharvey

Soap nuts are the nuts - work really well - try www.ecotopia.co.uk for discount big bags of them.

Hapless_2

They are ok, but are only for stuff needing general washing, no good for stained stuff.

black-saturn

I tried soapnuts and for a while they worked but after a while I found that stains on clothes werent shifting and not smelling fresh. So now I'm afraid I've switch back to powder mixed with bicarb. I sold the nuts on ebay.

Cazzdevil

I got the free sample from https://www.inasoapnutshell.com but didn't find them to be particularly good. As BS says, they didn't shift the dirt and smelled a bit funny, so I've switched to using half liquid detergent & half soda crystals.

Savvy_Sue

Cazzdevil wrote: »

I got the free sample from www.inasoapnutshell.com but didn't find them to be particularly good. As BS says, they didn't shift the dirt and smelled a bit funny, so I've switched to using half liquid detergent & half soda crystals.

It's not so much that THEY smell funny, as that they don't add any smell to the washing. And I'm beginning to wonder if they're getting all the smells OUT of it, despite hanging the latest batch of sheets outside there's a definite 'tang' to them. :eek:

I'm wondering if adding a heap of soda crystals to normal detergent would sort out our sheets (see post 2), but I fear it's either something like that or washing twice, first with soapnuts to get the moisturiser out and then with detergent to make them smell clean.

gibby

something else we use & find is great is citricidal to replace a lot of cleaners

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Citricidal - Grapefruit Seed Extract. Vegan Society Approved.
Citricidal is a natural anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic & anti-fungal
derived from grapefruit seeds & is used for a whole range of applications for ultimate microbial protection.
This powerful long lasting little bottle is used by many as a way to replace many of the cleaners in our homes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Chemical Free Cleaner.
Add 25 drops to washing up water to add extra anti microbial action
for washing dishes. Add Citricidal to your cloth or sponge to clean surfaces
& food preparation areas to disinfect, especially after contact with raw
meats & fish. Suitable for kitchen, batroom etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Fruit & Vegetable Wash
Mix 15 drops of Citricidal with water in a bowl & use to wash fruits & vegetables as you prepare them.
This will kill off any unwanted bacteria & fungus lurking in your veggies.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Colds & Flu.
Ward off bugs by taking 3 - 15 drops in a glass of water or juice the moment
you know your under attack. Repeat 3 times daily.

Athletes Foot.
this condition occurs when the skin becomes vulnerable to fungal
overgrowth. Soak feet in a basin of warm water with 5 - 10 drops
of Citricidal. Squeeze 1 drop onto cotton wool & place between the toes.

Cold Sores.
This is the result of a viral infection. Add 5 drops of Citricidal to 50
drops of vegetable oil or hygenic cream. Apply mixture to sore with
cotton wool or cotton bud 3 or 4 times daily.

Cuts, Wounds & Bites.
Prevent cuts & wounds from becoming infected and accelerate healing
by cleaning with a diluted solution of Citricidal. Add 3 - 5 drops
to a half pint of filtered water.

Dandruff.
According to dermatologists, dandruff is often caused by an inflammatory
reaction to an overgrowth of scalp fungus. Add 3 - 5 drops of Citricidal
to a mild shampoo, wait 4 mins before rinsing. Avoid contact with the eyes.

Ear Infections.
An excellent way to deal with ear infections or infections picked up from
swimming pools. Apply 4 drops onto wet cotton wool, squeeze a little in the
ear or leave a small piece of cotton wool in the ear for 2 hours a day.

Facial Wash.
Acne, black heads & blemishes may develop when the skin is unable to
fight off microbes such as bacteria. add 1 - 3 drops to liquid cleanser or
water. Avoid eyes & rinse properly.

Fungal Nail Infections.
Brittle, discoloured & deformed nails are generally formed as a result of
a fungal nail infection. Put 1 drop of Citricidal directly on the affected
nail, along the cuticle and underneath the front of the nail.

Head lice, prevention & Cure.
Citricidal makes a safe & natural alternative to conventional treatments
for head lice & prevents infection. Place 3 - 5 drops in shampoo, rub
thoroughly into the hair & leave for 2 - 3 mins. Rinse & repeat as
required until infection clears.

Mouth Wash & toothbrush cleaner
Gum disease & bad breath are often the result of a bacterial infection
of the gums. Mix 5 drops in a tumbler glass of filtered water. Gargle
around the mouth and rinse through the teeth after brushing.
Also important to clean your toothbrush with Citricidal daily. Soak for
10 mins with 10 drops. Rinse before reusing.

Nasal Wash.
use for conditions such as sinusitis. Mix 1 drop of Citricidal with
2oz filtered water. Tilt head back, fill each nostril with eye dropper
full of mixture. swing head forward & down then return to upright position.
Allow nasal passages to drain, do not inhale during process.

Ringworm.
Not a worm but a fungus. Put 1 drop on wet cotton wool and wipe infected area
3 or 4 times daily.

Unsafe Water.
Citricidal can be used when travelling or on holiday where the water may not
be safe to drink. Add a few drops to a bottle of water to kill off potential
pathogens.

Vaginal Douche.
use Citricidal as an effective way of combating thrush or vaginitis.
Mix 1- 3 drops with 8oz of water. Douche once or more daily.

Warts & Verruca.
these are one of the few occasions where Citricidal can be used neat.
Apply 1 drop to wart or verruca and cover with a plaster. change daily
& continue until until vanished. Do not use this treatment in areas
near eyes or genitals.

Pets.
Citicidal is safe to use for skin infections & infections for pets.
Dilute in the same way as you would for humans.

Plants.
Put 3 drops in a hand spray bottle and spray plants for protection from bugs.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Insect Repeller.
Mix 10 drops of Citricidal with water in a spray bottle & add some cider apple vinegar.
Spray around areas that are trouble with ants & insects, 3 time daily.
It is known to drive the insects out of the area and repeated use will stop return without
the need for chemical, toxic poisons. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Sugar free, lactose free, dairy free, gluten free, yeast free.
Suitable for vegetarians, vegans & everyone else. [/FONT]

frivolous_fay

gibby wrote: »

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Vaginal Douche.
use Citricidal as an effective way of combating thrush or vaginitis.
Mix 1- 3 drops with 8oz of water. Douche once or more daily.[/FONT]

Tell me there aren't still women out there that douche....