Soap Nuts

carriejones2008

Hi everyone, ebay is a great place to buy soapnuts. I bought a few bags for 99 pence each for 500grams.

oldMcDonald

IamJen wrote: »

In the other thread here on MSE forums, it sounded like it was quite the process to prepare conkers for use as washing soap. Have you used them before with success?

Yes, I tried it the year before last. I didn't bather faffing about too much, I just cut the conker in half and stuck it in the wash in a little muslin bag. I was happy enough with it! The only reason I didn't do it again last year was because when the conkers ran out I started to use washing soda on dirty stuff and it seemed to be just as good and so I forgot to get some conkers when they fell last autumn.

As regards to how far soap travels - I have recently thought about this and have started to buy home-made soaps instead. Last weekend I made my first ever batch of soap and I am impatiently waiting for it to be ready to use. I am so excited as I have put off making it for years as I was so worried about messing about with cautic soda, but it was really easy

IamJen

Hm. How did you make the soap? I'd be interested in trying something like that maybe. Not sure what caustic soda is, though.

oldMcDonald

In the link is instructions to make a basic olive oil soap (I tried this for my first go, but in future will use rape seed as it costs less)

http://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.php?t=3343

It was a little daunting as I was scared of the caustic soda, but now that I have had a go I realise that I was being a little too cautious! I think it is worth giving it a shot if you wish to have a go, it started off as an experiment for me but I think I will make my own from now on.

emma396

i got a free sample of soapnuts a long time ago, and they are still waiting in my drawer. i showed them to my family and my dad and nan recognised them straight away, apparently many many moons ago, they used to them to wash clothes in china. they reckon they need to be soaked for a long time, then it;ll start to bubble and you can use it. they both reckon it'd be pretty useless using them in the washing machine as not enough 'soap' would be released.

greytdog_2

Hi i am thinkign about changing over to one of the above, anyone got any experiences good or bad of either product and how many washes do they last?

andrione1

hi, there have been a few discussions about this on this forum recently -

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=462542&highlight=ecoballs

i don't know about soap nuts though ...

geordie_joe

greytdog wrote: »

Hi i am thinkign about changing over to one of the above, anyone got any experiences good or bad of either product and how many washes do they last?

I've tried both. Both were expensive compared to soap powder and both were completely useless on any kind of stain. Most people think they are just a little better than washing with just water.

The only good thing I can say is the balls came with a little tube of stain remover which is the best stain remover I have ever seen.

If you want to try something different for washing clothes, you need Borax, Soda Crystals, a Cheese grater and a bar of soap, then you need to pop over to the old style money saving board.

.

Magentasue

Soap nuts are OK for non-demanding loads but I don't sort my washing like that. I do everything but whites at 30deg and want everything clean first time.

At the moment I have a big plastic tub which is roughly 40% branded washing powder (Bold this time but it varies), 40% soda crystals and 20% Vanish. Is working better than most combinations I've tried and costed out at about 7p per wash.

The soda crystals bring the cost down but also help reduce limescale, I believe.

I tried the grated soap (food processor and cheapest bar soap) mix but found it left white marks on black clothes so gave up on it. Fine apart from that.

A_fiend_for_life

Interesting tips!

Anyone used soap and soda crystals in the washing machine? I am using the cheapest powder I can find at the moment and cost is key.