The Eco Friendly Way To Wash Clothes
Here, at The Candle Tree, we are always interested to try new natural and eco friendly products and we are especially excited to introduce these soap nuts to our shop. Soap nuts are a natural alternative to washing powders and laundry liquids. The nuts themselves are a type of dried berry which contain a natural soap called Saponin. This is a very gentle, mild detergent which when mixed with hot water can act as a laundry cleanser for your clothes.
The soaps nuts are produced from the Sapindus mukorossi tree. The fruit is commonly known as Indian soapberry or washnut, and like other species in the genus Sapindus, it is called soapberry. The trees like warm temperate climates are are native to the Himalayas. It takes 9 years for the soap nut tree to begin producing fruit but once producing, the tree can be harvested for 90 years. Harvesting takes place 6 months of the year from September to February which makes for a long and sustainable supply. Saponin is a natural repellant to insects and pest, meaning pesticides are generally not needed to grow these nuts, which makes them an even naturally safer choice you and the environment. An eco friendly positive of the nuts is that the soap nut tree contributes to combating the greenhouse gas effect by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. This means that by planting and growing these trees not only do we eliminate chemicals from regular laundry detergent but the actual tree itself cleans out air. The shell of the soap nut is also 100% biodegradable, making them perfect compost fodder.
Because they are so gentle, soap nuts are a great option for those who have sensitive and dry skin conditions, eczema, or psoriasis. They are perfect for laundering baby clothes, and delicate fabrics. Not only are soap nuts gentle on your skin and effective at washing clothes (even removing mild stains), but they are extremely affordable, as they can be reused many times. Soap nuts remove dirt, oil and mild stains from your laundry load, you can naturally boost stain removal properties of your wash by adding vinegar for tough stains, lemon juice and sodium percarbonate (a type of natural oxygen bleach).
There are also other great uses for soap nuts. For example, you can make your own shampoo and body wash out of your used nuts. All you need to do is to collect soap nuts in a jar until you have about a 12 of them. Place them into a muslin bag along with 1 litre of hot water in a pan, let simmer for around 20 minutes. Add an additional 500ml of water and simmer for 10 more minutes. Remove them from the heat and let cool. Once cool enough to handle, hand squeeze all of the liquid and suds out of the bag into a container. Pour into a bottle of your choice, and you have your own cleansing liquid to use for whatever purpose you like! These boiled soap nuts can be reboiled up to 3 times with 2 litre each time. This should give you between 7- 8 litres of homemade soap nut liquid. The natural soap liquid will last in the refrigerator for up to a month. Be aware that It will not produce a lather or foam as such. However, lather does not indicate the effectiveness of cleaning power, it is a chemically added ingredient used in commercial products. Soap nuts are also a wonderful alternative for other household chores. The liquid suds can used to make; all-purpose cleaner, pet shampoo, glass cleaner, laundry liquid, car wash, floor cleaner, carpet cleaner, the list goes on! Soap nuts are extremely versatile, eco-friendly, kind to skin, gentle on fabrics and very economical.
Another brilliant natural stain fighting agent is our traditional French stain removal soap. It is typically found on French markets and is extremely effective at removing all stubborn stains. Because it is not formed from a harsh chemical composition it can be used on all types of fabrics and textiles. It is also biodegradable and does not contain detergents, preservative, colouring, perfume or animal fats, so it it totally eco friendly. These natural alternatives that can work in conjunction with soap nuts if you need a n extra boost to your weekly wash. Another great eco point that these soap nuts can handle a lot of washes, just place 4-6 nuts in muslin bag and add to your wash. If you don’t like doing a hot wash, then you can ‘activate’ the soap nuts in cup of hot water before adding to the bag and your wash. Soap nuts last a long time, but a good way to tell if they are past their prime is that they will start to deconstruct and become very soft and greyish in colour. Another great way to tell is to place the muslin bag of nuts in some warm water then squeeze until soap suds are visible. If lacking in lather suds then either start afresh or add a couple more nuts if you want to be more frugal.
Why not give these affordable, non-toxic and sustainable nuts a try the next time you are thinking of buying laundry detergent? Check out the link above to buy online at The Candle Tree. Alternatively, if you are local to Gloucester we would love to see you, we have a lovely picturesque location next to Gloucester Cathedral. There are lots of natural soaps, candles, household products, gifts and treats to be found in-store and online!