Soapnuts, Soap Nuts, Soap Pods
Soapnuts are a revolutionary laundry soap which grows on trees and replaces all chemical detergents with an eco friendly solution! While, nothing more than a dried fruit case, they leave the clothes clean, soft and fragrant free. Soapnuts save us from polluting the water with synthetic chemicals, from irritating our skin and using them saves a lot of money too. How to Wash the Clothes with Soapnuts in a Washing Machine Quantity For hard water you will need 4-5 soapnuts for a full washing load, and for soft water, only 3-4 are necessary. Instructions Split the soapnuts in half. Place them in an old sock, a thick one is best. Tie a knot in the sock to prevent the soapnuts from escaping and place the sock in the washing machine drum with the clothes. There is no need to add detergent or fabric conditioner. Go ahead and do the wash. The sock of soapnuts can be reused 3-5 times, and then the spent soapnut shells can be composted. If you wish to add a scent to your washing, just add 8 drops of essential oil into the conditioner tray of the washing machine. Number of uses Soapnuts can be used several times over before they are spent, but it depends on the temperature of the wash. With low wash temperatures, 30-40ºC, the soapnuts can be reused 3-5 times, and at temperatures of 60-90º soapnuts will perform well for 2 washes. How to make soapnut washing solution for hand washing clothes or dishes Place a large handful of soapnuts in a saucepan with 1 liter of water. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Cool and strain your decoction. Keep the soap nut liquid in a glass bottle. You can add a little lemon juice or grapefruit seed extract as a preservative if you want to keep the liquid for use over the course of the week. I divide my soapnut decoction into two bottles and keep one in the fridge for use later on in the week and one by the sink for washing up. Be sure to label the bottles so that it is not mistaken as vinegar or salad dressing! You will be able to make several brews from the same soapnuts. Allow the wet soapnuts to dry on a plate ready for your next batch. How to wash your dishes with soapnut solution I use the soapnut decoction for washing my dishes and I like it a lot because it doesn't strip the oil out of my hands or provoke dermatitis. I don't have to wear gloves when I use soapnut washing up liquid. To make the task easier, I rinse the dishes as soon as they are used - even cold water and a bit of a rub with a cloth or my hand will remove most of the food traces. When you are ready to wash up, just run a bowl of hot water, add your soapnut liquid and the job is easy. Glasses look more respectable if they are dipped in a vinegar and hot water rinse. How to wash your dishes with soapnuts in a dishwasher Place 3-5 soapnuts in the cutlery tray. Place some clear vinegar in the rinse solution compartment. Do the wash. reuse the soapnuts and replace the vinegar rinse solution as required.