I work from home 2 days a week.
I got a "solar clothes dryer" (clothesline).
I began composting.
And I decided to try these:
They are called "soap nuts" and they are supposed to contain saponin, a soap-like natural substance.
I have done 3 loads of laundry with them and so far, so good. You put 3-5 of the little nuts in the muslin bag and toss in the wash. Each set of nuts lasts 4 washes or so.
The only thing I DON'T get is that the little bag stays in the wash during the rinse cycle, a fact my mom pointed out. So either the chemical isn't very strong, isn't really doing anything, or my washables are going to get more and more saponin-y. I don't know about THAT part. Hm.
Anyway, if you want to give the soap nuts a spin, I have 2 spare bags and some nuts to give away. Leave a comment and let me know you'd like them. I will choose at random.
EDITED TO ADD:
The nice soapnuts people found my blog and said:
Wow! Thank you for mentioning our soapnuts on your blog -- and for sponsoring your own LaundryTree SoapNut giveaway! We regularly participate in giveaways with bloggers, but I believe this is the first time we've found someone kind enough to share their OWN samples! =D
If you'd like to give away a few more samples (and it's not too late) we'd be happy to provide up to 10 for your readers. (You can choose the winners and send us the addresses -- we'll be happy to take care of mailing them).
Also... I didn't want to "hijack" your blog post with advertising, but I DID want to answer to your question about the bag staying in the wash: Hot water causes the fruit to release its saponin, but cold water has little, if any, effect on them. So the saponin is released during the wash cycle, and is washed away during the cold water rinse.
Thank you for posing the question -- we have updated our site to include this info.
Thanks again, and have a wonderful day...
So they answered my question AND expanded the giveaway...I love the internets sometimes!
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25 comments:
I just saw these this summer and have been wanting to try them, but have been a bit too commitment-shy to actually purchase them. While I'm sure they'd be fine for MY clothes, I wonder if they'd conquer the red Georgia clay that's ground into my kids' clothes. But who knows? Would love to test 'em out.
I'd love to give these a whirl in the washer.
Susan
I'd be nuts not to try them. (Sorry.)
Sounds interesting. I'd like to try them out.
I would like to win these.
yeah..why do they stay in through th rinse cycle? i'd like to try them all the same. and come by my green giveaway http://nowenteringmomville.blogspot.com/2008/08/mountains-of-moon-giveaway.html
Oooh, free things!
I have been using my "solar dryer" as often as possible (but I'm afraid that's not often enough), but the cost of "green" laundry soap has kept me from buying it (Dan's a chef at a seafood restaurant - his work clothes STINK and can only be worn once before washing, so we do a lot of laundry). If these worked on his fish clothes, they'd be worth the money!
Sure, I'll give 'em a whirl.
i've heard of them, or something similar. good point about them staying in for the rinse cycle. what?
i wish i had room for a solar clothes dryer. apartment living (with no balcony or patio) sucks.
Ooh! I'd like to try them!
Sounds intriguing! I'd definitely give them a try.
I consider myself a Laundry Goddess and I must have some nuts!! If I don't win these, I'm going to buy some!!
Thanks and hugs, :)
I hate laundry and I'm almost out of evil tide. This might make our clothes clean and help us on the path to greenness.
oooh neat... i think this calls for some wikipedia action.
I've never heard of these.
My husband has severe eczema that he is NOT outgrowing like the rest of the world who has had eczema and I'm constantly trying to find a less abrasive way to wash his clothes.
Very interesting. I wash certain loads in cold water, though, so knowing that they don't work in cold is very important. It's nice when an industry person is actually helpful, and also not selling snake oil, isn't it?
That leaves me asking.....What about the Cold water washes as well as the Warm water washes......Hmmmm. Still would be interesting to try!!
I'm a solar clothes dryer too. And I'd love to use these, except that I wash everything in cold!
I love that they contacted you. :) I don't like that the soapnuts don't work in cold water, though, because that's the majority of our wash around here. Trying not to run up our gas bill by using too much hot water, you know? ;)
So I won't sign up, but good for you for promoting them!
that's nice that they contacted you.
lately i've been using only cold water washes to conserve energy (or so "they" say).
Here is the answer to the cold water wash....
Cold Water Wash:
Simply make a cup of soapnut 'tea' by soaking 4 or 5 bagged soap nuts in a cup of very hot water for approximately 3 minutes.
Pour both the tea and bag in wash.
Remove from washer at end of the wash to dry (leave nuts in bag).
(from SoapNuts website)
I would love to try them.
Now that the cold water question is answered, I'd like them, too!
(And, apparently Soap Nuts will get me to delurk....)
Non-blogging (mostly) lurker would love to throw hat into this ring. As a retiree with more time than money, I am digging up my lateral field this week and am not sure I'd trust this for that kind of laundry, but for normal kansas farm dirt - would love to try. Thanks! ks grandma
if it's not too late, count me in. I think it's awesome that the SoapNuts people offered to help you and now I'm duly impressed with them.
Interesting. I've been having an occasional skin allergy and suspect that it has to do with laundry detergent. I'd try the soap nuts, but I mostly use cold water, so I guess the "fruit wouldn't be activated" or something.
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