Soap nuts?

[Stardust]

I'd like to get some of these. Do they take the stains out..I mean everyday stains like mud, kinder paint etc. We use vinegar/bicarb in the machine atm and it just doesn't work on stains at all.

[mrs fox]

I love soapnuts, especially the no chem smell on the clean dry clothes.

I use a bicarb paste on any greasy/blood/grass stains before washing, but I do find sometimes not all stains come out,but if it just the kids play clothes I do not mind so much about the presentation but the fact they have been cleaned.

[Stardust]

Playclothes are fine stained. It's just work shirts, special occasion clothes that I need stain free. Where do you get your soap nuts from MF?

[Natenimiri]

Are they actual nuts? Or are they soap just shaped like a nut? I am such a dag and don't know anything!!!!! I would like to know though because i like natural BUT my daughter is allergic to nuts...:gasp

[mrs fox]

Natenimiri -Non allergenic (not a nut, really a berry)
we are lucky here and the boys are only allergic to cleaning up toys.:laugh

http://www.wildsoapnuts.com.au/
You can get a 50g sample bag for $4 i think.

I got a top up from the going green expo that was at the Bris RNA recently. the business is based at tambourine mountain...

Stardust, I still use on the hubby's work clothes and I have not seen stains, but in saying that most of his clothes are black and grey....and DS1 school clothes come out fine.

good luck...

[mama_bel]

Brindabella Baby sells soap nuts too. :)

I tried them, but for some reason didn't like them in the front loader. Emma made a suggestion for me to get them working better and I forget what it was so haven't replaced the bag I composted!? Vague, huh? I use homemade laundry liquid. I should give soap nuts another go, though.

[Natenimiri]

thanks!
PS - thanks for making me laugh too! I think my kids are allergic to anything i ask them to do that requires work! :laugh

[Pinky]

I didn't like the soap nuts... Maybe mine were old or something.

[emd]

Soap nuts work best in water above 40C. If you wash in cold water, put the little bag of soap nuts in a bucket/cup of hot water while you load the machine to get the soap nuts to start releasing saponin, then tip the cup/bucket into the machine and wash with cold water as normal.

You can also grind soap nuts in a spice or coffee grinder to make your own soap nut powder.

There's a heap of uses and recipes for soap nuts here:
http://www.brindabellababy.com.au/content/naturally-clean-soap-nuts-recipes-and-uses

I find that nothing but soaking and hot water washing gets out serious stains - I used to use a regular cold water washing powder before soap nuts, then switched to a DIY washing powder, then soap nuts and got the same results every time when washing mud and paint stains. But have had no difficulty with soap nuts for washing nappies.

[Stardust]

We are on hot for the machine here. I wondered whether they were failsafe too. Anyone know?