Green Living
But in the case of laundry, is basic really better?
Though certainly basic, I had my doubts about soap nuts, dried fruit shells from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree that have been used to wash laundry in India and China for centuries. Grown primarily in the Himalayas, soap nuts offer a renewable, biodegradable and organically grown alternative to commercially-produced detergents.
After ordering a bag online from Houston-based LaundryTree, I skeptically examined the wrinkly shells, which are harvested in the wild. Though I knew each one contained saponin, a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant to break water tension and penetrate fibers, the concept seemed almost too basic.
I poured the thick liquid into the laundry machine, added the contents of my laundry basket, and waited for Mother Nature to do her thing.
I had my doubts about the effectiveness of soap nuts, but they performed perfectly. Colors, whites, and even dirty towels emerged clean and soft. And though soap nuts themselves smell a bit funny, they left my laundry smelling like clothes, nothing more and nothing less.
End result? I’m sold on soap nuts. Next laundry day, I’ll be going back – way back – to the basics.
Want to give soap nuts a spin?
LaundryTree is offering 10% off to ydt readers during the month of December. Just enter YOURDAILYTHREAD at checkout.
Images via mysza831 and Timokirkkala’s flickr account.
- 4 comments
- Your thoughts?
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Comments
Danielle
Can’t wait to try soap nuts when my current laundry soap (natural) runs out–you’ve convinced me for sure!
I’ve heard good things about Maggie’s as well and it’s in CA for those on the West Coast.
Lisa Albrecht
Angie, I just have to tell you how much your review meant to me. Not just because it was positive (which is awesome, of course) but because you GET what’s important about soapnuts, and you conveyed it so beautifully. This is especially meaningful to me because I’ve been getting lots of advice recently that in order to best appeal to the American public, soapnuts need to be processed to re-make them into a flashier, more convenient commodity (shampoo, liquid detergent, etc). I’ve resisted, because I feel strongly that the most amazing thing about soapnuts is their perfectly natural simplicity. Your review re-affirms that I’m not the only one thinks so. =D
Thank you, thank you, thank you — not just for the review, but for the encouragement, too.
Sincerely,
Lisa Albrecht
Head Nut
LaundryTree.com
Maraya Cornell
I’ve used these too, and loved them. They do indeed work beautifully. They’re especially great for backpacking — the single kind of soap you can feel ok about using in the wild.
Angie Bradshaw
Lisa- Happy you’re keeping things simple despite the pressure to do otherwise!
Maraya – Such a good point about backpacking! I hadn’t even thought about that. So many other uses for soap nuts too!
Danielle- Thanks for sharing the link Maggie’s too.
