Hello there…lets start with a fun exercise. Make note of the top four ingredients in your detergent and fabric softener…. (sheets or liquid) then look them up on wikipedia….I am not a gambling woman, but would bet you wouldn’t want to continue exposing your family to those toxic chemicals would you?!?
Here’s what nature has provided for us, from a tree…it doesn’t get much better. Well it does actually get better. For our pocket books as well. It is, one third , if not less the cost of most detergents. That’s not counting the fabric softener you won’t need either. All the monies saved could go in a jar to see just what financial difference you made for your family. And the good feeling you get for making one more positive change for this Earth.
Place five to eight nuts in your bag and throw them into the washer. ( And yes they work great in the new front load HE washers.) You leave them in for the entire cycle (Don’t expect volumes of suds, those come from the fillers they add. ) and when you are finished hang your clothes up or put them in the dryer. Do Not use any fabric softener or sheets, your soap nuts will leave your laundry, smelling Fresh and Clean. Another wonderful plus is that they appear to be great at removing odors from sweaty athletic apparel and smelly dog beds and etc. You try it on your different household odors and let us know. Dry them out between laundry days.
You can use these same 5 or 8 nuts, for at least 5 to 8 washes. On the sixth, if you’re a wee bit Scottish as I am, you put them in a jar of warm water (without the bag of course) give them a shake and if you still see suds……back in the bag and another wash accomplished. Continue to test yours and let us know how many washes you are gettting and what part of the country your in. Compost them when finished or sprinkle them around the perimeter of your home or in your garden….thats where mine end up after making the concentrate. They are apparently a good pest deterent, so again I am testing.
Here’s a litttle test for you. Place a few soapnuts in a spare bag, and keep them in a small jar of water by your washer. You can use this as a pre-spotter to work on the stains. in plave of that toxic pre-spotter you have. You can rub this into the stains before putting it into the wash. Then throw the water in with the wash and get fresh water for your jar. When the water in the jar is clear, you know the soapnuts are finished and time to replace them. And for the whitest whites, try using Hydrogen Peroxide or Citric Acid…1 to 2 TBLS, instead of that toxic bleach please.