Today I discovered a whole new concept for washing clothes, hands and hair - and got very excited. When I got home from work my husband presented me with a small paper bag full of shiny toffee brown husks.
- Soap Nuts
He had chatted to a neighbour who lives very simply and ecologically. This elderly man grows his own fruit and vegetables, keeps chickens, has a toilet seche (composing toilet) and grows and uses whenever possible, natural remedies and products. In his garden he has cultivated a plant called Sapindus Mukorossi, a native of the Himalayas. Infact, this plant grows in many temperate to tropical regions throughout the world and has been used for washing for thousands of years as it contains natural surfactants as well as gentle insecticide and bacterial properties. It is apparently effective for treating head lice and dandruff and the nuts or rather berries, may be placed directly into the washing machine (in a knotted stocking) or boiled for 20 mins to extract the ‘soap’ for hand washing or shampoo. The berries can be reused 3 or 4 times and are completely free from synthetic chemicals and perfumes. To add a scent, I was advised to simply add a few drops of essential oils such as lavender. I am told that they are inexpensive, great for sensitive skin (and asthma and eczema sufferers) and leave everything soft, so no need for conditioners. What is more they allow me to support third world economies and avoid giving my money to the multi million pound/euro/dollar detergent businesses that churn out untold amounts of pollution and con me into buying harmful nasty chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate.
I just can’t believe I haven’t heard of them before! If they work I will plant the seeds myself, but I will be waiting a long time as the plants take 8 years to grow berries. In the mean time I will have to find a relible, ethical, inexpensive source of these pearls of natures bounty.
Has anyone else had any experience of soap nuts? I haven’t tried them yet, but when I do I will post the results on this blog…so watch this space…
Hey Lydia,
We use soap nuts. They are eco-friendly and last a long time. I have to say that the jury is still out for me, though. I seem to have some sort of allergic reaction, but I am not 100% sure they can be traced to the nuts. Or maybe it’s just the kind we got.
My husband, for the record, has had NO problems whatsoever with them. Clothes get cleaned; they work! I agree – I hate the chemically detergents! Let me know if the nuts work for you. Hope so! A much better alternative.
Well, how interesting. I would love to get my hands on some of these. I don’t know about waiting 8 years though! Very difficult to find ‘out of the ordinary’ things around here though.
I doubt you will be using them in 12 months.
Hi Lydia, that’s really interesting – I can’t wait to read once you’ve tried them.
Sion, where do you buy yours from? I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait 8 years to grow them but would be keen to try and buy some
Hi Piglet. I bought them at Auchon, if you can believe it !
Please keep me posted as the the efficacy of the berries, and the preferred growing conditions of the plants. I’d like to try some and grow some if they work.
I have used them, and actually still have some to use! I like them, I just need to run out and get some more oil for scent, and I think I lost the little bag I used… I admit to falling off the soap nut wagon for awhile, but my last container of Bio (quand meme) laundry detergent is getting dangerously low, so I won’t buy another and just switch back to the nuts…
I bought mine at the bio store near our place. I do think that I have seen them at L.Eclerc as well, not all the time but everyone once in awhile…
These are obviously really popular and work then!
Question to Sion and Ashley: I know this may seem silly but what aisle do you find them in the supermarket? I looked around my Carrefour in the detergent aisle and couldn’t find them – was it because I’m looking in the wrong place or maybe because my supermarket is too small? Thanks
I really fancy growing some now – sounds a great idea. I didn’t realise they grew in France.
Meanwhile (!) -you can also order them from a fair trade catalogue / website called artisanat sel in France: http://www.artisanatsel.com
They sell loose ‘noix de lavage’ or little ‘dosettes’ which are the ‘noix’ already in little material bags! The problem is, if you are only ordering the washing nuts, then the postage is a bit steep. (Their kilo bags of brown sugar are excellent!)
I also have a boule de lavage which you put in with the wash and then, in theory, you don’t need any washing detergent at all!!!! But it’s a bit expensive to buy.
Oh, and I did see some in our Carrefour supermarket with the washing powders…..
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions everyone.
Sion, I read somewhere that the seeds can cause a reaction, so it could be that, perhaps it would be worth inspecting the insides of the berries and remove any seeds to see if that makes any difference?
Fran and Mark, I wonder if it is possible to buy Sapindus Mukorossi saplings – to shave a few years off the waiting time! I shall do a little search and find out some more information. Also, I shall send my hubby around to the neighbour who grows them and get him to dig for any ‘local knowledge’ re growing them in France.
Pigletin france, I cant find any in the shops locally either, so thank you Sheila for the website tip.
I haven’t tried them yet as we have now hit mid winter (yes the snow has returned!) and my drying capacity has all been taken up for the moment (having no tumble dryer). I will definately keep you posted as to the results…
Stay warm everybody
Lydia
Well, I’ll be darned. I have never heard of soap nuts, but I now have a full education about them and where to get them even!
You learn something new every day.
Try before you grow for free.
http://www.thegreenmonkeystore.com/soap-nuts-free-sample-127-p.asp
I saw them in our laundry detergent aisle when they were there… But I checked last time, after this post, and they don’t seem to be there any more…
Do you have a Bio store near-by? I know for sure that they carry them in the Bio place in the bigger town near us. It is actually a fairly large bag of them as well. They also sell them on this site: http://www.bebe-au-naturel.com. And they are not that expensive it seems.
Good luck to all with your washing!