Most laundry detergents are toxic. Popular detergent brands contain over 25 extremely toxic chemicals, with many more substances left unlisted.
According to a 2011 study in Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, scented laundry detergents contain a huge load of harmful chemicals, including carcinogens, natural or manmade cancer-causing substances. Even most “natural” laundry detergent brands contain questionable ingredients. I personally have found soap nuts to be an all natural alternative to laundry detergents.
What are Soap Nuts
The soap berries come from the appropriately-named soap berry tree and contain a natural agent, called saponin, that acts as a surfactant.
So when you use soap nuts to do your laundry, the surfactant nature of the saponin breaks the surface tension of the water and penetrates the fibers of the material, lifting stains, dirt and oils.
5 Reasons to Use Soap Nuts Instead of Laundry Detergent
1. Soap nuts are perfect for babies and people having various skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rashes due to allergic reactions, dry skin, acne-prone skin, and more
2. Soap Nuts are very easy to do your laundry with
You can do a load of laundry for about 10 – 13 cents, or about 1/3 of the cost of using any regular detergent.
3. Soap Nuts are natural fabric softeners and have anti-static properties
Doing laundry with soap nuts leaves your clothes unbelievably soft, without the need for toxic fabric softeners or conditioners.
4. Cost Effective
You can reuse the same 6 Soap Nuts to do up to 6 loads of laundry
5. An all Natural Alternative
They are the only true non-toxic and sustainable laundry option I’ve found.
How to Use Soap Nuts
To use soap nuts in the laundry, you simply put 5 of them in a little bag and toss them in the washing machine.
They work great! From the first time I used soap nuts to do laundry I was blown away.
They are very versatile! YOU CAN ALSO USE SOAP NUTS FOR:
- washing dishes
- all-purpose cleaner
- cleaning carpets
- stove tops
- and more!
Have you tried using Soap Nuts? How did they work for you?
I’ve used these, still have some. lost the little bagcould probably use a sock?
Its actually a great idea!