Soap Nuts

I have been researching the cloth diaper world (more on that soon) and have been looking for an alternative to regular laundry detergent. Something without the harsh chemicals and detergents that will make cloth diapers less absorbent. I think I have found a great solution.

Soap Nuts.

Straight from their web site, here are just some of the things that are so great about them:

• They are simply a dried fruit — 100% totally natural.
• They are organically grown and are free of harsh chemicals, so they are incredibly gentle. (This makes them especially great for those with sensitive skin — including babies and those that suffer from allergies, eczema, and psoriasis).
• They’re totally biodegradeable, so they’re better for the environment than regular detergent.
• They’re antimicrobial, so they’re even good for septic and greywater systems.
• They are low-sudsing — exactly what you need for HE (or high-efficiency) washers.

{me again}... Perfect for those cloth diapers, the delicate baby clothes, the kids grubby play clothes, and the hubby's greasy work jeans.

The Soap Nut itself has no noticeable odor to me, but since I love the scent of lavender, I ordered the lavender oil with it and used just a few drops on the soap nut bag. For just $14.99 I ordered the Soap Nut starter kit which included a 100 gram bag of soap nuts (enough for 40 loads), a one ounce bottle of scented oil of your choice, and three wash bags. I'm planning on keeping two for myself and sharing the third (with a few nuts) with my mom, who I think will love this product.

I was a little skeptical at the ease of use of this product. I simple plunked three Soap Nuts in the little bag, closed and tied it, then dabbed it with a couple drops of lavender oil and plopped it in the laundry. You can use hot or warm water, and since the soap nuts don't release their saponin (the cleaning agent) in cold water, you don't have to fish them out for the rinse cycle.

You just take the bag out of your laundry before transferring it to the dryer and use the same soap nuts for you next three or four loads. My laundry feels so clean and fresh, I'm really sold on this product.

Hey, anything that makes the chore of laundry a little easier and perhaps a bit enjoyable, is good with me.