Tessa the Duchess Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Hi, my first posting on the Nesting Box forum. You all seem very knowledgable about all things eco so ....... Today with the Sunday paper I got a Lakeland catalogue. One of the items they sell are soap nuts a natural way to wash clothes in the w.machine. I use Ecover washing stuff it is expensive and to be honest not that great for really bad stains like ketchup, it is not me that's a messy eater but my 18 month old grandson who lives with me. Anybody tried soap nuts? Are they any good? Tessa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I' ve tried them but didn't find them any good on messy toddler clothes. They're fine for adult clothes that just need freshening up. Shirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 (edited) I think I remember there being a thread about these over in Green Thinking - I will try to find a link....hang on EDIT - couldn't find it, but I found this one...... http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9543 Edited September 16, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted September 16, 2007 Author Share Posted September 16, 2007 Thanks for the info Shirl. I tend to bung everybodies clothes in together, maybe I will buy some and try them just on the grown ups clothes. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I find the Ecover doesn't touch the sides with my toddlers stains either. I've gone back to using Ariel at 40 degrees and my whites have been coming up sparkling. I do still only use a 30 degree wash on the bits that just need a freshen, and I also think the soap nuts would be perfect for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 So have I, Gina . Teenagers are as bad as toddlers, I'm afraid . The only thing which gets the sweat stains and dirty neck rings out of their school shirts (apart from them using SOAP to wash with ) is Ariel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Well, Kate - I think it can also be stretched to husbands too. Funnily enough, I have just been on the phone to my Mum who says the only thing that gets the sweat stains out of Dad's shirts is if she puts a cup of distilled vinegar in with the ariel.....just what we were saying in the other thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susiepoos Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 So have I, Gina . Teenagers are as bad as toddlers, I'm afraid . The only thing which gets the sweat stains and dirty neck rings out of their school shirts (apart from them using SOAP to wash with ) is Ariel. soap What's soap My teenagers don't have that word in their volcabulary - actually that's a lie because the 16 year old has recently got a girlfriend so he now knows what soap is along with antiperspirant, shaving foam, shaving gel, shaving balm, moistuiser, face wipes and aftersave - and I thought girls were bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Glad it's not just mine who haven't discovered what the soap's for . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted September 16, 2007 Author Share Posted September 16, 2007 Thanks for posting the Eglu thread on soap nuts, so maybe not the ones from Lakeland as they sound rubbish. I will have a ponder, maybe one cannot help save the planet and have sparkling clean clothes! I read about the vinegar tip on another thread and am defininely going to try it, I don't use conditioner and try and line dry everything, but I don't really enjoy 'crunchy' towels and the vinegar could be the answer. Thanks to all for your comments. It is VERY windy here in London, my hens have turned really hyper I had to shut them in their run early. Tessa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Hi, i think i was the original poster on soap nuts.......we used them for a bit and they do work but we've gone back to normal washing stuff cos it smells nicer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I used soapnuts for a while but I found that the fabric statred to smell fusty, whites went grey and dingy and they didn't shift stains at all. Very disappointed. Have just put a bag of Soap Pods on Omlet Freecycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Hi - I was tempted to buy some of those yesterday at Lakeland. I bought their special clothes pegs instead! Now I can recommended those! Hmmm washing powder - we always use Bold tablets - crushed silk & jasmine or the lavender ones. For whites, we use Daz. I hate to see whites that have a grey tinge, I love crisp blinding whites! Is also bought some washing powder mini sheets for travel washing! They look like they are in a dental floss box. I thought I'd take them to France just incase! Lakeland are geniuses - I just love some of the inventions and gadgets they have for everything! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 I love Lakeland too. I often pop over to the Handforth branch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 16, 2007 Share Posted September 16, 2007 Oooo we go the Handforth one a lot too - not too far from us really & we like their coffee shop! They had all the Christmas stuff in the one in Shrewsbury at the weekend & we got to taste some of their coloured liquorice! The mango one was very nice! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona A Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Hi, I too have using soap nuts for a while but have been disappointed with them. They certainly soap up in the machine and the smell is fine when drying on the line in the summer. They are definitely best used for coloureds which only require a freshening wash. Forget whites - otherwise they will all be light greys! Forget anything sweaty like manpits or teenages as the clothes don't seem to rinse fresh even with a laundry fresh scent being added to the rinse. I am trying Ecover at the moment (about one week now) so am waiting for the longer term results on this. If the clothes are starting to grey, collars etc remaining grubby then I really don't what else to try. There are other ethical and environmentally friendly laundry options to try but it gets expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Welcome aboard Fiona.....you came to the same conclusion as me. I have admitted defeat and have reverted to Persil alternating with Ecover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
