Do not place the soap nuts in the detergent dispenser as they need to be agitated.
The bag can remain in machine for the rinse cycle as soap nuts do not have chemical residue to leave behind. Infact once you get used to using soapnuts, you will find you do not even need the extra rinse cycle!
It is also a natural softener so you won't need to add any of that either!
Usually Over 2-3 wash loads, less if using hot water, the soap nuts will disintegrate and will need replenishing. This can be done either by replacing the entire contents every few loads or by checking the bag between loads for broken down shells for removal and topping it up again.
Just go with what works best for you.
Soap nuts are hypo-allergenic and are known for their benefits for people with skin conditions. They are completely suitable to use on the clothes that come in contact with sensitive skin. This makes them perfect for your baby's clothes and any clothes that have direct skin contact.
They are also fantastic for soiled cloth nappies! Use a warm to hot wash cycle to ensure better release of saponin allowing the deeper clean that nappies need. This, in turn, will lead to a faster break down of the nuts so please restock the wash bag with fresh soap nuts.
As soap nuts are free from chemical whiteners and bleaches you may find yourself looking for something to reinvigorate that sparkling white appearance. To do this you can add 50ml of lemon juice or 1 teaspoon of citric acid to your rinse cycle per kilogram of clothing.
You can also add a cup of 3% (or less) hydrogen peroxide to a full load of whites. Hydrogen peroxide is best used when mixed in water so fill the machine with water to the load level and then add the peroxide. If your machine has a separate bleach cup /dispenser, use that. Don’t pour directly on clothes. Let the peroxide and water agitate before adding the clothes, so as to distribute the peroxide evenly. Now wash as normal.
It even works as a stain remover – for ink, blood, rust stains etc. Peroxide is available at most chemist/pharmacies. Make sure you buy the 3% strength –you don’t need stronger peroxide for use at home.
Another advantage of soap nuts is that without chemical whiteners and bleaches your colours will not be faded as quickly as with other laundry detergents. Without the addition of reflective optical brighteners found in washing powders your colours will show their natural brightness wash after wash.
Soap nuts are effective at removing every day stains. If in doubt refer to a stain guide for any special care instructions for removal. Of course, there will always be difficult stains, like those containing zinc for example, that will always require special treatment. Lipstick is a classic example.
If you are supplied with 'hard water', water that is heavily laden with minerals, your clothing will naturally grey in time as the mineral deposits build up in the garment. To prevent this add ¼ cup baking soda to the wash water or half a cup of vinegar to your rinse water for a full load. Please be aware that clothes will not have the same level of softness as they would without the vinegar.
As your clothes slowly relinquish the chemical residue from previous washings they will develop the odour that any fabric typically has when wet. It is noticeable as a woody or earthy odour when wet and simply disappears when dry. It is a natural phenomenon just like the smell of surrounding plants just after it has rained.
If you prefer your wet items not to produce this scent or you miss that 'fresh' smell that your previous detergent had then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil either to the wash bag or to the fabric softener dispenser. Adding Citronella/lemon grass oil would help keep away mosquitoes – particularly when washing children’s clothes.
Soapnuts absorb moisture very easily. They become dark & sticky in a very short period of time if left exposed to air. Ideally, the soapnuts should be packed in an airtight container.
However, sticky soapnuts do not mean that they have gone bad. They will still wash & clean perfectly.
For hundreds of years, people in India and Nepal have been doing their laundry and cleaning with Soapnuts.
Just try it – we assure you it won’t harm you or your clothes. On the contrary, you will realise how simple it is to ensure a harmless home.
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