I have found a product that is new-to-me, easy to use, and good for the environment (what a winning combination!)
I'm talking about SoapNuts (say what?) from Laundry Tree.
What are SoapNuts? They look like this:
They come from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, which is found in Nepal, Indonesia, and India.
All that is done to the soap nuts to prepare them for use is to harvest, de-seed, and dry them in the sun.
When I received my sample pack in the mail, I was excited to try SoapNuts, but also a little wary. What if they somehow messed up my clothes?
I followed the directions that were included.
First, three to four soapnuts are placed inside of the small cotton drawstring bag (included).
Then the little bag is put into the washing machine with the load of clothes (warm or hot water works best for SoapNuts).
I washed a (very big front-loader washing machine) load of beach towels and other whites. Yes, I trusted my whites to the SoapNuts.
SoapNuts made the laundry clean, non-perfumy...just the way I like it. We didn't use a fabric softener and the towels came out nice and fluffy!
Even my (not a hippy) mother tried SoapNuts and was pleasantly surprised!
Reasons why SoapNuts are good for the environment:
- One little drawstring bag of 3 to 4 SoapNuts can be used FOUR TIMES! The same four SoapNuts can wash 4 loads of laundry!
- SoapNuts are organically grown (chemical free!).
- SoapNuts are biodegradable. After they have done their four loads of laundry (did you just READ THAT?), just toss them into the compost pile.
I was thinking how convenient SoapNuts would be for traveling...no zip-lock bag of detergent to spill when you are trying to do laundry on vacation (in the condo or laundry mat)!
If you check out the website, there are recipes for making other types of cleaning supplies out of SoapNuts.
Laundry Tree would like to give away samples of SoapNuts to FIVE MyGreening readers! The sample size includes 8 SoapNuts...enough for up to 8 loads of laundry!
To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your thoughts about SoapNuts. FIVE winners will be chosen randomly on 5-16-08, after 10pm CST.
Laundry Tree has also offered a discount to My Greening readers! Until 6/1/08, you can get 10% off the 100g bag of SoapNuts using the coupon code MYGREENING.
96 comments:
Wow - that looks so different and yet wonderful! Way to go for finding a green solution to laundry troubles!
I've seen these at our food co-op. Haven't tried them yet! Cool blog!
I'd like to win these to try them out.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Laura
(adding you to my Sunday roundup)
OOH i'd love to try these! we're headed toward being 'greener' ourselves -- and this would be perfect! cool giveaway!
Cool, I would love to win these!
These look pretty neat. I was intersted in reading about how they actually clean and was very intrigued by their website. Did you try out the oils as well or just the soapnuts? I would love to win a sample pack!
Sarah
I have seen these before on another blog. Being on a tight budget, I could not purchase any. However, I would love to enter your giveaway for a chance to win them and give them a try.
I would LOVE to try to win these. I am obsessed w/ laundry and find these o-so-interesting :-)
Groovy.
I would love to try this
dolls123[at]gmail[dot]com
I've never heard of these--I'd love to try them!
Ooo! Interesting! I've never heard of this, and I'd love to try it. Sounds great. Thank you :)
I am so curious about soap nuts. I can't even imagine how they work!
I would love to try these out. I'm changing all my cleaning products to "green" ones and I've heard about these. I want to try them out and see if they really work. Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds so cool, we are trying hard to go greener.
wow sounds realy cool i would love to well try some so i may see for my self what thay do thanks not olny that but this could save me some money as well
wow this is awesome! even if i dont win i think ill buy some
amiramurphy at gmail
I'm always up for trying new and great products that are great for the environment and my laundry. Soapnuts sounds VERy interesting.
Thanks
I'd feel a little weary of them, but would willing to give it a shot. My only concern is they look likes snacks. I'm always ready to try anything a little more environmentally friendly.
I'm really interested in these, but concerned that they are toxic - what does this mean for my kid who sucks on his clothes?
Wow, my hanging open. These sound fabulous. We currently use dropps because they are green and they don't irritate my kids skin, but this sound even better. Win or not I've got to try them! Thanks!
I was wondering if they were toxic too. I am absolutely fascinated!
pposwaps(AT)gmail.com
Fascinating. Is that the way they look? I think I would eat one by mistake! :)
Crazy! But I'd like to give them a try, I've got a new baby in the house and I'm all about switching to more natural, green products!
I would love to try this I'm a little skeptical but if they work well I would definitely be interested. Thanks
both of my kids suffer from eczema. It would be great to see if these don't bother their skin!
recyclebin@att.net
Never heard of these but Neat! I love the no scent fact and I am sure my allergy smell sensitive mother would too. I also love that they are enviromentally friendly and can be used several times.
Would love to try them!
Hmmm no scent and reusable...like it
lizardfig [[at[[ gmail [[dot[[ com
This is awesome! I can't believe you can use them four times each!! Id love to give these a try--thanks!
I have seen this mentioned on other blogs and have always wanted to try them. I am trying to switch over to more natural cleaners, and if these work as well as you say, I would love to give them a try.
Michelle
michelle (at) northofthe49 (dot) com
Wow, anything you can use four times is a winner in my book, especially in a front loader since it is so hard to find unscented detergent for the HE machine...
I too like you are a little skeptical. I have never seen or heard of these.
But HEY! I am willing to step outside the box.
M. Waters hugapoohlouise(at)yahoo(dot)com
Okay, those are neat and very different. I hate using chemicals on our wash, but I haven't found an alternative that works. These sound very cool.
And oh wow, after looking through the website, I see you can use them for other uses as well. I definitely want to give these a try.
Wow what a cool product. I am also trying to 'green' our family lately by purchasing mostly organic/natural or recycled. So this is right up my ally. I have never heard of anything like this, would love to try it. Great giveaway, thanks!
I have never seen anything like them! They really sound amazing! I would just love to try these out!
I'm still skeptical, but I'd love to give them a shot. Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(com)
These sound really great, I'd love to try them. I love that they are good for sensitive skin, could really use that!
These sound so cool! I am anxious to try them!
digicat@sbcglobal.net
We're always looking for a green laundry alternative- these look GREAT! Thanks!
What an interesting idea. These would be fun to try!
I've been wanting to try soapnuts for the LONGEST time, but haven't gotten around to ordering any! Count me in!
Wow, they sound so interesting! Their most attractive feature to me is that you can compost them when they're used up. Thanks for the giveaway!
emhagedon at gmail
Wow wow wow - I want to try these!!!
I can't wait to try soapnuts....even if I don't win I'll have to try them
3beez at bellsouth dot net
These seem really cool! I like that there are no chemicals in them.
ticole96(at)msn(dot)com
I would love to try them, but I usually wash using cold water...
I have always wanted to try these.
I've heard about Soap Nuts and would really like to try them for myself to see if they really are as good as everyone says.
njones127 at tampabay dot rr dot com
What an amazing product! I have never heard of these before but would love to try them out! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
I am always looking for new ways to clean our clothes and leave little to no footprint behind. I'd love to try these out!
Looks like a great product that I'd love to try out! How great would it be to stop buying huge jugs of detergent at Costco and just have these soap nuts instead! I am wondering if any washing adjustments need to be made for HE washers?
they sound very cool, myself and littlepixie have very sensitive fair skin so we use an eco-detergent, but it's not cheap! It would be great to be able to use the soapnuts 4 times :) And then compost them, they sound great!
Hope Canadians can win! I'm always looking out for natural laundry solutions :).
Wow! Sounds like a wonderful alternative...would love to try something different :)
Wow these sound like the solution to decreasing packaging and chemicals in the environment. I would love to try them with my front load washer as well.
owatz (at) telus (dot) net
Hi - I found your site through your post at Gift of Green. The soap nuts look so interesting. I would love to win and give them a try!
I'd really like to try these. I would like to be greener, but would also like to try before I buy...These sound great, though. I've never heard of them.
jenni_aja at hotmail dot com
This is a great way to help the environment and do your laundry.
Gah... My comment didn't want to show up :(
These sound wonderful! I'd love to try them.
I'm all for environment friendly, they sound really strange, but I'd love to try them.
I have never, ever seen such a thing but I am sold already! I've switched over to biokleen and seventh generation so Im all for going green. The greener the better! Thanks so much!
Happy Monday! It is always fun to try something new and see the results. It is fun to let my sons see products like this from other places. Please enter me in your drawing. Many thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
My goodness, that is revolutionary. I'd love to try those.
I recently heard about these and am dying to try them. We all have sensitive skin so we have to use the more expensive 'free & clear' detergents, but I'd love to go greener! woo hoo!
Sounds interesting-I'd love to try them!
I think soap nuts are a BRILLIANT idea! All three of my kids are extremely sensitive to scents and stuff in laundry soap and I would LOVE to try these!
taradawnrobertson at hotmail dot com
I'm all about all natural products especially when washing clothes since the detergents are inevitably on our skin. I have seen this at Whole Foods and have wanted to try it.
I had never heard of Soap Nuts! How awesome! We have a very sensitive skin family, these would be fantastic for us! And can be used again...so fab!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
great idea
I would also love to try these. My husband has very sensitive skin and I really cannot stand artificial fragrance. Thanks for entering me :)
Sharon D.
zokiemichael(at)sisna(dot)com
I'd like to win these to try them out.
These look great! I am also going to let a friend of mine know about them, since both of her kids have eczema. Thanks!
We're a sensitive skinned family and I've wanted to try these out for a while now.
I have been looking to try diffrent options with my laundry detergent, I would love to start with these. Thanks for review
april_epperson(at)yahoo.com
I have never seen or heard of these before. so interesting, I'd love to try them in my wash
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I am all about going green and the more something works the better!!!
LeAnna C
clkiwis72305@yahoo.com
This is great!!! I can't wait to try them!!
I'd love to try the SoapNuts. I have tried a few different green type laundry products but these sound really neat plus no fabric softener needed is a huge plus.
jeanilyne at msn dot com
What a great idea! I have been trying to find better solutions to my cleaning and this would be perfect. This year I am "greening my clean." So I am slowly getting rid of all of my old cleaning supplies and replacing them with safe, green products. I am now to the point of switching laundry over. Perfect timing!
I love that you can use these several times before you have to throw them away! That's fantastic!
I would love to try these Soap Nuts! We do our best to keep green in our house, and these seem like a radical move. I'm totally curious!
At 70 years old I can use all the help I can get. Sounds great!
A green solution from Laundry Tree?
This sounds quite all right to me.
It offers us a little more hope,
And, just think, it comes from soap!
please enter me :)
This sounds different, green and useful. How much does it cost? I would love to try it.
Sounds really fantastic and natural. They should be more widely known and available.
ohhhhhh something new, I have never heard of these but sure would like to win some to see how white they get my clothes, as they say, seeing is believing
I'll try anything once and if you say they work then I trust you.
wow i try anything that's good for the environment. a great prize to win
conanan2006@yahoo.com
great scents
Wow!! What a great idea!
I would love to try it!
They look strange but I I would be willing to try. I have been trying to find an alternative to laundry soap and I am totally sick of the plastic jugs I recycle all the time. I never heard of these before, but they sound like they would work better than a homemade brew and I would feel good about using the soapnuts.
I would love to try SoapNuts From Laundry Tree especially since they are so environmentally friendly and chemical free. This is a great giveaway and I really hope I win. Thanks.
girlof80s@aol.com
With the laundry that goes through my front HE washer, This would be a fantastic option.
YOUR STORY IS AMAZING! HOW ON EARTH DID YOU FIND THEM? THE SUSPENCE IS KILLING ME I'M SUB-SCRIBING TO YOUR NEWSLETTER. I CAN SEE I'VE BEEN MISSING OUT ON GREENING! THANKS!
I would love to try SoapNuts.
They sound great.I get so upset
having to dispose of those bottles
of laundry detergent.What a nice
find.Thanks for the giveaway
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
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