Laundry Detergent

Love laundry? ... Didn't think so but why natural laundry powder?

Many people have complaints of itchy skin and their first thought is that their skin is dry and that they just need to apply some lotion. Or, they assume they're allergic to that new soap or body wash they've got in the shower. But consider this: if you're experiencing an itching sensation all over your body, not just on your hands, then the problem may just be with your laundry detergent! The detergent you used to wash your clothes gets in the fabric and can rub off the clothing onto your skin. You would think this wouldn’t really affect your skin, but it could be the cause of your skin irritations. If your skin is extra sensitive to certain ingredients, it doesn't take much to irritate it. The detergent you used to wash your clothes gets in the fabric and can rub off the clothing onto your skin. You would think this wouldn’t really affect your skin, but it could be the cause of your skin irritations. If your skin is extra sensitive to certain ingredients, it doesn't take much to irritate it.

Have you heard of Soap Nuts? Soap Nuts are a popular natural alternative to chemical soaps and cleaners. Soap nuts are also great for those with allergies or those who are sensitive to cleansers or detergents! The shells of these nuts naturally produce saponin when introduced with water, creating a bubbly lather that can be used to cleanse. All our Soap Nuts are deseeded and come in a 4 oz bag with muslin bag that can be used up to 80 loads. Since soap nuts are low sudsing, they work well in HE washers. Why not give these affordable, non-toxic, and sustainable nuts a try the next time you throw in a load of wash?  Your clothes and the earth will thank you.

How do Soap Nuts Work as Laundry Detergent?

Place 5 soap nuts in a muslin bag and tie closed. Sort & place the laundry & muslin bag of soap nuts in your washing machine in lieu of regular laundry detergent. Following the instructions on your garment tags select the temperature and type of wash cycle that is best for the fabric (See Note Below). Be sure not to overfill your machine while using soap nuts, as they work best when they have room to move. Wash your clothes as usual. Replace the nuts after 10 washes, or when the flesh starts to lose its color and turn a bit gray. 

Note: Unless the label specifies cold water, wash in warm water for better cleaning results. Use hot water for cleaner whites, or if someone in the house has been ill. For cold water loads, simply put the nuts into a mason jar of hot water, shake for a minute, and let them soak while you prepare your load. Drop it into the machine and you're good to go. (Optional) Add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to your wash if you've hard water. It will also help remove odors. 

Or Methods to Use Soap Nuts

• Grind the shells (not the pits) of the Soap Nuts into a fine powder. Add 1 tsp soap nut powder to a load of laundry. Or,
• Freeze soap nuts liquid in ice cube trays. Store in the freezer. Use 3 ice cubes per load of laundry.
• For really grimy loads of laundry, add 3-4 Tbsp borax to the soap nut concoction of your choice, and wash clothes with the mixture.
• If you need to hand wash an item, soap nuts can still be your go-to. Simply put 2 nuts in the muslin bag, and soak them in hot water. Then add the water mixture to your cool water basin.
• For liquid detergent, put the soap nuts in a jar until you have about a dozen of them.  Place them into a muslin bag and put them into 4 cups of boiling water.  Let them simmer for 20 minutes.  Add an additional 2 cups of water and simmer for 10 more minutes.  Remove them from the heat and let cool. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze all of the suds out of the bag.  Store your soap in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Laundry Powder is another option to use for laundry beside Soap Nuts.

Made with all natural ingredients like baking soda, pH boosting washing soda, skin softening coconut oil. This laundry powder removes the stain and stinks and leave the softness and freshness to the clothes. It is compatible with HE and standard washer. It is chemicals free, borax free, no dyes, no synthetic fragrances, no additives, no lather, and no residue to the HE washer machine. It is safe for sensitive skin and baby. It does not create itchy skin after wash and it smells great. You can use dryer balls instead of the dryer sheet to save money. Dryer balls work great with sensitive skin and does not have synthetic fragrances.

Ingredients: Washing Soda, Baking Soda, Borax, Epsom Salt, Sea Salt, & Goat Milk Soap Shaving or Coconut Soap Shaving.

Direction: Sort your laundry into whites, darks, and delicates. Add your dirty laundry. Pre-spot any hard stains on your laundry as usual. Then, add the laundry powder to your load. Use between 1-3 (heaping) tablespoons per load, depending on the size and dirtiness. Don’t overfill with clothes or they won’t have to room to agitate and get clean.

If you have hard water, add extra shredded goat milk soap or coconut soap shaving. You also can add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to your wash.

Have extra smelly clothes? Add a tad (1 tablespoon) of white vinegar to your load if your clothes are extra smelly. I find that I have to add the white vinegar with microfiber/fleece rags or blankets as they seem to hold odors for some reason.

Want your laundry to smell amazing? Add extra essential oils for a stronger scent to your laundry. Lavender, Peppermint, Lemongrass, and Tea Tree are some of my favorites. Tea Tree and Lemongrass actually have cleaning and anti-bacterial properties!

Don't have time to shred your own soap? We don't blame you! Grating soap can be time-consuming work. You can buy our pre-shredded soap. To make a full batch of laundry detergent, you will need two pounds.

Be careful not to use too much soap, especially with front-loaders, since they use less water. You want to make sure you don't add too much detergent as it will not be able to dissolve completely. This will make your clothes look dingy (from still having soap on them!)