Health Boards
Not actually a treatment but definitely worth a try for soft clothes and shampoo. If you haven't heard of or tried these you should check them out. Just do a Google search for Soap Nuts. Shop around I have found the best quality and price in our supermarket.
So What Are They ?
They are a berry from the Sapindus tree. the berry is dried in the sun then cracked open to get the shell. it's actually the shell that you use. They have been used for washing for thousands of years by native people in Asia and Native Americans.
What Can They Be Used For ?
Just about anything to do with cleaning including. Use as a detergent, a personal cleanser and shampoo, a general purpose cleaner, car wash, pet wash, vegetable wash, carpet and upholstery cleaner.
Recipes
Laundry: Place 3-4 whole cracked shells (or equivalent in pieces) into a cotton bag or odd cotton sock, tie up or knot the top and place into the tub with your laundry.
Remove the nuts after the cycle has finished and let dry (if there's time!) before your next load.
The number of nuts you use depends on the size of your load and how dirty the items are, as well as the hardness of your water and efficiency of your machine.
For example, use four nuts for a large, dirty load, in an old washing machine using hard town water, and two to three nuts for a small or normal load in a modern machine using rainwater.
The temperature of the water is also a factor, as hot water will make the nuts release their surfactants quicker so you'll have to replace the nuts more frequently but the cleaning power will be stronger.
Washing your laundry in cold water is perfectly fine depending on how dirty your laundry load is. We recommend experimenting to find the best quantity required for your personal need s.
One lot of soapnuts can be reused until they lose their sticky, soapy feel and look pale and squishy on the inside, and are brittle when dry (4-6 times). When they are spent, throw them in the garden or compost.
Make your own Liquid Concentrate:
Place 100g of soapnuts with 3 litres of water in a large saucepan or stock pot (this will make 2 litres of liquid - you can make smaller amounts by using 2 cups of water and 4-6 nuts).
Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour or so. Strain the liquid through cloth and compost the nuts. Let cool. has approximately a 2 week shelf life in the kitchen, or at least a month in the refrigerator.
The concentrate will have a watery consistency and small dense suds. It does not contain foaming agents and thickeners like chemical detergents do, but it still has the cleaning power! To thicken the concentrate, add a little cornflour or glycerine.
Using the Liquid Concentrate.
laundry liquid (1-2 tbs in the detergent drawer)
hand soap (use in a foamy pump pack)
shampoo (replaces shampoo and conditioner together, try a spray bottle!)
pet shampoo (leaves hair soft and silky, will also repel fleas, mites, ticks, mosquitoes etc)
general purpose cleaner for the kitchen and bathroom (use with a cloth from the jar or spray bottle)
carpet cleaner (spray or sponge onto stain and blot clean)
dishwasher soap (liquid in dispenser section with optional 1tbs vinegar as a rinse aid)
pest spray (use spray bottle to spray bugs on plants)
glass cleaner (1tbs soapnut liquid, 1 tbs vinegar and 1 cup water)
They do work for laundry although stubborn stains are more difficult. the shampoo does work although you don't get any lather. Give them a go they are cheaper and friendlier than detergents.
So What Are They ?
They are a berry from the Sapindus tree. the berry is dried in the sun then cracked open to get the shell. it's actually the shell that you use. They have been used for washing for thousands of years by native people in Asia and Native Americans.
What Can They Be Used For ?
Just about anything to do with cleaning including. Use as a detergent, a personal cleanser and shampoo, a general purpose cleaner, car wash, pet wash, vegetable wash, carpet and upholstery cleaner.
Recipes
Laundry: Place 3-4 whole cracked shells (or equivalent in pieces) into a cotton bag or odd cotton sock, tie up or knot the top and place into the tub with your laundry.
Remove the nuts after the cycle has finished and let dry (if there's time!) before your next load.
The number of nuts you use depends on the size of your load and how dirty the items are, as well as the hardness of your water and efficiency of your machine.
For example, use four nuts for a large, dirty load, in an old washing machine using hard town water, and two to three nuts for a small or normal load in a modern machine using rainwater.
The temperature of the water is also a factor, as hot water will make the nuts release their surfactants quicker so you'll have to replace the nuts more frequently but the cleaning power will be stronger.
Washing your laundry in cold water is perfectly fine depending on how dirty your laundry load is. We recommend experimenting to find the best quantity required for your personal need s.
One lot of soapnuts can be reused until they lose their sticky, soapy feel and look pale and squishy on the inside, and are brittle when dry (4-6 times). When they are spent, throw them in the garden or compost.
Make your own Liquid Concentrate:
Place 100g of soapnuts with 3 litres of water in a large saucepan or stock pot (this will make 2 litres of liquid - you can make smaller amounts by using 2 cups of water and 4-6 nuts).
Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour or so. Strain the liquid through cloth and compost the nuts. Let cool. has approximately a 2 week shelf life in the kitchen, or at least a month in the refrigerator.
The concentrate will have a watery consistency and small dense suds. It does not contain foaming agents and thickeners like chemical detergents do, but it still has the cleaning power! To thicken the concentrate, add a little cornflour or glycerine.
Using the Liquid Concentrate.
laundry liquid (1-2 tbs in the detergent drawer)
hand soap (use in a foamy pump pack)
shampoo (replaces shampoo and conditioner together, try a spray bottle!)
pet shampoo (leaves hair soft and silky, will also repel fleas, mites, ticks, mosquitoes etc)
general purpose cleaner for the kitchen and bathroom (use with a cloth from the jar or spray bottle)
carpet cleaner (spray or sponge onto stain and blot clean)
dishwasher soap (liquid in dispenser section with optional 1tbs vinegar as a rinse aid)
pest spray (use spray bottle to spray bugs on plants)
glass cleaner (1tbs soapnut liquid, 1 tbs vinegar and 1 cup water)
They do work for laundry although stubborn stains are more difficult. the shampoo does work although you don't get any lather. Give them a go they are cheaper and friendlier than detergents.