Please guys, don't use soap nuts! They are from India where people used to wash their clothes with them for centuries. But since they got popular in the western countries they got really expensive in India so that locals can't afford them anymore. Instead they have to buy the cheaper chemical washing solutions. As they wash everything in river water that leads to water pollution. And their water already gets polluted by other stuff like leather production. So please try to see the bigger picture and just think of the waste that you produce in your home but what are the effects on others too.
hallibea ho no..... Since soybeans and avocados became popular I've heard they are cutting down rain forests to plant them.......now soap nuts, when will we get a proper balance ? Not while we have the money people. Thank you for the info.
Depends on the country - in Polynesian countries it's for tropical crops like coconut, in South America it varies depending on climate and elevation (could be tree nuts, avocado, livestock, soybeans, quinoa, or just regular food for locals).
Being an Indian and someone who is using soapnuts to wash hair for almost 2decades soapnuts is a natural mild detergent used mainly for hair if your hair is too greasy it doesn't work and using it to wash clothes is not something I would advise cause it won't do the job properly you might aswell use the Bronner liquid only
Helena W. How long have you been doing it and how much do you use? I always wanted to try that (instead of using the anti-smell liquid stuff) but I'm afraid I might end up with baggy, faded clothing or stuff. Gym clothing is something I spend rather a lot of money on (the brand name stuff just lasts much longer) and I often have to leave the sweaty worn clothes in my bag for hours 😐
Rara Avis I've only been doing it for a few months and I have yet to put in the expensive gym clothes because I am afraid of baggy & faded ones, too! (but so far that hasn't happened at all!) I put the clothes in the vinegar/ water mix (1:4) for about half an hour. I wring it out and put it in the washing machine :) when I don't have time, I just spray the clothes with the mixture and wash them.
hum... I never meassure but about a tablespoon I think maybe a little less or more depending on how steady I am on the hand while adding it to the washingmachine :D
I pretty much live in the desert with very hard water. Vinegar has been my saviour! I also put a few drops of eucalyptus/lavender oil so it smells delightful. For sweaty gym clothes I hang them to air out before washing and the sun does the rest ☀️✨
I use washing liquid as normal and on the final rinse cycle, 1 or 2 cups of white vinegar which acts as a fabric softener. Adding 1/2 C baking soda helps with towels too. this is for a front loader tho! :)
For about 8 years I've used plain white vinegar instead of fabric softener. The home brand/no label is very cheap, it disinfects, whitens in the sun & makes clothes softer. Also any skin irritations the family had cleared up and I can no instantly tell the smell of chemicals and artificial perfumes when my friends give me clothes that have been washed with fabric softener & rashes come back within a day of wearing them. It really is much better for you & the environment (also my machine is heaps cleaner!) Just don't use it with bleach (as it creates harmful fumes apparently) but I never use bleach anyway.
I mix together some baking soda and washing soda together with some lavender oil and that works really well for my clothes! I air dry my whites in the sun and I find that keeps them nice and bright.
I use some eco balls, i've had for over a year now, they on average last around 3 depending on usage. for fabric softener i use white vinegar, which once dry it doesn't smell like vinegar, I'm not overly fussed on the smell! :) I find to keep my whites white and refreshed, i pop about half a cup to cup of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar and that works really well for me :)
My zero waste laundry is to use the soap nuts, a small squirt of Castile soap (if things smell a little funkyer than usual), a small dash of vinegar and about 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Might be a little overboard but I like my clothes to be extra clean lol 💕
its quite interesting to see more people caring about things like this! i was always jind of put off by wash nuts bc friends of my parents used to use these and their laundry always smelled kinda moldy and was really greyish but seeing this i miutght give them a go ! :D i just found youre channel and your voice is so nice to listen to and its nice to see someone minimalistic who is not making a competition out of it
Thank you for your lovely comment :) I wonder what soap nuts your parent's friends used, I've never had a problem with them colouring my linens or making them smell anything other than clean. I would definitely suggest giving them a go.
Ariyl the mouldy smell has Nothing to do with the soap nuts. It's the machine that is dirty. Most of the time they used normal detergent before and never really got it clean. You can't smell it when you using normal detergent because of the perfumes. Sorry for my bad English. Hope it makes sense. Otherwise I'll have to refrain myself.
I used soapnuts for about a year and all our clothes were smelling mouldy, also they weren't very good at getting all the stains out of my children's clothes. I use an eco egg now, find it to be much better..
emma williams Same! I started using it yesterday and they smell amazing! Do you know what packaging the refills come in? I am just wandering if its going to be wrapped in plastic.
music box the dark pellets are ceramic tourmaline and the light ones are described as mineral pellets however it's not clear exactly what that is. I'm sure when I read up on it the actual egg was made from rubber but I can't find that info online right now. Xx
Great video!! I also use soap nuts, they're great! I also use home made fabric conditioner: 2 cups water + 1 cup white vinegar + 15-20 drops essential oil (I use 15 drops lavender and sometimes add 5 drops peppermint). For dirty or stained clothes I use a few natural soap flakes dissolved is a little water to make a paste which I apply to the stain. That's all!
I am using thing which I call "washing slime". I put in the pot grated soup for washing (olive or castille is OK too I think), pour water and heat until the soup is dissloved. Then I add crystalline soda (no baking soda!) and some essential oils. From 175 g of soup and 150 g of soda you make 10 l of "washing slime". Maybe it is known in English speaking world in other words... I hope that my comment is understandable
1/4 C of vinegar also works as fabric softener. You can add essential oils to sent it. It goes in you fabric softener dispenser. I’ve heard of soaking a sponge and using it like a fabric sheet but haven’t done this.
Hi Sophie, Great video (again)! Have you tried using essential oils? With smelly clothes I put a few drops of lavender oil on my soapnut bag. It gives the laundry a nice smell and it kills bacteria that are responsible for the smell. Spraying it with vinegar before washing does the same thing. I love soapnuts! After they are used up I feed them to my plants, they are a great plant nutrition.
Thank you, Tess! I have tried using essential oils but find I can't smell them (even when adding 25+ drops!). I wonder why this could be... how do you add them?
Ow, that is strange.. I just put 4 to 5 drops on the bag of the soapnuts before I throw them in the machine. The scent isn't very strong I have to admit, but it's there. Hope it works for you!
Add the essential oils to the dryer. I put 3-5 drops on a dry clean rag and throw it in with the wet stuff. Everything comes out smelling noticeably like the scent
You can use a biodegradable baby shampoo for laundry, hair and body. Preferably a glass container that you can use for another purpose upon emptying. It’s very gentle on your fabrics. Cap full of vinegar for freshness and sanitation
I just bought the nuts to go into my backpack for a year of backpacking. Can't wait for them to arrive. I lived out of a backpack for a year already and laundry powder/detergent is the hardest thing to find the fitting thing without paying a dollar every time to get one in a plastic sandwich bag. I hope these will change, at the moment, my backpacking life drastically into the better.
My own DIY laundry soap works better than any of the market brands sold in the States, and it costs only 58 cents a gallon. It's 1/2 cup each of borax, washing soda, and oxygen bleach; dissolve the powders by shaking them up in a gallon jug of very hot water, then add 1/2 cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Shake a little before each use, as it will tend to settle for a while -- use 1/2 cup for top-loaders, 1/4 cup for front loaders. Gets my skivvies and linens clean and fresh smelling, and even removes marinara stains from my table linens! I'm 70 years old, and the kitchen linens my mother used when I was growing up are still snow white -- a bit threadbare perhaps, but nice and bright. For each load of whites, I'd recommend adding a scoop of oxygen bleach. For sweaty, smelly gym and gardening clothes, put a 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the rinse -- everything will smell very sweet.
Hey u have better quality of life than all of us. U are using almost everything natural and have great concern for our mother earth. U are an amazing human being. Be like that always.
I use a magnetic ball and ULTRA POWER PLUS detergent from Norwex. It's 100% biodegradable. Absolutely NO phosphates, sulfates, chlorine/bleach, optical brightness, animal testing, dyes or fragrances. I absolutely love the Norwex values, and the cleaning without harsh chemicals it stands behind. I encourage anyone that hasn't heard of the company before to check it out.
To everyone who talks about using vinegar to soften clothes, I'm sure it works for most and normal people. I apparently have this rare condition that's called tactile hypersensitivity. I'm very very very very sensitive to the feel of things that touch my skin like clothes, I can't STAND being able to FEEL the clothes that I'm wearing. If I feel them it gives me the feeling like when you scratch a fingernail down a blackboard. One girl who is like me said she needed her clothes to feel like "liquid cotton" or she couldn't stand them. So vinegar so totally does NOT work for me as a fabric softener. Because it doesn't soften clothes enough. I NEED to use a huge amount of fabric softener and then I need to toss my clothes up in the air many times and crumple them up and shake them a lot. I have to do this until my clothes get so soft I can barely feel them and clothes that just can't be softened, like jeans, I can't wear. (I also use vinegar in the rinse as well, but I do that because it's good for the machine, but it doesn't soften clothes enough for me.) My kids don't suffer from this condition and vinegar is just fine for their clothes.
I currently use castile soap! I just love how easy it is even though Dr. Bronner's isn't completely zero waste. Also, I actually don't separate my whites into a different load, but I probably should :p such simple tip that seems to be very effective!
I washed my laundry with soapy nuts several times a few years ago, and i found that it smelled like stinky feet...so i stick to organic liquid detergent now...
I use an essential oil blend called Purification, or Tea Tree oil, just a few drops on the bag of soap nuts, when I put them in the wash. Works perfectly.
Many tears and years ago, I was heavily into white linen clothes primarily wearing only them. Keeping them free of stains and white was a total pill. I spent half of my time washing and ironing. Who has time for this? Fast forward 18 years and I now wear only black, navy blue, charcoal cotton knit and pima cotton knit clothes, pajamas, and even workout clothes. I have two white pima cotton tshirts that I rarely wear. I now wash my clothes on the delicate cycle with NO detergent and mostly hang dry except the pajamas and workout clothes. No ironing needed if hung immediately. I tried the soap nuts five years ago. NOT impressed. And, yes, my clothes come clean with NO soap because it is not like I am a two-year old rolling around in the mud. Plus, diet is related to bad body odor and thus stinky clothes. I avoid garlic and onion most of time except when eating out maybe once a month, which makes the body and clothes stink. I dry skin brush my skin, which, believe it or not, helps keep the clothes from being funky besides creating BEAUTIFUL glowing skin. I also am Vegan now for 40 years, which causes less body funk. I jump rope as my main cardio so I do sweat. However, I leave my sweaty bra and clothes hanging out until they dry and this cuts odor. I hand wash between laundry days my soft pima pjs and bras in the shower or sink and hang dry. Being detergent free is as liberating as when I gave up hair shampoo 10-15 years ago. I would rather be reading, outside, dancing, swimming, or anything other than washing and folding clothes! Keep clothes/stuff to a minimum and laundry will become NO big deal. I have ONE set of dark colored highend cotton bed sheets that I wash once a week in cold water and navy blue Boll and Branch knit blankets, which I wash and dry quickly and easily with zero detergents. Oversized bulky bed linen is cute in Instagram hash tag bed envy photos, but a pain to wash/dry and keep white. I mention highend clothes and highend bed linens because of quality over quantity. Cheap clothes do not hold up to repeated washings!
Emma I have to disagree, I been eating vegan for over a year now, and didn' t switch up anything else since then, I smell totally different, and especially my sweat stopped smelling really soure (still a little bit, but not so much anymore) and since I work as a nurse, I sweat a lot at work, I smell so different after a shift now, my husband also noticed it
I love using soapnuts for my laundry- when I need a bit of extra cleaning power I add a teaspoon of baking soda to the washing powder drawer orrrrr you can add a little bit of apple cider or white vinegar to things if they're a bit oily (I do this for cleaning rags and tea towels) :D
I also put my little bag of soapnuts in hot water for a few minutes first (like stewing a tea bag!) so it softens them and releases the soapiness. Means you can wash at a lower temperature with them and still get stuff clean 👍
I buy mine from a company in Australia that supports the poorer people of the countries that grow these trees. They support them for income for these poorer families! Buy them and use them with the knowledge they are helping people to buy food and housing!
I use soapnut too, but I always boiling them first to make them become soapy, I add baking soda in the washing machine, and for the softener I use white vinegar, I've been doing this about 4 months, and this method is doing just fine/great for me, because it's inexpensive too.
Sophie Ollis actually I use baking soda for booster my detergent/soapnut (about 1/2 cup every load) and 1/2 cup white vinegar for every load, I hope it will work for you too.
Hi I tried soap nuts and agree they are good for regular washes but for muddy or sports cloths I use ecover. Very good product that I refill at planet organic. I no longer use fabric softer I use drying balls and don't think I miss the softer. Thanks for your videos.
It’s awesome stuff. I use a tjx rewards MasterCard and get gift certificates to Marshall’s. I use those certificates to get my Castile soap for free 😀😀😀✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻 I have a $10 one in my purse now waiting to be used next time I’m in that area. Next to Aldi where I get groceries and use my own cloth bags or used boxes they have that I turn into closet storage containers and under the sink storage.
a couple yrs ago I discovered Ecologic laundry detergent, which I believe is made of same shells you use (and they also sell them in small packs but Ive never had a chance to try) but recently they have changed the packaging from plastic bag in a recycled cardboard shell to a 100 per cent plastic bottle with a badly functioning dispenser and they added a thickener to the liquid which I find unnecessary and also gross (dry soap crust and things like that), so I had to look for better alternatives and just ordered 5l castile soap (30 eur), 5l bio D laundry liquid and yet to test it because Ive still leftovers of older products. pure castle soap though works perfectly for everything including my body or dishes. and its like 10 times cheaper than dr brenner which I believe is the glorified castle soap and also doesn't waste as much plastic as buying all those small bottles would.. We don't have unfortunately places where I could buy products in bulk which is very frustrating.
I think our washer's manual said to not use soap nuts. Do you think the castille soap would be ok? Anyone with experience? I'd like to "clean up" my laundry as it were.
That's odd. I think it'll be fine to use them within the pouch (as oppose to loose). Otherwise you can use castille soap, it'll be just like using any other liquid soap for the machine.
I found this in another manual (not sure my model number). I think it's saying to use HE detergents rather than a soap. I've read that soap nuts are low sudsing, but I think I might stick with an eco detergent for now. I wouldn't want to void my warranty, that thing was expensive! IMPORTANT: Your washing machine is designed for use with only High-Efficiency (HE) detergents. HE detergents are formulated specifically for front-load washers and contain suds-reducing agents. Always look for the HE symbol when purchasing detergent. HE detergents produce fewer suds, dissolve more efficiently to improve washing and rinsing performance, and help to keep the interior of your washer clean. Using a regular detergent may cau
Thank you for another great video! Sodium percarbonate will make all whites bright whites: I love it! I also use vinegar with a few drops of essential oils to make fabric softener.
Be careful about using soap for your laundry. Soap doesn't have the same surfactants that detergent has so it's not able to lift the dirt from your clothes. Instead it just costs your clothes with soap scum and the dirt. After a while your clothes will be really coated. You also can ruin your washing machine and your warranty on your machine will no longer be valid
Taylor Vierra I totally agree I tried using soap for months and it ruined all of our clothes and I had to strip down my washing machine and clean it all.
I read that in many articles too, here is one of them but it's not the only one, in fact I also read that in articles written by people who said they were washing machine maintenance people as well, who said they had to repair so many machines that broke because of soap scum by housewives who usually told them boastfully about their homemade laundry soap. www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/why-you-should-never-make-laundry-detergent/ I personally have been using homemade laundry soap for over 10 years now and personally I've never had any problems either with the clothes nor with the machine. But on the other hand I usually buy cheap machines and they usually break when the drum cracks open and not from soap scum haha. I also rinse with vinegar, perhaps the vinegar gets rid of soap scum? I dunno........ At any rate I will be trying soap nuts.
I use soap nuts exclusively for detergent but use a strong stain fighter for spot treatments and with whites, I add in some bleach to keep them white. I work out 2 hours a day and don't have an issue with cleaning the sweat. I will say the trick with the nuts is to not overfill the machine so the water can easily circulate.
I was so excited to find soapnuts after making my own laundry soap for several years. Then I built a laundry line and when I hung my clothes out to dry they stunk so bad. My husband convinced me to just buy regular laundry soap and try it out. And I did and I was shocked at how white my clothes were. I was pretty bummed that my natural stuff wasn't working as well as I had hoped. Any thoughts on that? Also where did you get your laundry basket? I love it!
I'd suggest soaking the soap nuts in hot water a couple of minutes before adding them to your laundry. It'll help them sud and wash your clothes better (I know I like to wash on a short and cool cycle to stay as eco-friendly as possible but the soap nuts work best in hot water). Alternatively you could try making your own washing powder!
I am using soap nuts but idk if it really cleans. I only wash my clothes in cold water function though so I do soak my soap nuts before using it. Idk if it is really cleaning my clothes. My clothes doesn't dry soft too and since I don't use softeners anymore, my clothes gets really staticky. So I started adding a bit of baking soda for more cleaning power, and then white vinegar with some drops of essential oil mixed together to help soften and clean as well which also reduces statices but they still get staticky. Even if I used wool dryer balls. Using all these defeats the purpose of minimalism which I'm trying to be so my life can be easier and eco at the same time. So frustrating, ugh.
I've heard that placing your soap nuts in hot water for a few minutes before adding them to a cooler wash really helps to lather them up with suds. I'm going to try this, too!
Sophie Ollis OMG you responded!! I've learned and borrowed so much ideas from you! Haha thanks! I'll do that and I'm gonna keep doing this til there's something better! I'm willing to experiment! I just don't want to and refuse to go back to commercial detergents and get more plastic stuff.
Un Identified I haven't used soap nuts (waiting for my other detergent to finish) but you can add vinegar in where your fabric softener goes and that helps keep them nice and soft. and wool dryer balls in the dryer helps with static. and cuts down the drying time
Sophie Ollis The wool balls are from an amazon seller who claimed they're from New Zealand, and that the sheep's welfare is their first priority so it was carefully harvested!
We use soap nuts and get along great with them. I was using ecover before but they have no longer got the vegan society stamp, they test on some sea insects which are considered fine by cruelty free but not vegan :(
I started using castile soap in the shower as body wash once, and after a couple of months, my exfoliating gloves (which I use every time I shower), had a sticky film on them that wouldn't wash off. (I wash them after every shower). I had to throw them out and buy new ones. I tried using it on my hair once, and it left a film on my hair. I would be scared to try washing my clothes with it.
Hey Sophie! I loved this video I've never heard of soapnuts seems like a really cool idea.. I was watching your older videos, and I had a question. How did you hang up your instax photos on your walls ?? Looks so cute and simple . Love it
When using soap nuts wouldn't you need to remove them before the rinse cycle? I used them for a few months and found our clothes became slightly oily feeling.
I just read the comments re price inflation of soap nuts in India causing them to buy the nasty chemical cleaners as they're cheaper.. haven't di e my own research as yet, but if it's true I won't be using them again. There are a couple of other options already available. Thanks for the vid though.
You can buy them here: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001DHVUTY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sophschoices-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B001DHVUTY&linkId=a37e966128df4e374e4fd6700558f2d0
I'm going to be a pain in the ass, but I'll ask... Soap nuts and castille soap comes in a bag/bottle. Is that still considered zero waste? Would it not be really zero-waste if it was bought in bulk? Thanks!
Not a pain in any region! The comments section is here to comment and ask questions. My soap nuts came in a cloth bag and for the castile soap I am still holding off on buying more until I find a place that refills it (I hear through the grapevine there will be a place in London that will soon).
That depends on the temperature you set. The warmer the water the more suds will appear. I use a cooler temp (30 degrees) to wash mine so I don't see suds. This is more eco-friendly. But if you'd like it to be more soapy you can pop them nuts in a bowl with some boiling water for about 3 minutes before you wash and this'll activate them to sud more :)
I go to India goa and local people can no longer use soap nuts as their to expensive to buy its so sad that the western world can Consume up all their natural resources
They will have to replace the bags, yes. It's a better option because it's a much larger container (think bulk-buying as opposed to buying lots of smaller items... much less waste). It is best, of course, to produce zero waste. Seeing as I already have the containers I will be refilling them over sending this plastic to landfill.
Recycling is a good place to start, but it also has it's downfalls. Plastic can never disappear, it only turns into micro-plastic. And it can only ever be recycled once. Refilling it simple, easy, much cheaper and nothing fancy.
How is this zero waste? Plastic bottles everywhere. Make your own laundry soap with Fels Naptha soap bar, washing soda and borax. These all come in paper or cardboard packaging, makes gallons at a time and cost almost nothing.
It's zero waste because I already had these bottles (bought by my partner) and I refill them at my local health food shop rather than sending them to landfill and repurchasing. Thanks for the tips, I'll look into Fels Naptha.
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Please guys, don't use soap nuts! They are from India where people used to wash their clothes with them for centuries. But since they got popular in the western countries they got really expensive in India so that locals can't afford them anymore. Instead they have to buy the cheaper chemical washing solutions. As they wash everything in river water that leads to water pollution. And their water already gets polluted by other stuff like leather production. So please try to see the bigger picture and just think of the waste that you produce in your home but what are the effects on others too.
Franny G I've heard of this too,good on you for spreading this
hallibea ho no..... Since soybeans and avocados became popular I've heard they are cutting down rain forests to plant them.......now soap nuts, when will we get a proper balance ? Not while we have the money people. Thank you for the info.
Josie Thornton
They cut down rain forest for numerous reasons. Mainly paper and livestock.
Depends on the country - in Polynesian countries it's for tropical crops like coconut, in South America it varies depending on climate and elevation (could be tree nuts, avocado, livestock, soybeans, quinoa, or just regular food for locals).
Franny G I've heard that chestnuts can be used in place of soap nuts in this kind of situation!
Being an Indian and someone who is using soapnuts to wash hair for almost 2decades soapnuts is a natural mild detergent used mainly for hair if your hair is too greasy it doesn't work and using it to wash clothes is not something I would advise cause it won't do the job properly you might aswell use the Bronner liquid only
I usually put sweaty gym clothes in a bucket with water & vinegar. after that I put them in my washing machine with the nuts. works great so far :)
Helena W. How long have you been doing it and how much do you use? I always wanted to try that (instead of using the anti-smell liquid stuff) but I'm afraid I might end up with baggy, faded clothing or stuff. Gym clothing is something I spend rather a lot of money on (the brand name stuff just lasts much longer) and I often have to leave the sweaty worn clothes in my bag for hours 😐
Rara Avis I've only been doing it for a few months and I have yet to put in the expensive gym clothes because I am afraid of baggy & faded ones, too! (but so far that hasn't happened at all!) I put the clothes in the vinegar/ water mix (1:4) for about half an hour. I wring it out and put it in the washing machine :) when I don't have time, I just spray the clothes with the mixture and wash them.
Rara Avis vinegar doesn't bleach, I was afraid of this too before I tried, and the vinegar actually makes soft clothes (I use it as softer sometimes).
Linda-Marie Hamrin May I ask how much vinegar you're using?
hum... I never meassure but about a tablespoon I think maybe a little less or more depending on how steady I am on the hand while adding it to the washingmachine :D
I pretty much live in the desert with very hard water. Vinegar has been my saviour! I also put a few drops of eucalyptus/lavender oil so it smells delightful. For sweaty gym clothes I hang them to air out before washing and the sun does the rest ☀️✨
misha wow, so u wash with vinager! How much you put? Let me know supper interested I love vinager
I use washing liquid as normal and on the final rinse cycle, 1 or 2 cups of white vinegar which acts as a fabric softener. Adding 1/2 C baking soda helps with towels too. this is for a front loader tho! :)
misha i do the same. White vinegar is the best! Works like a charm.
yes, love white vinegar!
where do you live? :)
For about 8 years I've used plain white vinegar instead of fabric softener. The home brand/no label is very cheap, it disinfects, whitens in the sun & makes clothes softer. Also any skin irritations the family had cleared up and I can no instantly tell the smell of chemicals and artificial perfumes when my friends give me clothes that have been washed with fabric softener & rashes come back within a day of wearing them. It really is much better for you & the environment (also my machine is heaps cleaner!)
Just don't use it with bleach (as it creates harmful fumes apparently) but I never use bleach anyway.
I mix together some baking soda and washing soda together with some lavender oil and that works really well for my clothes! I air dry my whites in the sun and I find that keeps them nice and bright.
how much of each do u use?
This is what I do too!
I use some eco balls, i've had for over a year now, they on average last around 3 depending on usage. for fabric softener i use white vinegar, which once dry it doesn't smell like vinegar, I'm not overly fussed on the smell! :) I find to keep my whites white and refreshed, i pop about half a cup to cup of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar and that works really well for me :)
Thanks for sharing! I'm going to have to try with white vinegar.
I make my own detergent out of washing soda, baking soda, Castile soap and tea tree oil
Wendy H can you please tell how much of each do you use per load? I really do appreciate this idea! Sounds very doable! Thank you in advance :D
i make my own too. vinegar is awesome to use as well!
My zero waste laundry is to use the soap nuts, a small squirt of Castile soap (if things smell a little funkyer than usual), a small dash of vinegar and about 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Might be a little overboard but I like my clothes to be extra clean lol 💕
its quite interesting to see more people caring about things like this! i was always jind of put off by wash nuts bc friends of my parents used to use these and their laundry always smelled kinda moldy and was really greyish but seeing this i miutght give them a go ! :D
i just found youre channel and your voice is so nice to listen to and its nice to see someone minimalistic who is not making a competition out of it
Thank you for your lovely comment :) I wonder what soap nuts your parent's friends used, I've never had a problem with them colouring my linens or making them smell anything other than clean. I would definitely suggest giving them a go.
Ariyl the mouldy smell has Nothing to do with the soap nuts. It's the machine that is dirty. Most of the time they used normal detergent before and never really got it clean. You can't smell it when you using normal detergent because of the perfumes. Sorry for my bad English. Hope it makes sense. Otherwise I'll have to refrain myself.
it does all make sense! i really dont remeber anymore bc that was years ago, but i will definitely five them a go :D
Ecover is no longer labelled as non animal cruelty testing. Ecozone is completely free of that and completely vegan
I used soapnuts for about a year and all our clothes were smelling mouldy, also they weren't very good at getting all the stains out of my children's clothes. I use an eco egg now, find it to be much better..
emma williams Same! I started using it yesterday and they smell amazing! Do you know what packaging the refills come in? I am just wandering if its going to be wrapped in plastic.
have used an eco egg for about 18months now and literally just refilled it this week! its so good. i don't even use softener anymore :D
they come in little plastic bags. i havent used any beyond the ones i got with it though and its been 18months
what are the eco egg pellets made from? and is the egg rubber or plastic?
music box the dark pellets are ceramic tourmaline and the light ones are described as mineral pellets however it's not clear exactly what that is. I'm sure when I read up on it the actual egg was made from rubber but I can't find that info online right now. Xx
Great video!! I also use soap nuts, they're great! I also use home made fabric conditioner: 2 cups water + 1 cup white vinegar + 15-20 drops essential oil (I use 15 drops lavender and sometimes add 5 drops peppermint). For dirty or stained clothes I use a few natural soap flakes dissolved is a little water to make a paste which I apply to the stain. That's all!
since i started my zero waste i have been using white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer , sometimes i use some essential oil as well
I am using thing which I call "washing slime". I put in the pot grated soup for washing (olive or castille is OK too I think), pour water and heat until the soup is dissloved. Then I add crystalline soda (no baking soda!) and some essential oils. From 175 g of soup and 150 g of soda you make 10 l of "washing slime". Maybe it is known in English speaking world in other words... I hope that my comment is understandable
I was wondering about soap nuts, thanks for the recommendation!
1/4 C of vinegar also works as fabric softener. You can add essential oils to sent it. It goes in you fabric softener dispenser.
I’ve heard of soaking a sponge and using it like a fabric sheet but haven’t done this.
Hi Sophie, Great video (again)! Have you tried using essential oils? With smelly clothes I put a few drops of lavender oil on my soapnut bag. It gives the laundry a nice smell and it kills bacteria that are responsible for the smell. Spraying it with vinegar before washing does the same thing. I love soapnuts! After they are used up I feed them to my plants, they are a great plant nutrition.
Thank you, Tess! I have tried using essential oils but find I can't smell them (even when adding 25+ drops!). I wonder why this could be... how do you add them?
Ow, that is strange.. I just put 4 to 5 drops on the bag of the soapnuts before I throw them in the machine. The scent isn't very strong I have to admit, but it's there. Hope it works for you!
Add the essential oils to the dryer. I put 3-5 drops on a dry clean rag and throw it in with the wet stuff. Everything comes out smelling noticeably like the scent
You can use a biodegradable baby shampoo for laundry, hair and body. Preferably a glass container that you can use for another purpose upon emptying. It’s very gentle on your fabrics. Cap full of vinegar for freshness and sanitation
I just bought the nuts to go into my backpack for a year of backpacking. Can't wait for them to arrive.
I lived out of a backpack for a year already and laundry powder/detergent is the hardest thing to find the fitting thing without paying a dollar every time to get one in a plastic sandwich bag. I hope these will change, at the moment, my backpacking life drastically into the better.
I only use Dr.Bronner for laundry!! I use the bar soap and grind it up and then add borax and washing soda. Works great, no soap nuts needed
I agree with only washing whites together, I also rinse the drum out if I’m doing whites straight after a dark or coloured wash.
My own DIY laundry soap works better than any of the market brands sold in the States, and it costs only 58 cents a gallon. It's 1/2 cup each of borax, washing soda, and oxygen bleach; dissolve the powders by shaking them up in a gallon jug of very hot water, then add 1/2 cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Shake a little before each use, as it will tend to settle for a while -- use 1/2 cup for top-loaders, 1/4 cup for front loaders. Gets my skivvies and linens clean and fresh smelling, and even removes marinara stains from my table linens! I'm 70 years old, and the kitchen linens my mother used when I was growing up are still snow white -- a bit threadbare perhaps, but nice and bright. For each load of whites, I'd recommend adding a scoop of oxygen bleach. For sweaty, smelly gym and gardening clothes, put a 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the rinse -- everything will smell very sweet.
Oh I have never heard of using dishwashing liquid before, thanks for the tip!
Hey u have better quality of life than all of us. U are using almost everything natural and have great concern for our mother earth. U are an amazing human being. Be like that always.
Thank you. It's super easy once you realise that each action you take has a reaction.
I use a magnetic ball and ULTRA POWER PLUS detergent from Norwex. It's 100% biodegradable. Absolutely NO phosphates, sulfates, chlorine/bleach, optical brightness, animal testing, dyes or fragrances. I absolutely love the Norwex values, and the cleaning without harsh chemicals it stands behind. I encourage anyone that hasn't heard of the company before to check it out.
To everyone who talks about using vinegar to soften clothes, I'm sure it works for most and normal people. I apparently have this rare condition that's called tactile hypersensitivity. I'm very very very very sensitive to the feel of things that touch my skin like clothes, I can't STAND being able to FEEL the clothes that I'm wearing. If I feel them it gives me the feeling like when you scratch a fingernail down a blackboard. One girl who is like me said she needed her clothes to feel like "liquid cotton" or she couldn't stand them. So vinegar so totally does NOT work for me as a fabric softener. Because it doesn't soften clothes enough. I NEED to use a huge amount of fabric softener and then I need to toss my clothes up in the air many times and crumple them up and shake them a lot. I have to do this until my clothes get so soft I can barely feel them and clothes that just can't be softened, like jeans, I can't wear. (I also use vinegar in the rinse as well, but I do that because it's good for the machine, but it doesn't soften clothes enough for me.) My kids don't suffer from this condition and vinegar is just fine for their clothes.
I currently use castile soap! I just love how easy it is even though Dr. Bronner's isn't completely zero waste. Also, I actually don't separate my whites into a different load, but I probably should :p such simple tip that seems to be very effective!
Yup, use vinegar as fabric softener. It doesn't smell like it, and softens your clothes, even when you don't tumble dry them.
I washed my laundry with soapy nuts several times a few years ago, and i found that it smelled like stinky feet...so i stick to organic liquid detergent now...
How bizarre!
I use an essential oil blend called Purification, or Tea Tree oil, just a few drops on the bag of soap nuts, when I put them in the wash. Works perfectly.
Great idea!
Many tears and years ago, I was heavily into white linen clothes primarily wearing only them. Keeping them free of stains and white was a total pill. I spent half of my time washing and ironing. Who has time for this? Fast forward 18 years and I now wear only black, navy blue, charcoal cotton knit and pima cotton knit clothes, pajamas, and even workout clothes. I have two white pima cotton tshirts that I rarely wear. I now wash my clothes on the delicate cycle with NO detergent and mostly hang dry except the pajamas and workout clothes. No ironing needed if hung immediately. I tried the soap nuts five years ago. NOT impressed. And, yes, my clothes come clean with NO soap because it is not like I am a two-year old rolling around in the mud. Plus, diet is related to bad body odor and thus stinky clothes. I avoid garlic and onion most of time except when eating out maybe once a month, which makes the body and clothes stink. I dry skin brush my skin, which, believe it or not, helps keep the clothes from being funky besides creating BEAUTIFUL glowing skin. I also am Vegan now for 40 years, which causes less body funk. I jump rope as my main cardio so I do sweat. However, I leave my sweaty bra and clothes hanging out until they dry and this cuts odor. I hand wash between laundry days my soft pima pjs and bras in the shower or sink and hang dry. Being detergent free is as liberating as when I gave up hair shampoo 10-15 years ago. I would rather be reading, outside, dancing, swimming, or anything other than washing and folding clothes! Keep clothes/stuff to a minimum and laundry will become NO big deal. I have ONE set of dark colored highend cotton bed sheets that I wash once a week in cold water and navy blue Boll and Branch knit blankets, which I wash and dry quickly and easily with zero detergents. Oversized bulky bed linen is cute in Instagram hash tag bed envy photos, but a pain to wash/dry and keep white. I mention highend clothes and highend bed linens because of quality over quantity. Cheap clothes do not hold up to repeated washings!
Thank you for commenting! It's true, what goes in does come out so if you have a clean diet you'll also have a clean smell!
Raw LawGirl really untrue. Sweating is genetic and has nothing to do with diet
Sweating is natural, but it's not sweat that smells, it's the bacteria and toxins that smell. And that is controlled by diet.
Sophie Ollis some people sweat a lot and some barely sweat at all. I know people with clean vegan diets with awful BO. It's all down to genetics
Emma I have to disagree, I been eating vegan for over a year now, and didn' t switch up anything else since then, I smell totally different, and especially my sweat stopped smelling really soure (still a little bit, but not so much anymore) and since I work as a nurse, I sweat a lot at work, I smell so different after a shift now, my husband also noticed it
I love using soapnuts for my laundry- when I need a bit of extra cleaning power I add a teaspoon of baking soda to the washing powder drawer orrrrr you can add a little bit of apple cider or white vinegar to things if they're a bit oily (I do this for cleaning rags and tea towels) :D
I also put my little bag of soapnuts in hot water for a few minutes first (like stewing a tea bag!) so it softens them and releases the soapiness. Means you can wash at a lower temperature with them and still get stuff clean 👍
What a fantastic tip! I'll definitely be trying this... thank you!
I use white vinegar as a fabric softner. Works really well and no smell.
I buy mine from a company in Australia that supports the poorer people of the countries that grow these trees. They support them for income for these poorer families! Buy them and use them with the knowledge they are helping people to buy food and housing!
I use soapnut too, but I always boiling them first to make them become soapy, I add baking soda in the washing machine, and for the softener I use white vinegar, I've been doing this about 4 months, and this method is doing just fine/great for me, because it's inexpensive too.
That's a great idea. I'm going to have to try the baking soda and vinegar, too.
Sophie Ollis actually I use baking soda for booster my detergent/soapnut (about 1/2 cup every load) and 1/2 cup white vinegar for every load, I hope it will work for you too.
Hi I tried soap nuts and agree they are good for regular washes but for muddy or sports cloths I use ecover. Very good product that I refill at planet organic. I no longer use fabric softer I use drying balls and don't think I miss the softer. Thanks for your videos.
That Castile soap can be really useful.
It's a great multi-purpose tool!
It’s awesome stuff. I use a tjx rewards MasterCard and get gift certificates to Marshall’s. I use those certificates to get my Castile soap for free 😀😀😀✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻 I have a $10 one in my purse now waiting to be used next time I’m in that area. Next to Aldi where I get groceries and use my own cloth bags or used boxes they have that I turn into closet storage containers and under the sink storage.
a couple yrs ago I discovered Ecologic laundry detergent, which I believe is made of same shells you use (and they also sell them in small packs but Ive never had a chance to try) but recently they have changed the packaging from plastic bag in a recycled cardboard shell to a 100 per cent plastic bottle with a badly functioning dispenser and they added a thickener to the liquid which I find unnecessary and also gross (dry soap crust and things like that), so I had to look for better alternatives and just ordered 5l castile soap (30 eur), 5l bio D laundry liquid and yet to test it because Ive still leftovers of older products. pure castle soap though works perfectly for everything including my body or dishes. and its like 10 times cheaper than dr brenner which I believe is the glorified castle soap and also doesn't waste as much plastic as buying all those small bottles would..
We don't have unfortunately places where I could buy products in bulk which is very frustrating.
Your channel is very helpful and I like the way you think! Thanks for sharing all your tips with us :)
I use soapnuts and um ...white vinegar (I think that is what it's called in English). I only use the vinegar sometimes, if clothes smell.
Oh, interesting. Do you use the vinegar as a conditioner / rinse cycle?
Sophie Ollis yes, I put it in the conditioner compartment in the machine.
I think our washer's manual said to not use soap nuts. Do you think the castille soap would be ok? Anyone with experience? I'd like to "clean up" my laundry as it were.
That's odd. I think it'll be fine to use them within the pouch (as oppose to loose). Otherwise you can use castille soap, it'll be just like using any other liquid soap for the machine.
I found this in another manual (not sure my model number). I think it's saying to use HE detergents rather than a soap. I've read that soap nuts are low sudsing, but I think I might stick with an eco detergent for now. I wouldn't want to void my warranty, that thing was expensive!
IMPORTANT: Your washing machine is
designed for use with only High-Efficiency
(HE) detergents. HE detergents are formulated
specifically for front-load washers and contain
suds-reducing agents. Always look for the HE
symbol when purchasing detergent.
HE detergents produce fewer suds, dissolve
more efficiently to improve washing and rinsing
performance, and help to keep the interior of your
washer clean.
Using a regular detergent may cau
If you have an HE washing machine, probably not. It's too sudsy.
u can grind these nuts nd mix with water then filter d remains and use,its a natural shampoo indians use
Thank you for another great video! Sodium percarbonate will make all whites bright whites: I love it!
I also use vinegar with a few drops of essential oils to make fabric softener.
i love my eco egg! i literally just re-filled it last week and I've had it for 18months!
For my yoga clothes I use the Dr. Bonners and vinegar. It works good. I was thinking about switching to the soap nuts so this was helpful.
Drying your clothing outside in the sun helps to whiten things too, which you do.
Be careful about using soap for your laundry. Soap doesn't have the same surfactants that detergent has so it's not able to lift the dirt from your clothes. Instead it just costs your clothes with soap scum and the dirt. After a while your clothes will be really coated. You also can ruin your washing machine and your warranty on your machine will no longer be valid
thank you. the soap idea is off
Taylor Vierra I totally agree I tried using soap for months and it ruined all of our clothes and I had to strip down my washing machine and clean it all.
nicole stewart what did u use to strip clothes?
I read that in many articles too, here is one of them but it's not the only one, in fact I also read that in articles written by people who said they were washing machine maintenance people as well, who said they had to repair so many machines that broke because of soap scum by housewives who usually told them boastfully about their homemade laundry soap.
www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/why-you-should-never-make-laundry-detergent/
I personally have been using homemade laundry soap for over 10 years now and personally I've never had any problems either with the clothes nor with the machine. But on the other hand I usually buy cheap machines and they usually break when the drum cracks open and not from soap scum haha. I also rinse with vinegar, perhaps the vinegar gets rid of soap scum? I dunno........ At any rate I will be trying soap nuts.
where is the little fabric pouch from, I love it. it looks like the menstrual cup pouch but plain.
I believe it came with the soap nuts, but I'm sure you can buy cotton pouches separately online, too.
You could use white vinegar to soften your clothing. A little goes a long way!
How did you find a place to refill your ecover product?
I use soap nuts exclusively for detergent but use a strong stain fighter for spot treatments and with whites, I add in some bleach to keep them white. I work out 2 hours a day and don't have an issue with cleaning the sweat. I will say the trick with the nuts is to not overfill the machine so the water can easily circulate.
I was so excited to find soapnuts after making my own laundry soap for several years. Then I built a laundry line and when I hung my clothes out to dry they stunk so bad. My husband convinced me to just buy regular laundry soap and try it out. And I did and I was shocked at how white my clothes were. I was pretty bummed that my natural stuff wasn't working as well as I had hoped. Any thoughts on that? Also where did you get your laundry basket? I love it!
I'd suggest soaking the soap nuts in hot water a couple of minutes before adding them to your laundry. It'll help them sud and wash your clothes better (I know I like to wash on a short and cool cycle to stay as eco-friendly as possible but the soap nuts work best in hot water). Alternatively you could try making your own washing powder!
I am using soap nuts but idk if it really cleans. I only wash my clothes in cold water function though so I do soak my soap nuts before using it. Idk if it is really cleaning my clothes. My clothes doesn't dry soft too and since I don't use softeners anymore, my clothes gets really staticky. So I started adding a bit of baking soda for more cleaning power, and then white vinegar with some drops of essential oil mixed together to help soften and clean as well which also reduces statices but they still get staticky. Even if I used wool dryer balls. Using all these defeats the purpose of minimalism which I'm trying to be so my life can be easier and eco at the same time. So frustrating, ugh.
I've heard that placing your soap nuts in hot water for a few minutes before adding them to a cooler wash really helps to lather them up with suds. I'm going to try this, too!
Sophie Ollis OMG you responded!! I've learned and borrowed so much ideas from you! Haha thanks! I'll do that and I'm gonna keep doing this til there's something better! I'm willing to experiment! I just don't want to and refuse to go back to commercial detergents and get more plastic stuff.
Un Identified I haven't used soap nuts (waiting for my other detergent to finish) but you can add vinegar in where your fabric softener goes and that helps keep them nice and soft. and wool dryer balls in the dryer helps with static. and cuts down the drying time
I'm definitely going to try the vinegar! I won't be using the wool dryer balls... I'm vegan and cruelty-free.
Sophie Ollis The wool balls are from an amazon seller who claimed they're from New Zealand, and that the sheep's welfare is their first priority so it was carefully harvested!
We use soap nuts and get along great with them. I was using ecover before but they have no longer got the vegan society stamp, they test on some sea insects which are considered fine by cruelty free but not vegan :(
Oh wow, thank you for letting me know! I wasn't aware of that :(
I tried the soap nuts for washing dishes, I wasn't keen. I will try them again in the washing machine.
Where do you get your Ecover liquid filled up? I use Ecover too and would like to get it topped up!
I started using castile soap in the shower as body wash once, and after a couple of months, my exfoliating gloves (which I use every time I shower), had a sticky film on them that wouldn't wash off. (I wash them after every shower). I had to throw them out and buy new ones. I tried using it on my hair once, and it left a film on my hair. I would be scared to try washing my clothes with it.
An eco egg is also a good alternative for washing :)
I absolutely love your channel. well done!
If she drys her clothes in the sun then that is how they stay so white
Hey Sophie! I loved this video I've never heard of soapnuts seems like a really cool idea.. I was watching your older videos, and I had a question. How did you hang up your instax photos on your walls ?? Looks so cute and simple . Love it
With a bit of masking tape :)
When using soap nuts wouldn't you need to remove them before the rinse cycle? I used them for a few months and found our clothes became slightly oily feeling.
i now use the ecover in powder!
I love your laundry basket! Where did you get it?
Oooh, I don't remember! I believe it was from a local boutique in London.
I use to use soap nuts but like you I wanted more to clean my clothes but to come and the no about it, this could be good for baby clothes maybe
Hey I was wondering where can I get the laundry bag or a similar one as yours? (0:46)
Thank you
Have you been exercising? You looked like you are glowing and sharper face
Thank you! I practice yoga and enjoy walking through my local parks.
That's a very sweet laundry bag, where did you find it? :D
Do you have an he machine? Does the Castile soap mess it up?
I just read the comments re price inflation of soap nuts in India causing them to buy the nasty chemical cleaners as they're cheaper.. haven't di e my own research as yet, but if it's true I won't be using them again. There are a couple of other options already available. Thanks for the vid though.
Where do you get soap nuts? I don't think I've ever heard of or seen them before.
You can buy them here: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001DHVUTY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sophschoices-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B001DHVUTY&linkId=a37e966128df4e374e4fd6700558f2d0
Great thank you! I'll totally try them
I'm going to be a pain in the ass, but I'll ask... Soap nuts and castille soap comes in a bag/bottle. Is that still considered zero waste? Would it not be really zero-waste if it was bought in bulk? Thanks!
Not a pain in any region! The comments section is here to comment and ask questions. My soap nuts came in a cloth bag and for the castile soap I am still holding off on buying more until I find a place that refills it (I hear through the grapevine there will be a place in London that will soon).
Thanks for the info! :D
Small question. I also started to use soap nuts but is it right that you don't see any soap during the washing process?? Thanks.
That depends on the temperature you set. The warmer the water the more suds will appear. I use a cooler temp (30 degrees) to wash mine so I don't see suds. This is more eco-friendly. But if you'd like it to be more soapy you can pop them nuts in a bowl with some boiling water for about 3 minutes before you wash and this'll activate them to sud more :)
Can you please do a video on how to use soap nut?
Thank you
Where would you get soap nuts in bulk might I ask?
do you put castille soap in the washing machine tray or drum?
Tray so it’s evenly dispersed.
Your whites probably look bright white from the sun. I hang my clothes too, and they get sun bleached. so they're never dingy.
I rarely hang them outside (only on the odd occasion it's warm and dry enough - maybe a handful of times ever).
I go to India goa and local people can no longer use soap nuts as their to expensive to buy its so sad that the western world can Consume up all their natural resources
How is plastic zero waste? Real question
Thanks for the vids, got to know that there's soap nut..
I don't get refillable bottle because don't they have to replace the bottles in the store?
They will have to replace the bags, yes. It's a better option because it's a much larger container (think bulk-buying as opposed to buying lots of smaller items... much less waste). It is best, of course, to produce zero waste. Seeing as I already have the containers I will be refilling them over sending this plastic to landfill.
hi anything special w your drying option?
Great video!!!
But I heard soap nuts need hot water to clean properly. Isn't that a waste of power?
You can simply soak them in a little hot water before you add them to the washing machine.
Didn't know I could do that, thanks :)
Why can’t you just use regular detergent and recycle the bottle when it’s empty?? Zero waste and nothing fancy.
Recycling is a good place to start, but it also has it's downfalls. Plastic can never disappear, it only turns into micro-plastic. And it can only ever be recycled once. Refilling it simple, easy, much cheaper and nothing fancy.
Hey! Where is your laundry bag from? Thanks!
I don't remember... I think it was from a local boutique!
The Nuts have to travel so far, So maybe it is worth trying chestnuts.
fyi dr bronner's brand castile soap has palm oil :(
Oh no! I didn't know that. Thank you for letting me know.
i haven't found liquid castile soap without palm oil, but there are brands with solid bars without it, like kirk's brand.
The amount of times you said “umm” tho
Yeah, it’s a thing.
So she can't use. Toilet paper
You are beautiful and lovely
do the soap nuts work in cold water?
They don't lather up as much but you can always add them to a little hot water before throwing them in the wash to get them soapy.
🖐🏼🙃
Two teaspoons equals a tablespoon..😅
3 teaspoons equals a tablespoon.
+Judy Spencer Thank you, Judy, I was confused there for a moment, and was going to look it up. I'd always thought 3t=1T.
I realised that after I said it... I meant heaped for the tablespoon!
How is this zero waste? Plastic bottles everywhere.
Make your own laundry soap with Fels Naptha soap bar, washing soda and borax. These all come in paper or cardboard packaging, makes gallons at a time and cost almost nothing.
It's zero waste because I already had these bottles (bought by my partner) and I refill them at my local health food shop rather than sending them to landfill and repurchasing. Thanks for the tips, I'll look into Fels Naptha.
the “um”s are very distracting.