Those who use soapnuts.....

coasterqueen wrote: do you use the nuts or do you use the liquid? I was looking online at one site and for $7.99 you can get an 8 oz. bottle of the liquid to do 25+ loads. Then there is a 32 ounce bag of the actual nuts that does 60 loads for $33.95. Isn't it cheaper and you would get more loads by getting the liquid? I'm trying to figure out which to buy. I have a septic tank so we use liquid now.

ETA: It would be cheaper to buy 4 bottles of the 8 ounce = $31.96 which would get you 100 loads or $33.95 for the 32 ounce bag for 60 loads.

holley79 replied: Do they clean as well as regular detergent and do they have a scent?

PrairieMom replied: they don't have a scent, and I believe they work better than the regular detergent.
I am def. Not an expert, I bought a sample size online and used that, and really liked it. My clothes felt clean, and softer. I don't use softener, and hang my clothes to dry.
I just bought my very first box of soapnuts yesterday. I read that they are good for up to 3 loads, but mine held up longer than that. like 4-5 loads. Personally I would stick with the nuts themselves, you can always make your own liquid out of them.
BTW: I didn't know, but the fabric bag you are supposed to use with them comes in the box , and mine was labeled that it had a free gift inside, it was a pair of soapnut earings, which are acutally pretty cute, and i am wearing right now. they look like little black beads.

grapfruit replied: What are soapnuts?

PrairieMom replied: This is a site for them.

http://www.thegreatergreen.com/naturalclea...CFRIhxgodtGNlTQ

holley79 replied: So you just put them in a little mesh bag then use them in the washer? Do they dissolve and that's how you know you add more?

PrairieMom replied:
they get kinda whiteish and squishy then you throw them into your compost and get more.

holley79 replied:
Ok I just totally emailed dh the link and told him to order me some. No matter what detergent I use it irritates me skin, maybe this will be my newest love.

PrairieMom replied:
I hope you like them. Its worth a try anyway. I am glad they offer a sample size I didn't want to spend all that $ on something I was going to hate.

I went to our food coop this morning and the hippy lady behind the counter asked me about them. She said she was scared to try them too.

julesmom replied: I just got the sample in the mail and did 2 loads of wash with them today.
How do you know they are working? I put 3 in the bag and there were no suds or bubbles like you get with detergent.

Also, how many do you suggest to use at one time? The directions says a "handful", but only 5 came in the sample, so I put 3 in the bag for a load. That leaves me with 2 but those 2 look bigger then the other ones, I hope 2 in the bag will work.

PrairieMom replied:
I put 3 in a bag, and they lasted me about 4 loads I guess.
they aren't supposed to sud, apparently you don't even need to use the rinse cycle so you can conserve water. I always rinse anyway.
My clothes look clean afterwards, so I assume they are working.

moped replied: OR just a thought but I use Norwex www.norwex.com

I get 160 loads - if you have a front load for $22

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I didn't pay anywhere near $30 for a bag that does 60 loads.

Like Tara, I use each bag more than three times. I haven't bought laundry det or softener in what seems like forever now. I love the soapnuts and will never go back to using detergent.

Oh and I haven't tried to reduce them to liquid yet.

luvmykids replied: The link Tara posted has a 200 load bag for $31.49 right now, Karen.

eta: I finally ordered a sample of the soapnuts, and I'm thinking about buying the Aubrey Organics cleaner....it's under $7 and makes 64 spray bottles I figure even if I don't like it, it's cheap enough to give it a shot. I'll be honest though, it's the scent that makes me want to try it