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When I started researching the use of soapnuts, I arranged the water outlet of my machine to fill 3 gallon buckets. Just to check how much a cycle used and to see what came out. The final rinse water was still a murky grey! No wonder whites would gradually lose their "whiteness" and colours fade. The inside works of the machine (the sump, pipes, pump etc) were coated in a soapy grey sludge that had accumulated through years of detergent use. There is still so much in the machine, and coating your clothes, that plain water will still produce suds and you can do a few washes without any detergent.

Commercial detergents contain phosphates, enzymes, bleach and whatever else. You expect a good clean wash - not always the case though and you pay an awful lot of money for it. With soapnuts we have a few little half shells from a tree that contains nothing but saponin, a natural soap, nothing else added.

Going Eco friendly generally requires extra costs, but, in the case of soapnuts, as I have already hopefully demonstrated (How to Use Them) they already give remarkable savings in costs compared to conventional detergent / fabric softeners.

After a few washes with just soapnuts the machine will start to clean itself of accumulated sludge. Colours will start to look brighter as your washing begins to lose its coating of enzymes, "optical whiteners" etc.

You don't have to take my word for it :-

 nick,
 I tried them today and they have left my laundry so soft and 
 fresh smelling,wonderful!  
 many thanks 
 p.s.they have also cleaned the washing machine and saved me 
 from purchasing a new one!
 My washing was emerging with grey sludge spots which is now cured,
 Again many thanks. (Mrs Andrews - Harpenden.

From Wikipedia :-
"Optical brighteners used in laundry detergents do not readily biodegrade. They bind irreversibly to the skin. They are toxic to fish when washed into the general environment and can create bacterial mutations. They can cause allergic reaction when in contact with skin that is then exposed to sunlight. Most optical brighteners are given trade names which consumers are unlikely to see on a label.........."
Hmmm Nice!

How about Fabric Softeners? Just gives your towels a nice smell?
Not according to this site - http://www.ourlittleplace.com/notice.html

People are discovering that fabric softeners are some of the most toxic products made for daily household use- chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane - that are known to cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain, and nerves. These chemicals are even more dangerous when heated in clothes dryers. Fabric softener chemicals are made to stay in clothes fibers and slowly release for a very long time. That slow release of chemicals into the air affects the health of those wearing the clothes and of people around them.
Most fabric softeners have fragrance added to them, which makes them even more toxic."

Now I don't know if these people have "an Axe to Grind" or where they get their information, but similar information is available.

Here's an article kindly supplied by http://www.soapnuts.ca

How Toxic is Your Average Laundry Detergent?

Most things environmentally friendly do sometimes require - if it is completely natural - a certain degree of extra help. Pure whites, as they start to lose this artificial mask, may need an occasional boost.

Sodium Carbonate A.K.A Washing Soda / Soda Ash.
Combines with hard water magnesium and calcium ions and prevent them combining with the detergent. Water softener and degreaser.
http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/sodium_carbonate.html

Sodium Percarbonate A.K.A Sodium Carbonate Peroxide
Breaks down in warm water to Sodium Carbonate and Hydrogen Peroxide.
http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/sodium_carbonate_peroxide.html

These are the active ingredients in the "Oxy" bleach / boosters.

The ingredients of these products should be available from a website printed on the tub.

ASTONISH                             Whites Booster        Oxy Plus Stain Remover
Sodium peroxyhydrate               15-30%                                >30%
Sodium Carbonate                         5-15%                                >30%
Citric Acid                                            <5%                                     ?
Alpha-amylase                                   <5%                                      ?

http://www.alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/oxybleach.html

A 1 Kg bag of Washing Soda is about £1. So you can afford to be generous. To soften the water and protect your machine if nothing else.

Only you can determine how much to use (if any!) as you know your water hardness and type of washing. Experiment, its good for you!

N.B. We are in contact with commercial suppliers of chemical compounds with a view to having produced our "own label" products.
Keep looking back for further news.

More uses for Washing Soda:-
http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/cleaningtasks/laundry.html

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