I’ll be the first to admit it: I didn’t think that throwing a stinky sack of dried brown things into my laundry in lieu of my regular detergent was a very good idea. Even with the essential oils I liberally dribbled on top to add a fresher scent.
I read all the literature that came with these soapnuts. I knew that these berries grew naturally in India and Indonesia, and their dried shells contained saponin, a natural detergent. I also appreciated that they’ve helped people with sensitive skin conditions like eczema, something every member of my family happens to have. But they really had a strange aroma, sort of an unhappy marriage of vinegar and peppermint. (Then again, plenty of people clean windows with vinegar, and peppermint is yummy on its own, so I got over it.)
Then of course, I did a load, and then another, and then another. I used the same sack of soapnuts each time. Hmmm, this is economical for a totally organic product, I realized. This is probably much better for the environment, too. If I actually had a compost heap, I could throw the used soapnuts on top, I reasoned. Everything came out completely clean. And after the dryer, I gave them a sniff test. NO smell, just the faintest whiff of those essential oils. For real.
A few days later after sleeping on her soapnut-washed crib sheet, I looked at my baby girl, and the tiny, perpetual patch of eczema she’d had beneath her left eye was gone. It could be a total coincidence, I know. But I was impressed.
(Amusingly enough the folks at Laundry Tree put a sample size in their packaging, so you can pass soapnuts on to a friend. They know the notion of all-natural laundry might take a little coaxing, but it’s a fun experiment, and you just might decide, as I did, that it’s a great idea.)
Would you brave a temporary stink for an eco-friendly, skin-loving, clothes-freshening wash? Tell us!
