Say nuts to soap?
LONDON - Have you heard of soap nuts? The natural alternative to detergents? We decided to put them to the test.
Honestly, the last thing that comes to mind when you see the little brown pellets is soap. They grow on the branches of the tropical sapindus shrub. But, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they’ve been squeezed direct from the buttocks of jungle beasts.
Putting a half-dozen of the soap nuts into their little bag (the soap scrotum?) we set up the first challenge – a standard light load of washing at 30 degrees.
Trial One: First soapy steps
The clothes looked okay. Well, no hideous ketchup smears or the like.
It was just…the smell.
It wasn’t repugnant. However, it didn’t bode well when my sister asked me, with a serious face, “Paul. How often do you shower?”
My excuse of using dried seeds as detergent fell on sceptical ears.
Maybe we’re just accustomed to the smell that detergents make? In the same way that when people simper about the “baby smell” what they’re actually smelling is a combo of talc, moisturiser and – let’s face it – milky vomit.
Nonetheless, I’d rather not wander around smelling faintly of garden sheds and grandma cupboards.
Early results, then, were mixed. Yet, on re-reading the instructions, it does suggest using essential oils for a nicer aroma.
Trial Two: The Muddening
It was only fair to give them another shot, with oils. Plus, odour aside, they did show some promise. It was time for a tougher test.
So, I headed out for a friendly (read: viciously and unnecessarily competitive) game of touch rugby. By the end I looked like I had been hewn from clay.
This time, we added a glug of lavender oil to the mix.
Smell – much better. No more embarrassing musk. The only problem was that my shorts were still pretty…tacky.
Snooping around the internet, it seems that many people suggest washing at a minimum of 40-50 degrees to get rid of proper stains. (Which to some extent counteracts the eco-benefits of the nuts in the first place!)
Would I recommend them?
Tentatively, yes.
I mean, they’re good karma and all that. Harvested ethically (or so I’m told), non-polluting, and really pretty cheap (something like 3p a wash).
Just make sure you add a dose of fragrant oils and don’t expect them to beat the living hell out of your oil-stained bike clothes at 30 degrees.
I’m off to do laundry experiments with the dung of jungle animals. Will report back with findings.
Photo by: Mouse
