| Personal Care Corner | |
Try Out Maggie’s Soap Nuts
by Jamie Stolp, Wellness Lead, from the June 2007 newsletter
Strange as it may seem, Maggie’s Soap Nuts really work. Our newest alternative laundry detergent, soap nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry Tree. They contain saponin, a natural cleaner, and have been used for centuries to clean clothes. Soap nuts fall off the tree and are then gathered for sale by local workers in the jungles of Indonesia.
If you wash your clothes in hot water, place two soap nuts in the muslin bag provided. If you prefer to wash in cold water, or have especially dirty laundry, use four soap nuts. Soap nuts used for cold-water washes can be reused up to four times. In any case, be sure to not overfill your washing machine and leave plenty of room for your clothes to agitate in the washer. Don’t worry about taking the soap nuts out of your washing machine during the rinse cycle. They will condition your laundry, no need for a fabric softener. Soap nuts leave your clothes with a clean, neutral smell. Add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender or neroli, to your wash if you prefer fragrance.
When I washed my clothes with soap nuts, the first thing I noticed was how soft everything came out. For this reason, they are great for sheets and towels. Soap nuts are also great for anything you want to hand wash. Not only are they safe for silks or wool, because soap nuts are hypoallergenic, they are gentle on your hands.
Jamie Stolp has been working at the Co-op for approximately four years and has been the Wellness Lead since February.
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