Does anyone use soap nuts?

[lazarou]

I have ordered some. Do they actually work and do they make your washing smell funny?

Just put in a load of school stuff, the rugby gear was muddy, the sweatshirts various bits of food down them, and the underwear, well, smelly and its come out clean, and clean-smelling (30deg quick wash, very good machine)

How do the soap nuts know not to wash more in the rinse cycle? Are they psychic, or do they only go soapy in warm water?

They are good. Not so great for whites for which I use Ecover.

What could I put in instead of fabric softener?

lol @ Psychic Nuts

Not psychic, just very intelligent

Use dryer balls instead of fabric softenener

have found they work great and everything comes out soft anyway, no need for a fabric softener substitute. We have been using them for about 4 months. Like the fact they smell of nothing at all and don't give me a rash. The same six nuts tends to last about 3 washes until they go soft and need replacing. Not had any problems with them not getting whites clean but we live in a very soft water area anyway so there is less crud in the water for them to have to combat.

The water is really hard here. Do I need extra nuts?

a couple extra-like 8 at a go. Hard water impedes the detergent somehow, its the same with any detergent or soap.

ok, thanks

I got my first 500g order today, and there's a washing on as I type.... There's Lavender essential oil splashed in the conditioner drawer and it smells great! Can't wait to try some other essential oils. I have found that the lavender smell is nice and subtle, from the washes I have done from my free sample pack....

I have my Ecover laundry bleach bought for doing teenage ds white school polos and sports socks, but we don't have much else white.

The only problem I have is that when I told my Health Food Shop lady I had Soap Nuts coming (when I bought the bleach) she seemed a bit wary of them and refused to tell me what her reservations were.

As I haven't found anyone else bad mouthing them, apart from their poor reputation for whites, I wonder what her problem with them is......

TBH, normal washing powder didn't cope with my whites either.

I will probably keep a box of Lidl's phosphate free washing powder in standby in case of troublesome stains