Why I Don’t Make Laundry Detergent
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Homemade Laundry Detergent. It's one of those things that almost every crunchy mama makes, right?
Well, not this one.
You know by now that I get a real kick out of MYO (Make Your Own) projects, right?
My husband says I get this little mischievous smile on my face when I figure out a way to make something that we've been buying (or not buying because it is just way too expensive :-)), or even when I just think I'll be able to do so.
I really feel like I am beating the system or something.
Kind of like winning a mini lottery!
Making your own products can be a big help when you are trying to reduce toxins in your life.
Today I am going to tell you one thing that I do not make – and that is homemade laundry detergent.
Here's why.
Years ago (too many. I'd really rather not think about it :-)) when we lived in the Chicago area, we were living on very little money (ummm..like $13,000 per year). Let's just say that $13,000 a year doesn't go very far in Chicago :-)!
My oldest was born and I was forced to leave my job.
Well, really I chose to. My boss reneged on a work-at-home offer and so I quit, not wanting to leave my son with anyone else.
So saving money was a really big deal to me. Really big.
I was buying the loss leaders at the grocery store (we got a lot of funny looks and stares with our grocery cart full of 10 cent oranges or 10 cent yogurts :-)), buying nothing new, and we even lived with my inlaws for 2 years.
Anyway, I had a friend who made her own homemade laundry detergent and for some reason, it really mystified me.
I have no idea why, but there are sometimes projects that stump me for awhile.
I feel like I just can't get myself to do them for some reason.
Other things like that have been :
– making bread (I ended up with the most amazing whole wheat bread recipe – in our pre-gluten free days)
– making candy (I finally ended up learning how to make lollipops in our pre-sugar-free days)
– making lip balm or deodorant (this is coming soon!)
Laundry detergent was one of them. I would just buy an allergy-free brand at a local store and make it last as best I could.
Well, fast forward about 8 years to our home in Michigan.
I finally got up the gumption to make my own homemade laundry detergent.
I bought myself some Pure Kirk's Castille Soap (because those recipes featuring Fels Naptha just wouldn't cut it for this all natural gal. That soap has colors and chemicals and a pretty intense artificial fragrance that really throws me for a loop. Ick.
I grated that soap (I think my grater is permanently soap flavored now), heated it all up in my now soap-flavored calphalon pot (:-().
And used it.
And hubby wasn't happy.
Maybe it was the lack of fragrance, but he really wasn't happy with what was going on with his t-shirts.
And I didn't like making the soap. I got pretty depressed when I saw the bucket was almost empty.
So I tried something new that I am going to introduce to you today – soap nuts!!
What? Nuts that make soap?
Yes. Really. And they work (i.e. no more complaints from hubby). Actually, it's the hulls that make the soap. Pretty neat eh?
And it's more than just interesting, it's good for your wallet.
First, let's talk about what soap nuts are and how to use soap nuts.
What are Soap Nuts?
From Naturoli's website:
soap nuts are the dried shells (or husks) from the soapberry (or soap berry nut). These berries are the fruit from a quite unique tree species. These shells contain a substance called saponin that produces a soaping effect. Saponin is a 100% natural alternative to chemical laundry detergent and cleansers. It can replace many chemical detergents such as those containing sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) that are becoming well known by consumers for being a skin irritant and health hazard.
NOTE: Soap nuts are not nuts – they are fruit. So even if you have an allergy to nuts, soap nuts should be just fine for you :).
Why I Love Soap Nuts
1. They are all natural – no chemicals going on my clothes, on my family's skin, or into our environment.
2. They are very reasonable. Just pennies per load, especially if you buy the larger bulk sizes.
3. They are super easy to use! And my pots and graters don't end up tasting like soap!
4. The resulting used-up soap nuts are compostable :-)!
5. Soap nuts leave no smell. I mean, I like nice smelling things, but this way, all you get is clean.
How to Use Soap Nuts
Yes, it's pretty weird using nuts in your laundry. But they are really easy to use and no, you won't end up with nut butter in your laundry :)!
1. Put 4-5 soap nuts in a small muslin bag (you buy some of these with your soap nuts).
2. Put a large clip on the bag (this is my handy dandy idea – keeps that soap nuts bag closed tight and keeps it from getting lost in the wash.) I LOVE the large Twixit Clips for this purpose. See below for more info on these great clips!
3. Toss in the washing machine before your clothes go in.
4. Remove from laundry after washing (Naturoli tells me it's really OK to dry them if you miss this step!)
5. Re-use 3-5 times. Well, truth is I use mine about 6. Cheapskate frugal mama! Told you I like to save money.
6. The above directions are for a warm or hot water wash. If you are going to wash in cold water, soak the soapnuts in a cup of hot water (from the tap is OK – thanks for the tip, Katie of Kitchen Stewardship…Silly me – I've been heating water in a pan. But then, especially in the winter it can take awhile for our water to heat up) for about 3-8 minutes prior to use to activate the saponin.
Below is a handy dandy photo of my tiny bag of soap nuts secured with the Handy Twixit Clip and my “heavy duty” plastic container that I use:
More Tips on How to Use Soap Nuts:
1. The biggest tip in my mind is using the Twixit Clip on the bag. Otherwise, I can only imagine how many lost soap nuts bags I'd still be looking for (they're not very big!) You can use the Twixit Clips for so many other things around the house that it's great to buy the whole set even if you're only using one for your Soap Nuts bag. You can see more ways I use them in my posts on How to Store Nuts and Seeds, The Easiest Way to Freeze and Store Berries, and Easiest Sun-Dried Tomatoes. No more pesky twist ties!!
2. I use about 6 soap nuts because I have a front loader and it washes a bigger load.
3. Use a heavy duty container for pre-soaking your soap nuts if you are using cold water for washing. I once decimated a plastic container since it couldn't stand up to the hot water :-(.
4. After loading the soap nuts into the washing machine, I set the plastic container on top of the washer. Then when the load is done I just find the little bag (with the help of that big clip) and drop it in the container, all ready for the next wash.
5. When it's time to pre-soak the nuts, I just fill up the container with water, drop it in a saucepan, heat it up and pour it back into the container. Wait a few minutes and run it down to the laundry machine.
6. You can tell the soap nuts are done when they look grayish and are falling apart. Sometimes this frugal mom tries to get just one more load out of them though :-)!
7. Thanks to a reader asking….soap nuts can be used in HE machines.
Why I Use Naturoli's Soap Nuts
There are a bunch of soap nuts companies out there. I spent a bunch of time researching them (what else is new???) and found that though other brands are cheaper, they may not be real soap nuts. They may not clean as well and they are sometimes not deseeded, meaning that they weigh more.
That means you are paying for the seeds as well which do not do the cleaning. For me, I chose to purchase these since they appeared to be of great value and I have been pleased with them.
Another Homemade Laundry Detergent Alternative
If you are giving up on making your own homemade laundry detergent (like me) and you would like another option besides soap nuts, then here are some other options.
We are using Ava Anderson's Laundry Pods and are very pleased with them. They are super convenient (just toss one in the back of your front loader) and do a great job.
Update 1/16: I left Ava Anderson due to many labeling issues and wrong / missing ingredients in products. I've been on the hunt for a new laundry product and I LOVE this laundry ball!
Super easy to use and it lasts for 365 washes!
Other DIY Household Products
So….I don't make homemade laundry detergent, but I do make…….
Homemade Foaming Soap
Amazing No Streak Glass Cleaner
Simple Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid
Plastic Wrap Substitute (well, not really :))
Update on Soap Nuts–aka Can You Have a Soap Nut Allergy?
So, I feel kind of funny adding this BUT–years after writing this post, 2 of us in the family had reactions to soap nuts.
Online it seems that a soap nut allergy is really rare and even some soap nut companies seem to say that it's not possible, but we definitely had reactions. It might have been something on the soap nuts, but I could never figure out what that was, so we just chose to avoid them after that.
So I went on a hunt for a good natural homemade laundry detergent formula again and found it. I also also developed this DIY Baby Laundry Detergent that's great for sensitive skin needs too.
Whatever you prefer–Homemade Detergent or Soap Nuts or store-bought, please just do your best to avoid the toxins!
Have you ever used Soap Nuts?
wow. this is probably the grossest thing i have read. i am frugal, cheap, and happy to admit it. but YUCK~!
Washed clothing not only lasts longer, but for heavens sake.. its the way we present our selves tot he world.
yuck yuck yuck. my opinion got a little more annoyed after reading the “vaccine alternative” absolute bull crap ……. i feel sorry for your family. they must smell something fierce. YIKES
Kim, I am puzzled by your comment. You think that soap nuts are gross? I am not saying anything about now washing clothes. You put the soap nuts in the washer and wash the clothes with them. And may I ask what the “vaccine alternative bull” is? There is a ton of information about vaccines being harmful and I am certainly not being ignorant about how they can be of benefit.
Temple Grandin, the most famous autistic in the world, says that no studies on vaccines and autism have been done correctly. I personally don’t think they are the entire cause of autism but that they are one issue involved.
I wonder if you are perhaps not reading my posts correctly. And no–we don’t smell something fierce. I am happy to entertain critical comments, but I would appreciate diverging viewpoints being shared in a constructive manner–not with insults. Thank you in advance.
How do you deal with stains? (oil, juice, tomato sauce, etc.)
I have a diy recipe but I need to find it – :).
Was wondering when camping & short of water whether clothes would have to be rinsed after using soap nuts if so little residue.
Thanks for all your info.
I used soap nuts for a while and really, really, really wanted to like them. But, in my house full of little kids, there are lots of little stains that get by me. I catch the big ones with stain remover, but I miss lots of little ones. And the soap nuts don’t get those out. 🙁 I finally switched back to regular allergy-free detergent, just b/c I was tired of stained clothes! If someone has figured out a way around this, I’d love to hear! I still have a box or two of soap nuts in my bathroom!
I had a recipe for stain remover but I need to find it again! So the allergy free detergent gets the out?
Have you ever tried the Caldrea products? Someone mentioned them to me but they all have fragrance and I have very sensitive skin. Any thoughts?
If it has fragrance that’s a big no no for me.
My experience with soapnuts has been so-so so far. I think they are ok for clothes that are not really badly soiled or greasy. They do not remove stains and do not whiten so periodically I am using bleach/dishwashing detergent mixture to soak whites (I wish there was a more natural way to do that…)
I tried making a liquid soap from the “nuts”, which I was able to do, but it grew mold. Any ideas how to keep it from molding would be appreciated. My goal was to be able to add essential oils for fragrance. (they say you can use the liquid for shampoo and body soap).
One question: how do you keep track of how many loads you have washed with a batch of nuts?
My nuts from Naturoli came with a nice little muslin drawstring bag that does not come open in the wash. Actually it is difficult to open when I need to replace the soapnuts. (not complaining, I am happy about this!)
Thanks!!
I don’t care for the non whitening of any of the DIY detergents. Do you wash your whites separately?
I do know that I like the nuts better than the diy detergent that I was using.
Are you making a lot of the liquid? Maybe just make less and you need to make sure you are using filtered water I would think.
With the nuts I have a little piece of paper in my cabinet (you could put it wherever–by the laundry too) where I keep a tally of how many times I’ve used them. Once I hit 6, they go in the compost.
The soap nuts I sell are the same as Naturoli if you ever need more :).
Those of you looking for a dish soap and/or dishwasher soap can find them @ the hippy homemaker.
When using soapnuts in front loader washing machine, he approved as you say, DO YOU LEAVE THEM IN THE ENTIRE CYLCE? WHAT KEEPS THEM FROM SOAPING UP THE RINSE PROCESS?
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY…..
This is what I have read:
Can I just say how much I LOVE your blog?! I just discovered it last night and I am hooked! And I am not one to read blogs all day, no joke. I’ve been using soap nuts for about 10 years now but never really did the research of the best company (even though I considered it). Anyway, I want you to know how much I appreciate you and how incredible I think you are. Thank you for what you do.
I just have to tell you how I randomly came across your blog. I was searching young living diffuser reviews on google last night after my kids went to bed and google brought me to your essential oils blog posts. I started reading because I’ve been a YL distributor (mostly just for personal use, I can’t stand selling stuff, but I do love sharing my love for something, ya know?) for a few years now and my mom has been using their oils for a long time so I was already a believer. But ever since doterra came about I was really trying to figure out the deal with all that. I also have always kind of thought Gary Young a little bit off with his shady history, plus I saw him a year ago, it was my second time seeing him and he was such a demeaning jerk when I saw him the second time. The first time he was really awesome. I think he’s unhappy about all the doterra sttuff. Which I don’t blame him since the CEO of doterra worked for him for a long time. I keep getting on tangents, but basically you completely validated my feelings of sticking with YL over Doterra, but I am completely intrigued and convinced that Native American Nutritionals is the best. I am into organic also and I really like all the factors you brought up about the company. I still like YL and may still get some of their oils but I AM STOKED to get some of those other oils. I already feel really good about it. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
P.S. have you found an essential oil diffuser that you love? Or reviewed a bunch that I could read about?
Hi there – thanks for writing. I should make clear that I am not happy w/ YL either. For numerous reasons, some of which I outlined in my posts. I know GY is upset about DT but it seems to me they didn’t do anything wrong in that way, but I am not aware of all of the details. Let’s just say that I am not a rep of either for various reasons. Native American has a diffuse and Mr. Dean is VERY picky about them so I think you will be very happy with it. Thanks and see you around!
Hi again! I meant to reply sooner. I know you aren’t happy with YL and I personally felt like what you didn’t like about them doesn’t bother me as much as what you had to say about Doterra. And I do think NAN sounds better. And I really want to check them out in Orem next time I’m in UT. That’s where they are at right? So I also wanted to ask, you mentioned that you almost chose another company but you didn’t like their skin care products? What EO company was that if you don’t mind me asking? Thanks!
I have tried these soap nuts, because I would like to stop making my own laundry detergent, too. I gave them a really good try, but they just don’t work very well. Colors are getting dull, and they just don’t get out the dirt. Sorry, but I give them a thumbs down.
Hmmm…wonder about the colors. I don’t have that issue I don’t think.
I have several Soapberry trees on my property and I am going to use the Soapberries/Nuts for soap. Do I remove the black seed from the berry before I put it in the washer?
The seeds do need to be removed.