Soap Nuts – Natures Eco Cleaner

When I first heard about Soap Nuts, I must admit that I was sceptical, to say the least. Could the shell of a berry really be used to clean my clothes? The answer is yes!

I have just started using soap nuts for my clothing and I was very pleasantly surprised at how good they are. Not only are they eco-friendly and super cheap compared to other laundry detergents, but they work really, really well!

Soap Nuts are a berry (not a nut) which is produced by the Sapindus Mukorossi tree. The shell of the ‘fruit’ is dried to produce soap nuts. They are totally natural and unprocessed which means that they are great for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin.

After using soap nuts in my laundry, and seeing the great results, I decided to try some of the other cleaning products that soap nuts can be used to make…

Soap Nut Liquid Concentrate

Place 10-12 whole nuts (or equivalent in pieces) into a saucepan with 6 cups of water. Boil for approximately 30 minutes. This should result in approx. 4 cups of liquid soap.  Strain the liquid through a cloth and then discard the nuts (they are great in the compost). Because there are no preservatives, it is best to only make in these small batches otherwise it may spoil.

The concentrate can be used as is or diluted for a range of cleaning:

All Purpose Cleaner – simply place soap liquid in a spray bottle and use around the house. You can add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil (or another essential oil) to act as a disinfectant and leave a lovely smell.

Window Cleaner – place 1 cups of water, 1 Tbsp vinegar and 1 Tbsp soap nut liquid into a spray bottle.

Pet shampoo – leaves hair soft and silky, will also repel fleas, mites, ticks and mosquitos, but make sure you keep it out of their eyes!

Carpet cleaner – spray or sponge onto stain and blot clean

Bug spray – use a spray bottle to spray bugs on plants (great organic and eco-friendly way to get rid of unwanted bugs in the garden).

I have also read about some people using soap nut liquid to clean rust off prams!

To find a stockist near you visit: www.kussen.com.au  (Kussen sell and distribute Nutcases Soap Nuts which are organic and Fair Trade).

Eco Cleaning

When I walked into my local supermarket the other day to get some new cleaning products, I was amazed at the range available, everything from caustic soda based products through to those that claim to be environmentally friendly. Then there was the range of prices, from just over $1 through to $15 for one bottle.

 

Surely there is a simpler and cheaper way to ensure that my house is not only clean, but also free from harsh chemicals. After a little bit of research I think that I have found the answers!!!

 

• Good old salty water not only cleans but also deters insects.

 

• White vinegar is great for cleaning bathrooms, toilets or anywhere else that you would normally use bleach.

 

• Lemon juice is great for removing perspiration stains in clothes, simply dampen the article with lemon juice and salt before putting it in the wash.

 

• Boracic acid sprinkled in cupboards will banish cockroaches.

 

• Tea tree oil is great as a disinfectant, simply put a few drop in water and then wipe down areas or use it when mopping the floor.

 

• Bicarb soda can be used as an oven cleaner, mix with a little water to make a paste and smooth over oven areas that require cleaning. Leave for half an hour before cleaning off with a sponge.

 

The other household item that I have decided is essential to reducing your environmental impact (and the impact on your wallet) is a steam cleaning unit. Although the initial outlay can be costly (prices range from $120 – $800) they will save you heaps in the long run.

 

When purchasing a steam cleaner make sure that you get one with the mop attachment for all of your hard floors (tiles, wood, laminate, vinyl) and with the small attachments for cleaning grout, windows etc.