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 Toys

 

My little boy is a little over 12 months old and everything he can find goes into his mouth. This has made me even more careful with the toys that l buy for him and let him play with.

 

Wooden Toys

There are some great wooden toys available (many from sustainable sources), but I have found that even though they may be rated for young ones, sometimes the glue isn’t as good as it should be (only last week my little boy pulled one of his apart in small pieces). So I guess it is something that you really need to think about when purchasing wooden toys. I also always make sure that the paint is non-toxic and as eco-friendly as possible.

 

Organic Cotton Toys

Organic cotton toys are beautiful as gifts for babies because they are safe, environmentally responsible and little ones love them. For a great range of organic cotton toys visit http://www.theworldofgood.com.au/dandelion/organic-cotton-toys-teethers-rattles.html to find a stockist near you.

 

Recycled paper / cardboard toys

Cardboard and recycled paper toys are on the rise in Australia (although the ranges are still a bit limited and can be hard to find). One brand that is really exciting is http://www.flatoutfrankie.com/ which is made in New Zealand, but can be purchased in Australia, check out their website for stockist details.

 

Why not make your own cardboard toys (just like when we were kids). All you need is an empty cardboard box and a little imagination (cubbyhouse, aeroplane, castle), the ideas are endless.

 

Get outside and play

Why not just shut off the TV and get outside and play.

• Build a cubbyhouse under the outside table using an old sheet or better still build one in the bush using fallen sticks.
• Take the dog for a walk
• Play at the local playground
• Plant a vege patch or herb garden with the kids

 

When it comes to toys the options in the shops are endless, but the options at home are only limited by your imagination. Old boxes, containers and sheets can be used in any number or ways and are all eco-friendly.

 

Other great online stores include:

http://www.ecotoys.com.au

http://www.learninghouse.com.au

http://www.honeybeetoys.com.au

Valentine’s Day

Yes, Valentine’s Day is almost here and it is time to start planning. While the shops are filled with the usual red balloons, streamers and hearts, why not try the green approach this year. There is a range of eco-friendly Valentine’s Day ideas right here.

 

Jewellery

If you want new eco-friendly jewellery you can go past the beautiful range by Polli. For a full list of stockists visit www.polli.com.au .

Alternatively why not visit a local second hand shop to find a beautiful pre-loved piece for that someone special.

 

Flowers

It can be difficult to find flowers that are grown organically in Australia. The best option is to pick your own from your garden, or if you know someone who has a beautiful range you can always ask to pick some from their garden. If you do want to purchase flowers from a florist, why not ask them if they have any that have been grown without using chemicals.

 

Chocolates

While many supermarkets and specialty stores now stock organic chocolate, you can’t go past raw, organic chocolate. I found the ultimate raw chocolate at the Margaret River Farmers Market in the South West of WA. This rich and delicious chocolate is made by Wild-Raw and can be ordered online from www.wildraw.com.au

 

Growing Gift

Why not purchase a living gift. If your loved one is the gardening type, why not buy them a rose bush or a beautiful plant in full flower, not only will it look great on the day, it will last for years to come. Even if they are not into gardening you can still purchase a living gift. Why not help to protect a rainforest by purchasing a gift from www.rainforestrescue.org.au

 

Unique Gifts

I love shopping at local markets and little handicraft stores because you never know what beautiful and unique gifts you might find. Travelling to find these shops can be a little time consuming, so why not look online for the same things. Two of my favourite websites for handmade gifts are www.bluecaravan.com.au and www.etsy.com , both of these sites allow you to search by category (including handmade and eco-friendly).

 

General Gifts

If you want to get that someone special something useful, rather than traditional, you options are endless for eco-friendly presents. You may choose stainless steel water bottles, organic skincare, bamboo tableware, a gorgeous bag or something handmade from your local markets. There are many online stores which specialise in organic and eco-friendly products (www.ecoeffect.com.au) and most health food shops and speciality gift shops also stock small ranges of products.