| Soap nuts are exactly what the chemists at the | | | | every single machine out there. They all don’t |
| major detergent producers are struggling to | | | | operate exactly alike. Fundamentally they are the |
| develop. Soap nuts simply accomplish it naturally | | | | similar, but there are differences. It is very |
| and synthetic chemical-free. A low sudsing, | | | | important to realize that the machine |
| effective surfactant is the main objective of a | | | | manufacturers are working with the chemical |
| great HE detergent. Such is saponin - the | | | | detergent producers and writing their manuals |
| all-important active ingredient that the soap nut | | | | accordingly. They are certainly not addressing |
| releases to produce the “soaping” effect. | | | | soap nut usage. Soap nuts are not even on their |
| (Just in case: A surfactant is an agent or | | | | radar screens. (It seems that one European |
| substance that reduces the surface tension of | | | | manufacturer Electrolux has actually |
| liquids so that the liquid spreads out, rather than | | | | demonstrated their foresight and vision to start |
| collecting in droplets, hence allowing easy flow | | | | addressing soap nut usage. More on that in |
| through out water and facilitating the removal or | | | | another article.) |
| release of dirt, oils, grime, etc. from fabrics.) Soap | | | | Hence, soap nuts are a natural alternative to the |
| nuts are exactly that. | | | | synthetic, chemical detergents. Being a completely |
| Soap nuts also come with some truly major | | | | different animal, some experimentation on your |
| extra benefits. They are naturally anti-fungal, | | | | part is going to be needed for you to determine |
| antimicrobial, biodegradable and hypoallergenic. | | | | the best method to achieve the best results using |
| PLUS to top it all off, used properly they are BY | | | | soap nuts in your machine. Interestingly, |
| FAR less expensive than the commercial chemical | | | | that’s part of the fun of them. |
| detergents. Geeez...what more can we ask for? | | | | I recommend forgetting about the compartments, |
| Virtually everything in this article applies to all | | | | but again experimentation is the only way to |
| front-loading washers. All front loading washers | | | | know what works best for YOU. Since each |
| are essentially HE washers by design. They use | | | | machine functions differently the compartments |
| tumbling as opposed to agitators to clean your | | | | and their dispersion method simply introduces |
| laundry and use less water. Interestingly tumbling | | | | more variables. As any good scientist will tell you, |
| the laundry is the ideal way to agitate the soap | | | | if you want to learn more and learn faster, |
| nuts, for it further enhances their release of | | | | minimize those variables. I recommend simply |
| saponins. | | | | putting the wash bag of soap nuts, the powder or |
| A VERY interesting point to be noted is that | | | | liquid directly in with your laundry. You can forget |
| most HE washers have a maintenance cycle that | | | | about the fabric softener department completely |
| should be run to keep the machine operating at | | | | since you don’t need fabric softeners at all |
| peak efficiency. I very recently wrote an article | | | | when using soap nuts. If you are using soap nuts |
| (easily found on Ezine) specifically about purging | | | | in the traditional method (soap nuts in a wash |
| and cleaning your machine using soap nuts. Soap | | | | bag) definitely make a cup of soap nut tea and |
| nuts do not leave the residues and build ups that | | | | pour the tea and bag right in with your laundry. |
| chemical detergents do (yes, even the so called | | | | This is the exactly the same as you should do |
| “green” ones). Given that much less | | | | with all cold-water washes for best results. Heat is |
| water is used in HE washers, a good | | | | needed to activate the release of the saponins. |
| “flushing” of the detergents, residues and | | | | The “tea” method works great. |
| additives out of your laundry AND your machine | | | | Alternately, just boil some soap nuts and make a |
| is greatly reduced. Hence this newly found NEED | | | | liquid, or grind them to a dust-like ultra fine |
| for a maintenance cycle. Make sense? | | | | powder. How you use soap nuts is purely a |
| Amazingly, chemists are struggling to keep up | | | | matter of personal preference. All methods work. |
| with the washing machine technologies. So far | | | | FYI: Soon there will be a many other soap nut |
| they are not keeping up. Most of those I speak | | | | formulations from NaturOli that will make usage a |
| with that own HE and front-loading machines are | | | | total no-brainer. |
| not happy at all with the commercial detergents. I | | | | Bottom line as of the date of this article: Simply |
| routinely hear stories of the nasty odors and | | | | use good old-fashioned common sense. Know that |
| gross build-ups. BTW: As the founder of NaturOli | | | | heat and agitation are required to release saponin |
| and through continual interaction with both | | | | from raw soap nuts. Using powders and liquids are |
| consumers and sellers of soap nuts, I speak to a | | | | simply convenient alternative methods, and many |
| LOT of people every single day about them. | | | | people really enjoy producing their own |
| So, if you have a new or old HE washer (either | | | | concoctions. |
| top or front loader) simply try using soap nuts. | | | | What’s MOST important to know and |
| It’s my bet that you will be totally astounded. | | | | understand is that you have available to you (right |
| They resolve all the problems people are | | | | now) the absolute very BEST HE detergent you |
| complaining about. It’s that plain and simple | | | | will ever find - soap nuts. Soap nuts are the |
| – and you’ll love what they do for your | | | | perfect HE detergent in every way - and again - |
| laundry, machine and your pocketbook, too! | | | | more affordable, too! I guess Mother Nature is a |
| In an effort to keep this short and sweet, | | | | little smarter than all those laboratory chemists. |
| I’m certainly not going to try to address | | | | Why am I not surprised? |