Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent

Eco Nuts Soap Nuts Liquid Laundry Detergent is made from soapberry extract, a berry that grows in the Himalayas that naturally produces a soap called saponin. Saponin penetrates the fibers of your clothing, lifting stains from the fabric and leaving dirt suspended in the water that is rinsed away. This 100% toxic-free, liquid detergent is ideal for those with sensitive skin, eczema, allergies and psoriasis. Because it so mild, it's perfect for baby clothes and cloth diapers.

Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent contains no dyes, fragrances, fillers, enzymes or optical brighteners and is 100% SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) and phosphate-free.

Note: if you are using an HE (front loading) machine, Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent is recommended. Eco Nuts soap nuts will get the job done, but the liquid works better and is specially formulated for HE machines.

Ideal for Cloth Diapers

A common reason why cloth diapers leak is residue buildup. Even if you use free and clear or other “so-called” natural detergents, they leave a residue on your fabric, causing it to become less absorbent. Fabric softener also makes cloth diapers less absorbent. This residue can also cause diaper rash. Diapers are more prone to residue buildup because they are more absorbent than other fabrics.

Eco Nuts leaves very little residue, so you don’t have to strip as often, and will remove any residue buildup left behind by other products.

Eco Nuts are great for cloth diapers because they do not contain any dyes, enzymes, softeners, or fragrances which contribute to the deterioration and excessive wear/tear on diapers. Eco Nuts very effectively removes all lingering smells.

The saponin in Eco Nuts actually helps to loosen fibers in the dryer instead of tighten them, keeping your diapers as absorbent as they were when you first bought them, even after many washes. This loosening effect that saponin has on fibers is also why no fabric softener is needed for your diapers to be soft and fluffy.

Cloth Diaper Laundry Directions

Before you start – We recommend a diaper strip AND a washing machine strip. This is especially needed if any standard chemical detergent has been used in the washing machine in the last couple of months. These leave a residue in the machine that can be removed by the Eco Nuts and transfer to the diapers.  To strip your washing machine, you can run a hot load with no garments and just Eco Nuts. White vinegar is optional. This will strip all residue from your washing machine. After the washing machine strip, strip your diapers using your favorite method and you are good to go. 

Diapers and machine stripped and ready? Here’s what you do:

1. 1. Flush any solid waste down the toilet.

   2. Throw a batch of diapers (not more than 24 at a time to help with the agitation) and do a warm prewash.

   3. When this wash cycle is done, Put 2-4 Eco Nuts in the cloth bag and put it in your laundry machine. If your washing machine runs very hot with the hot cycle, fewer Eco Nuts are recommended. If you are using homemade Eco Nuts liquid, use 1-2 tablespoons. If you are using Eco Nuts liquid detergent, follow the directions on the bottle for your machine type.

   4. Set your machine to a Hot-Cold cycle and start.

   5. If you are using the nuts, set the bag aside to dry and your diapers are ready for the clothesline or the dryer.

If your diapers aren’t getting as white as you would like them, try leaving them in the sun for an effective natural white bleach!   After drying in the sun, toss in the dryer for a few minutes to soften them up.

Eco Nuts leaves very little residue, but diapers should still be stripped once in a while for proper maintenance.

Hints about additives:

• Bleach or Borax can deteriorate elastic.

• Bleach additionally deteriorates cloth fibers through oxidation.

• Vinegar can set odors into synthetics such as microfiber.

• Be sure to check with your diaper manufacturer because some additives may void your warranty.

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Soap Nuts FAQ

1. Do the soap nuts actually work?

You don’t have to take our word for it! We’ve sent off free samples to be reviewed independently and we’ll post them all on here. Check out Eco Nuts testimonials page. We never pay for any of our reviews – they are all honest and unbiased.

2. Do your laundry products work in a front-loading or High Efficiency (HE) machines?

Absolutely! They are low sudsing and high in cleaning power. Just put the wash bag directly into your machine with the rest of your clothes.

3. I've heard of something called soap nuts. Is this the same thing?

Soap nuts is the generic term for the berry our products are made with. Eco Nuts has become a widely recognized brand name for soap nut based products. Don’t settle for generic soap nuts. Eco Nuts are higher in quality and cleaning power because in addition to our proprietary sorting and handling process, we also only use a particular variety and size. We have found this quality control translates into more re-uses than many other generic soap nuts. Our proprietary sorting process also ensures a consistency in shape and texture that makes Eco Nuts pleasant and easy to use. Because we lovingly and carefully hand package in the USA, we can also eliminate individualized plastic wrapping otherwise required by customs.

College students, mothers, campers, techies, boarders, and eco-activists alike keep telling us that Eco Nuts work great!

4. I accidentally put the bag with Eco Nuts into the dryer! Are they still usable?

Yes, although you may get fewer washes until you replace them.

5. Is this a berry or a nut or fruit or what?

If you want to get technical, it is actually a drupe – a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a pit or large seed. The chinese soapberry tree is closely related to lychees. In the case of Eco Nuts, we have removed the inner seed for you. Other plants that produce drupes are coffee, mangoes, cherries, apricots, peaches and plums.

6. I have nut allergies, are these safe?

It is safe for people with nut allergies because it’s a fruit and not a nut (though they definitely resemble nuts!). Many people with severe nut allergies have used Eco Nuts with no problems or reactions. While Eco Nuts has been a terrific solution for many customers with skin allergies and other conditions, people who have many allergies or compromised immune systems should always take proper precautions and first wash one small item in a small container or sink OR do a patch test before washing an entire load in the washing machine.

7. How do these work exactly?

Eco Nuts contain an all natural chemical called saponin that acts as a surfactant. The saponin is released from the berry when it is agitated in water. Regular detergents also contain a manmade, chemical surfactant. Surfactants work by breaking the surface tension of the water so it better penetrates cloth fibers. The agitation made by your laundry machine shakes the dirt loose and the saponin holds it in the water until it is rinsed away.

Because the bag is in the machine for the whole wash, even the rinse cycle, is that okay? Are my clothes being washed twice?

In the rinse cycle, Eco Nuts release very little saponin since the rinse cycle is cooler water. That small amount of saponin is what makes your clothes soft and fluffy.

8. Can I use bleach with these?

Sure! We recommend an eco-friendly oxygen bleach, but any brand is fine. Keep in mind that standard bleach deteriorates fabrics through oxidation causing them to wear out sooner. Another Eco-friendly way of bleaching is by putting your articles out in the sun.

9. How Do I store Eco Nuts?

Make sure they are kept in a cool, dry place away from any moisture.

10. There's some berry halves in here. Are those okay to use and will they still work?

Yes, you can use them! The saponin is contained in the skin of the berry so any sized piece will still release that saponin. There are some companies that only offer whole berries but we don’t see why any should go to waste, which is why when it goes through our triple hand-sorting process we allow halves to get through and we judge on color, size and weight. The berries are slit open during the pitting/drying process so sometimes the whole berries break in two. When measuring for your bag, simply take two halves to equal a whole! The pieces can also be re-used – same as the whole berries.

11. How many washes can I get with these?

It depends on the temperature of the water. If you wash only in very hot water, you will probably get 7 loads. If you only do cold water washes, you can get up to 10 loads or more. Because of the high quality of the berries, you will likely get many more washes than what we say on the box. You will be able to tell when they are used up because they will start to disintegrate. Then you can compost them if you wish, or simply add new berries to the bag.

12. Do I need to use hot or warm water or can I wash in cold water?

We encourage you to read the labels on your garments and linens and wash with the recommended temperature of the fabric. Eco Nuts will work in any temperature water. Hot water will release more saponin.
 
Due to our proprietary handling process, Eco Nuts will still release saponin in cooler water, and will still effectively clean normal cold-water laundry as long as the machine was not over-filled. If the laundry to be cold washed is very soiled, you can make a “tea” by soaking the bag in hot water for a few minutes and then add the bag with the water to your cold water wash, and put fewer items in the machine to provide more agitation.

13. You recommend these for cloth diapers, but I've read elsewhere that "natural" detergents aren't good for them. Can you explain?

Many natural detergents contain enzymes which contribute to wear and tear on your cloth diapers. Eco Nuts leave little to no residue and actually remove residue that other detergents leave behind.

14. How do I tell when the Eco Nuts are used up?

There are a few ways to tell when the nuts are used up. A disintegrated soap nut won’t look like it did originally. It will be thin, light colored and falling apart and will resemble floppy/broken peanut shells. It may also crunch or break apart when you squeeze it (if dry).  

Here’s some other ways to tell:

1. Smell the bag when wet.
Saponin has a fruity odor when wet. When you take the bag out of the machine, smell it. If there is a slight fruity smell, the nuts are still good for more loads.

2. Run the bag under a faucet and squeeze.
You’ll see little tiny suds if there is still soap.

3. Feel the nuts when wet.
They will have an almost slippery sudsy feeling to them if there is still soap.

Don’t worry if you’ve gotten what might be more than 10 loads, it’s very common to get between 10 and 20 loads with this most recent harvest. As always, when in doubt, replace.

Brand: Eco Nuts
SKU: ECO004p

Ingredients
Sapindus mukorossi extract, vegetable glycerin, potassium sorbate.

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