For those who use or have used soap nuts

[MadMel]

I tried these a little while ago. Useless, clothes were still dirty, didn't get rid of the poop properly... but I wasn't sure if it might have been the way I washed or the machine I used...

Now I have a new front loader and I am finding it is cleaning EVERYTHING so much better! I think I MIGHT try soap nuts again in the hope that it was the machine not the soap nuts.

So do you wash in cold or hot? Do you have to rewash anything? Does it remove the smell from nappies?

Interested to hear from ANYONE who has tried them, not just those that love them. Don't want to go buy more if once again I will be disapointed...

[MadMumof3]

I LOVE SOAPNUTS! i am a recent convert and we use the soapnut powder cos i like not having to remember how many washes they ahve been in. we still rinse the poopey nappies ( solids no bf poo here) and do a regular wash length for nappies as i dont pre rinse.
but now we use them for everything and everything is so SOFT! even nappies that were seriously crunchy have softened up and our towels are so NICE!

we have a top loader. and i use 2 tsp and find thats plenty for our washing machine. I wash in cold and rarely do i have to rewash anything (fleece liners i find dont wash super well but they are cheap to replace after a while.)
smell - i dont find they smell any worse than when i used normal washing liquids.

[Obsi]

I personally like a bit of a fragrance to my wash - makes me think it is cleaner, so I add a splash of eucalyptus oil (you could use lavender) to give everything a slight scent.

I only started using soapnuts when we were using nappies for night, so I never used them for pooey nappies, only wet.

If you don't have more soapnuts left, try the sample bags places sell, so you don't have too many if you find you don't like them...or see if someone you know who uses them can give you a couple to try.

[MadMel]

I did buy the sample bag last time but with postage it is way better value if I get the bigger bag YK.
I might give them another go. Would love to find something that was better for the boys skin.

[BOB]

I use them and love them. I do hot washes for my nappies and DH work clothes (which are pretty nasty) and they get them both clean and gets rid of the smells mostly too.

I do cold washes for the rest of my laundry and find that it gets everything clean too

[BOB]

I did buy the sample bag last time but with postage it is way better value if I get the bigger bag YK.
I might give them another go. Would love to find something that was better for the boys skin.

soapinanutshell do a sample bag for $5.50 including postage..pretty good value...but the cheapest place to get them in bulk is greenandnutty

[emd]

I use them for everything.
Nappies (had two in cloth for a while when I started using soap nuts) are dry pailed, then get a pre-wash rinse in cold water (sometimes with Napisan, sometimes not) then hot washed at 50C. Occasionally something comes out of the wash with a stain that needs soaking, but no more often than I used to with ordinary washing powder.
Other clothes are washed at 30-40C and come out fine. I'd wash them colder, but the front loader I'm using seems to not respect my temp settings.

[MadMel]

soapinanutshell do a sample bag for $5.50 including postage..pretty good value...but the cheapest place to get them in bulk is greenandnutty

Oh wow that is good. I think last time I paid 3.50 then the post was a flat rate of $7...
Will go there and get some Thanks!

[tikki]

washed our first load of newborn nappies a day or so ago with soap nuts and on a delicate setting; no stains, not even meconium stains

[MadMel]

OH thanks Tik! That is great to know I am getting excited again now lol Maybe it was just the machine
Might just get a big packet then