Quick Question about soap nuts

[adalheid]

I just got my soap nuts sample and I just read that they need to be used in warm water for them to work well but I only have cold water that goes to my washer so real I only wash with cold, if I want hot or warm water I have to bucket it in so I rarely use warm water
So my question is can i get around this ?? or do I have to use warm water?

[mollymouse]

You need to put the soap nuts in the warm water for about for a bit to get them sudding before your wash in cold. I dont think they will work if you just use cold. I have washed my dh's work shirts in cold with soap nuts and the sweat was still on the shirts so I rewashed in warm with the soap nuts.

All you need to do is put the soap nuts wash bag in a bowl of warm/hot water before you add it to your wash. I think they say 15-20mins I cant remember but I dont leave it that long about 10mins. I suppose you will find out . I just went on the soap in a nutshell website and it said they should still work in cold but it releases slower in cold water.

I think the warm water soak in the bowl just kickstarts them for you

[adalheid]

oh ok thanks for that I'll stick them in a bowl of warm water and try them out

anyone that has tryed the powder? do u have to use them in warm water too??

Not to much of an extra bit to do I was mostly planing on using them on my clothes as I keep having problems with everything else..I'm happy with the results i have been getting with eco store on the kids clothes and nappies its just upsetting my eczema

[BOB]

I use them in cold..I am lazy and haven't had any problems.

[adalheid]

oh kool to know I guess it depends on how grubby the items are
I have two loads of towels to do so I might do a trial one with just cold then I'll do a load after soaking the nuts see if there is any difference
thanks for the feedback ladies

[adalheid]

Well I have been using the nuts for a few weeks now and I really like them i dont find they get the kids clothes clean enough for me (the boys are grots!) so I only use them on the nappies (they smell so nice) and on my clothes, all the bed linen and towels
I first soak them in a small tub of hot water but do the wash in cold and I find they work great for me