Ever wonder how people in the primitive rural areas of India have been able to keep their clothes and homes clean without manufacturing soap? They harvested it from trees, and have been doing it for thousands of years. That right, it's called the Chinese Soapberry Tree, and its nutlike fruit has a hull that has soap on the outside. It's saponified, pure plant soap. All these people do is throw it in the water where they are washing their clothes, and, wha-la! the dirt, grim and body oils fall off.
Obviously, since all that is happening is the fruit is picked from the tree and thrown in with the laundry, there is zero manufacturing. Soaps and especially detergents are notorious for their environmental impact, what with all the manufacturing and chemical-izing surrounding it.
One company has been enterprising enough to bring these soap nuts to America. They come in a box with a cotton bag to put the soap nuts in. You toss the bag with the nuts into the washing machine, and that's it (when washing sheets and towels, check the load often to make sure the bag is not twisted up in the fabrics--it needs to be able to move freely).
You can also make liquid soap from the soap nuts by cooking them in water on low heat overnight, straining the liquid through a cheesecloth, and pouring it into your bottle or spray dispenser.
There is no fragrance, no toxic residue or byproducts, the soap is completely biodegradable and it really works to clean thoroughly! You pay about 50 cents per wash load.
Obviously, since all that is happening is the fruit is picked from the tree and thrown in with the laundry, there is zero manufacturing. Soaps and especially detergents are notorious for their environmental impact, what with all the manufacturing and chemical-izing surrounding it.
One company has been enterprising enough to bring these soap nuts to America. They come in a box with a cotton bag to put the soap nuts in. You toss the bag with the nuts into the washing machine, and that's it (when washing sheets and towels, check the load often to make sure the bag is not twisted up in the fabrics--it needs to be able to move freely).
You can also make liquid soap from the soap nuts by cooking them in water on low heat overnight, straining the liquid through a cheesecloth, and pouring it into your bottle or spray dispenser.
There is no fragrance, no toxic residue or byproducts, the soap is completely biodegradable and it really works to clean thoroughly! You pay about 50 cents per wash load.
Labels: environment, organic living, social responsibility