NaturOli Soap Nuts, 230 g

After reading the reviews, I decided to buy these. I have a low-water, HE top loader. I have been using Charlie's Soap for about a year with no regrets. I got them in record time. I was excited to try. I was not disappointed. I tried the first load (with 6 berries) and washed the kitchen rugs. The directions stated to wash with rags for the first time using, to help get the crud out of the washer. But my rags were all clean, so I used rugs. I kept going to the washer -- the water was dirty, but there were no suds. I always use vinegar instead of fabric softener. I also use wool dryer balls. The rugs came out clean and soft. The second load consisted of bath towels. They came out soft and fragrant fee. Very nice. The third load contained my husband's jeans (smelling of machine shop coolant). They came out soft with no smells. After drying, I left the jeans on the stool (got too busy to hang them before he got home). When he got home, he hung them up and made a comment of how soft they were. I did not tell him about the soap nuts previously. That is a sure sign that these are great! He never comments on things like this, but unknowingly, he commented on the softness of the jeans. So, I am sold! The pamphlet that comes with this lists all kinds of uses -- especially for the 18X -- I am sold after using them for three loads. When I purchased, I was not sure how many nuts came in the box -- there were about 125 berries in the box. If you use 5 per load in the bag, and each bag will wash around 5 loads -- well, you do the math! Very economical, safe for my septic tank, and convenient.

(Added Note for Seller - NaturOil: Please supply an extra or better canvas pull string pouch Or even zippered muslin pouch for the soap nuts. I looked everywhere on Amazon and there are no cotton or muslin zippered pouches. The stitch on the small pouch I've had to sow it 3 times already. The soap nuts fall out in the wash through the seams when they come apart. Also please make available to purchase only the soap nuts in smaller or 16oz bags too. Thank you!) ***Remember to take the pouch out of the washer before the wash cycle ends or you will wash again in the rinse cycle. The best part they do get clothes clean and they smell so clean like I remember when I was young and clothes hung in the sun. Who would have known? A plant? Just never go out of business...please! Thank you! Zero fragrance! They are a plant berry! So amazing! After I wash my clothes with the berries in the small muslin bag that is supplied I open it back up and hang it to dry so the gathered top doesn't stay wet. Before putting it in the wash I pull the cord closed and tie a loose single square knot so it doesn't accidentally open in the wash. Although that is just me. The stitching and cord are probably tight enough without this happening. I searched a long time. I saw these years ago but were too expensive. So I caved in to the advertisement of plastic free laundry sheets. But what they don't tell you is 'plastic free' means no plastic bottles. They all have plastic.

I had wanted to try these for a while, but I hesitated because I'm used to "real" soap. I wash a lot of clothes, about one or two loads a day, and I was really surprised by how well these soap berries actually clean. I have been using them for over a month now, and have not had to re-wash anything, everything has come out clean. If you like strong, perfume-scented clothes (like Gain) then you won't like these. Although the soap berries themselves have a slight, earthy scent, the clothes don't have a smell at all....which I love. The clothes are actually clean, not masked with perfume. I was concerned they wouldn't work because I wash in cold water, and these need hot water to soften them and bring out the suds. I soak them in a cup with a little bit of hot water before I put them in the wash, and they work perfectly. I also put a clip at the end of the little bag because trying to untie the wet strings is almost impossible. A strong plastic clip not only makes it easier to open the bag to discard the used berries, but also makes it easier to find in the wash so you don't accidentally throw it in the dryer. I use about 5 or 6 berries/nuts for each load, and toss them in my worm bin when they start to lose their color. Another thing you can do with these... Heat a handful of them to almost boiling in a cup or so of water, let them sit overnight...strain and mix with a bit of vinegar, glycerin and lemon essential oil...makes a great dish soap. I have not tried them for shampoo yet, but that's next on the list! These things are the best, and can be used for so many things. I didn't think I could be so excited about a berry.....but they are pretty awesome. :)

NaturOli is my first exposure to soap nuts. I am quite impressed. They seem to do a great job cleaning our kids' clothes (I still pre-treat stains), and mine and my husband's clothes. However, I do NOT use them on my husband's work clothes. (He's a machinist, and his work clothes get so filthy and greasy, they leave a big, black ring around the inside of the washer, even AFTER washing them TWICE in warm water!!) The thing I love most about soap nuts, is that I know I'm not putting any chemicals onto/into my children's clothes. Our third child has bouts of eczema, so having a natural, gentle way to clean his clothes has really helped his skin. Our next baby is due any day, so I'm looking forward to trying soap nuts on poopy cloth diapers! Overall, if you want to save money and use something natural and non-irritating, I would definitely recommend soap nuts. And the soap nuts from NaturOli has been very nice and consistent. I have no reservations about recommending them!

I am so surprised at how much I love using soap nuts. I first bought some at a request from a customer to make a soap nut shampoo. Since then, I have been discovering so many useful ways to use them. First, for it's well known and often used for purpose, laundry: They clean very well, but there is a bit more work involved. I heat up water in my tea kettle and pour it over the soap nuts in the included muslin bag. I let them sit for a bit to soften them up then pour it all in the washer. Then I do a pre-soak or a pre wash before moving on to the regular cycle. It's also nice to add a few drops of some nice smelling essential oil (lavender, orange, lemon, even cedar. Whatever your pleasure.) The clothes come out clean and smelling nice. For tougher jobs, I use them as a booster to regular detergent. Second: household cleaning. I make up a batch of soap nut liquid, add in some lemon juice and essential oil (lemon or orange helps cut grease and sticky spills.) I preserve mine with potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, and put it a spray bottle. I use this everywhere. kitchen, bathroom, dusting, even floors and walls. 3rd, glass cleaner. Pretty much the same recipe as before, but sub apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar for the lemon juice. Works so well! Even on my hard to clean glass doors. 4th, as a gentle spot cleaner for my bunny. He's on the chunky side, and I sometimes have to clean up his, uh, nether region. I was using my sulfate free shampoo for this, but I feel better using the soap nut liquid on him. And my favorite, make a super strong liquid (or use the NaturOli EXTREME 18X Soap Nuts / Soap Berry Liquid Organic Laundry Soap, Natural HE Detergent & Green All-purpose Cleaner. SUPER-concentrated, Sulfate-free, Allergy-free, Unscented. (Multi & Combo Packs available) , which I will review separately) I add the same as general cleaning, accordion fold coffee filters, and place them a baby wipe container and pour solution over them for DIY cleaning wipes that seriously blow the store bought kind away (especially when using the 18x!) I even plan on using the liquid in my carpet steamer to clean my carpets soon!