The soap nut is just that: the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree. These have been used as a natural, safe detergent for thousands of years. I admit it took me a while to try these. My friend, Julie has been using them to wash her diapers for a while and recommended them when I was having issues with detergent buildup in my diapers (there are many chemicals left behind on our clothes after washing and mixing them with urine is really, REALLY stinky.) When my friend and cloth diapering/sewing/crafting cohort Sarah told me they were available at Brighter Day and I wouldn't have to order them, I ran out there, picked up my bag of soap nuts and had an avocado and bean sprout sandwich (OK I'm getting closer to that granola girl. . . ). As long as I don't have to have them shipped they are no more expensive than other high quality detergents and they really do work. I have been saving them for my diapers, because I am afraid Brighter Day will run out, but they do the trick!
To go along with my soap nuts, I also bought a couple of wool dryer balls (suggested by the aforementioned cloth-diapering-Sarah) from a work at home mom who gets her wool straight from the sheep farm. These replace dryer sheets in our house, and, although they don't work quite as well, I've been told I would see more results if I used more than the two I have.
So what new things have you tried lately?
