I recently had the opportunity to review two products that are all natural, green and from a renewable resource. That makes me feel good just to use all those words in one sentence! The products I am referring to are Soap Nuts and a bar of soap from BuySoapNuts.com . Now if you haven't heard of Soap Nuts, well, don't count yourself in the dark. I've just started hearing/reading more about them myself. It is an actual nut that grows on a tree, that when mixed with water makes a wonderful cleaner, laundry detergent, and dishwasher detergent.
I really wanted to put them to the test, and I have to say, they did a pretty amazing job. The nuts themselves come in a 1.1 lb. muslin bag, which also contains 3 smaller pouch type bags inside. My first experiment was of course as a laundry detergent. I placed 4 of the nuts in one of the smaller pouches and tossed it in the laundry. I washed my normal 4-5 loads of laundry and it worked great! Even on my husbands muddy jeans and socks. This isn't just any mud, it's GA RED CLAY! It got out the stains without the use of bleach or anything else. I was so pleased. I've since used the same pouch of soap nuts for 3 more loads and still it is cleaning well. The instructions on the back were to use for only 4-5 loads, but I wanted to stretch it as much as possible.
Well, my next experiments were as dishwasher detergent and all purpose cleaner. Now this was a little more labor intensive as well as you can only make in small batches because it will spoil easily. I followed the instructions on the back of the back to place 10 soap nuts in a pouch and place in a boiler, then cover with 6 cups of water. I brought it to a boil and let it simmer for about 30 minutes, reducing it to approx. 3 cups. I placed 2/3 of the liquid in a bottle and placed by the dishwasher to be used there. The other third, I placed in a spray bottle, filled the bottle the rest of the way with water and a couple of drops of tea tree oil. I have to say both worked beautifully. I have clean dishes and counters and with an all natural product! I am thoroughly pleased with my results.
Now for the second product I was given to review, the bar soap. I have a positive note as well as a negative note to share about that. I used the soap in the shower, it contains olive oil, coconut oil and saponin from the soap nuts as well as glycerin. The bar does not lather very much, which is not a problem. Where I normally have to apply lotion after showering, I didn't using the soapnut bar. My skin stayed soft and silky all day. My only negative comment would be that it didn't have a smell. I would have liked to had a lavender smell or rosemary mint. But aside from that, I loved the product. It would be great for someone who does not tolerate perfumey smells.
All in all, I give soapnuts a two thumbs up on both products!
You can buy soapnuts here at http://buysoapnuts.com or enter here for a chance to win both products from the company.The contest will run from Oct. 3 through Oct. 17.Winner will receive a 1.1 lb bag of soapnuts and a bar of soap made from soapnuts.
Mandatory entry: You must leave a comment here with an email address so I can contact you if you win and follow this blog. http://downroadslesstraveled.blogspot.com If you are not comfortable leaving your email address on the blog you may email me at downroadslesstraveled at gmail dot com.
Extra entries: Subscribe to email from downroadslesstraveled.blogspot.com
Subscribe to RSS feed from downroadslesstraveled.blogspot.com
Follow me as paintrgrl on twitter.
Tweet about this giveaway (may do this daily for additional entries)
Follow me through Google Friend Connect
Post this giveaway on your blog for 5 additional entries (must comment 5 times on this
giveaway and leave a link back so I can see that you posted it)
Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me after I contact you through your provided email. If said winner does not respond in the given amount of time, then another winner will be chosen again through random.org.Participants must be from and in US or Canada
*Disclosure* I was not prompted in any way to give a positive review of buysoapnuts.com. All opinions expressed here about soapnuts are exclusively mine. The only compensation I received for this review and giveaway was the products themselves to test and use for myself and my family.
Always down for a giveaway. :) Been wanting to get into soap nuts too. Keep hearing great things about them for regular laundry to diaper laundry. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteblondredhead at mac dot com
tweeted: http://twitter.com/LilMamaK77/status/26361267780
ReplyDeleteblondredhead at mac dot com
Good to know about the red clay! I've been wanting to try using it at the pottery studio, but afraid of getting it all over my clothing.
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I follow you on GFC (Jennifer Mo).
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I am a follower, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com
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ReplyDeleteI tweeted today, Oct.6,http://twitter.com/itscindisworld/statuses/26577064376, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteI follow on GFC
ReplyDeleteI would love to try this stuff
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daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27441740145
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Would love to win!
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I subscribe to RSS feed
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I follow thru GFC
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I have always wondered if soap nuts worked.
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gfc follower
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follow you on twitter @knitwitshair
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I am a new GFC follower. Allison
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Great review! I had seen a couple of tweets about them in the past but didn't look into it. I'm glad I did this time. I love all natural and green products. Thanks for the review. I'm going to add your giveaway to my Sweeping Saturday giveaway linky. (kyfrugalista (at) frugalinkentucky.com)
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Retweeted this giveaway.
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Would love to try these. A new follower :)
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Follow on Twitter - crunchybchmama
ReplyDeleteHi! Please enter me! I'd love to try these at our house. Thanks so much! Shannon
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I follow you on twitter
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lhoward916 at gmail dot com
I would like to try these. My son gets things on his clothes, I don't know how he does it.
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I am a gfc follower.
ReplyDeletedebbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
i've never seen these before and would love to try them.
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tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com
follow via GFC :)
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daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27539027531
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Follow you on FGC
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I would like to try them in the laundry. I've been thinking about making my own detergent, this might be a better solution.
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I'm following you on twitter as @bmom76.
ReplyDeletechelsreb(at)aol(dot)com
I tweeted about the giveaway as @bmom76
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chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com
I subscribe to your rss feed via google reader.
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I'm following you on gfc.
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following the blog on gfc as jhb.
ReplyDeletewould love to try soapnuts!
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I would love to try these!
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I follow your RSS feed on Google Reader
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I follow you on Twitter
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I'm a GFC follower
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I follow GFC
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I am following on gfc. I had never heard of soap nuts until today but would love to try them.
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Hi, I'm a new GFC follower
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try the soap nuts, never heard of them.
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