Sunday, October 3, 2010

BuySoapNuts Review and Giveaway

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.

51 comments:

  1. 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!

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. tweeted: http://twitter.com/LilMamaK77/status/26361267780

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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.

    ailanna at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow you on GFC (Jennifer Mo).

    ailanna at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a follower, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I subscribe via rss, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I follow via gfc, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I follow on twitter, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I tweeted today, Oct.6,http://twitter.com/itscindisworld/statuses/26577064376, itscindisworld at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I follow on GFC
    I would love to try this stuff
    freebiegoddess03@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27375243881

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27441740145

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Would love to win!

    emilliepeters(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I subscribe to RSS feed

    emilliepeters(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I follow thru GFC

    emilliepeters(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have always wondered if soap nuts worked.
    mandalynn72756@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. gfc follower
    theknitwitbyshair@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. follow you on twitter @knitwitshair
    theknitwitbyshair@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am a new GFC follower. Allison
    allison.winfield at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. 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)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Following you on GFC. kyfrugalista (at) frugalinkentucky.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Following you on Twitter. @kyfrugalista

    kyfrugalista (at) frugalinkentucky.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Retweeted this giveaway.

    kyfrugalista (at) frugalinkentucky.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Would love to try these. A new follower :)

    crunchybeachmama at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Follow on Twitter - crunchybchmama

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi! Please enter me! I'd love to try these at our house. Thanks so much! Shannon

    ReplyDelete
  27. FOLLOWING YOU ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT AS "kytah00" kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. NEW RSS SUBSCRIBER HERE! kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am a new GFC follower

    lhoward916 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow you on twitter
    @couponqueenbee
    lhoward916 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would like to try these. My son gets things on his clothes, I don't know how he does it.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. i've never seen these before and would love to try them.

    marci
    tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. follow via GFC :)

    marci
    tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27539027531

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Follow you on FGC

    Melanie
    couponadventures@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would like to try them in the laundry. I've been thinking about making my own detergent, this might be a better solution.
    chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm following you on twitter as @bmom76.
    chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I tweeted about the giveaway as @bmom76
    http://twitter.com/bmom76/status/27583131936
    chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I subscribe to your rss feed via google reader.
    chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm following you on gfc.
    chelsea
    chelsreb(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  42. following the blog on gfc as jhb.
    would love to try soapnuts!
    jhbalvin at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I would love to try these!
    rlawrence110(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I follow your RSS feed on Google Reader
    Michele
    rlawrence110(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I follow you on Twitter
    @rlawrence110
    rlawrence110(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'm a GFC follower
    Michele
    rlawrence110(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  47. daily tweet; http://twitter.com/#!/LilMamaK77/status/27673787774

    blondredhead at mac dot com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I follow GFC
    wendyhines at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I am following on gfc. I had never heard of soap nuts until today but would love to try them.
    lori@dadsroadhouse.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi, I'm a new GFC follower
    I'd love to try the soap nuts, never heard of them.
    Tchoplin2009@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete