Soap Nuts

NaturOli’s Extreme 18X soap nuts liquid is getting a face lift (new labeling). For many months Extreme 18X has been created using USDA Organic soap berries, but the labels have not reflected that improvement.

EXTREME 18X
Soap Nuts Liquid Laundry Detergent & Green Cleaner Concentrate.

Now produced from USDA Certified Organic Soap Nuts / Soap Berries!

With no-mess, no-waste, micro-dose pump!
One pump included.
Ultra-concentrated 18X potency.
As little as one tiny 2ml squirt per load (no kidding).

8 ounces will yield 96 high efficiency (HE) loads or 48 standard loads.

The folks over at NaturOli are making room for the redesigned labels by offering this SUPER SALE on bottles with the old labels. You know waste not want not. It’s the same amazing formula you’ve come to know and love, and the same concept that won a Green Dot Award.

Quoting directly from the email I received.

50% off regular retail prices on Extreme 18X – UNTIL GONE

You’ll need a promo code. Use promo code: extreme50

PLEASE NOTE: You’ll find the field to enter your code at the very bottom of your “Shopping Cart” page. Scroll all the way down. Enter the code, and click “Submit”. Your discount will then be clearly displayed.

Sale applies to full size singles & multi-packs only.

Oh and they even sweetened the deal.

FREE BONUS:

For each $50 in merchandise (after discounts), we’ll include a bonus 2-oz. Mini bottle of Extreme hair Soap Berry Shampoo. (A $5.90 value each.) You don’t need to do anything at all. It will be shipped with your order.

Note: If you have a formula preference, indicate “Dry” or “Oily” in the customer comments at check-out.

Oh and don’t forget that NaturOli ALWAYS offers Free Shipping on orders over $100. So you can really CLEAN UP with this EXTREME SALE.

Don’t forget Extreme 18X Soap Nuts Liquid (laundry detergent and green cleaner) has a 2 year shelf life so you won’t have to worry about how long it will take to use up the supply if you stock up now.

Extreme 18X Single Bottle

Extreme 18X 2-pack

Extreme 18X 3-pack

NaturOli's Extreme 18x -Same Award Winning Formula - Brand New Look

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Buying Bulk Soap nuts can save you money, lots and lots of money.

Bulk Soap Nuts

In the 2 years I’ve been using soap nuts I have been able to stop buying cleanser, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener, bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, shaving cream, and floor cleaning products, car care products, and lots of other things… you get the idea about why I would encourage you to buy bulk soap nuts. The list of soap nuts uses is too long to share here.

When you buy a single pound you can expect to pay approximately $15-$25 US. I’m sure you’ve read all the articles on how much that would be per load and you know the relative ease of how to use soap nuts.

Now what you may not know is that this is the time of year when most US Soap Nuts importers are placing their orders for the previous/current year harvest. That means they want to sell off the soap nuts from last year’s harvest because they are not as pretty and large because they’ve lost some internal moisture. The longer they are off the tree the smaller and darker the soap nuts get. (good indication of age post harvest). They may not be as pretty, but they work just as well. You just need to soak them in some warm water for a bit longer if you are doing the tea method and cold water washing.

Since some of the US importers are proud of the size and color of the soap nuts they sell, this is your chance to get a REAL bargain by buying bulk soap nuts during the time period when they are trying to move their inventory. (don’t forget US inventory tax time is upon us also). SO… imagine being able to buy 10 lbs of bulk soap nuts and pay ONLY about $10 per lb. Great deal, right?

You can split these among a group of friends or family, and if you order just one more dollar in the NaturOli store you’d also get FREE SHIPPING.All orders over $100 receive free shipping from NaturOli.

Heck of a deal RIGHT? SO check this out 10 lbs bulk sapindus mukorossi soap nuts on special for $99.99 oh and these are also Organic, certified by EcoCert for the USDA.

While you’re there grab a bar of soap nuts soap to soothe that rough itchy Winter skin.

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NaturOli has one heck of a special on soap nuts, soaps, and Extreme 18X soap nuts liquid detergent from now til the end of September so if you’ve been waiting to buy soap nuts now is the time to do it.

TWO Free Shipping Offers

• This week (ending Friday the 18th at midnight) you will get free shipping on orders over $29
• For the remainder of the month you will get free shipping on orders over $49

Free shipping is standard ground shipping – normally only on orders over $100 If you choose another option you will be given credit for standard shipping.)

This includes items on sale, too.
Don’t worry that the storefront states “over $100″ -you’ll see it adjusted for you when you check out!

So here’s your chance to stock up on soap nuts, natural handmade soaps, the new soap nuts shampoo bar, and even try some of NaturOli’s amazing truly natural skin care. With free shipping on orders over $29 until September 18, 2009 every penny you spend goes directly to products and who wouldn’t love that.

Be sure to register during the checkout process so you can earn bonus points which will entitle you to discounts in the future.

Go… buy soap nuts NOW and take advantage of this great free shipping offer.

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Soap nuts as you have read, if you’ve followed my blog posts, are one of the most environmentally friendly all purpose green cleaners available, not to mention all of the other great ways to use soap nuts to replace chemical based packaged products in the home.

I know I planned to go into more detail about NaturOli’s new soap nuts shampoo bar in my next post, but I’ve been temporarily derailed by thoughts about the natural laundry detergent benefits of soap nuts. What derailed me? Summer laundry challenges, that’s what!

Last week I spent an inordinate number of hours in the summer sun and heat playing at DisneyWorld with out-of-town guests. As you can imagine I was soaked in perspiration after only a few minutes, let alone more than eight hours each day.

I have used soap nuts for just over a year now and although you would expect I would no longer be amazed by what a phenomenal natural laundry detergent they are. I just can’t help but smile every time I remove another load of laundry from the washing machine.

Summer clothing and laundry demands present greater challenges than most seasonal clothing. Most people spend more time outdoors, perspire more heavily, and for those with oil skin their bodies produce even more oil. All of that means major laundry challenges, especially related to odors in your clothing.

Let’s talk about the wonders of soap nuts as a natural laundry detergent in bit more depth. With heat and perspiration the pores of the skin dilate which means that those who are sensitive to synthetic chemicals and fragrances are even more prone to skin irritation. That means an additive free natural detergent has even more value and benefit to them during the summer months.

So what else is important to know about the natural laundry detergent benefits of soap nuts? Well their ability to cause the release of soil, perspiration, and odors in particular. If you have a sensitive nose you may have noticed that your linen closet or dresser drawers have a faint smell of rancid oil to them over time. That is caused by the oils from your skin coupled with the natural skin bacteria becoming embedded in your linens and shirts in particular. Regular synthetic laundry detergent does not significantly change the surface tension of either the water or the fabric enough to cause a full release of those oils and bacteria. Soap nuts do though, which is why soap nuts leave your clothes clean, soft (no built up residue embedded in the fabric) and also cause natural fibers to become more absorbent. Soap nuts actually unclog the fibers and the longer you use them as a natural laundry detergent the more you will notice that your clothes get softer with each wash.

Hard to believe I know, but it’s true. I know this not only from personal experience but from other long terms soap nuts users. One man in particular has mentioned to me how with each wash in soap nuts his under garments become more soft.

Now let’s discuss what soap nuts, when used as a natural laundry detergent, do for absorbency of fabrics.

Summer means more natural fibers clothing and there is nothing worse than having your shirt drenched in perspiration and stuck to your body. However because soap nuts do not leave a residue and in fact cause built up detergent and fabric softener residue to release clothes, towels, and undergarments become more absorbent. So fabrics washed in soap nuts will absorb the perspiration and then allow the fabric to dry easily and quickly.

Now the last thing I want to point out about the benefits of soap nuts as a natural laundry detergent is that many people spend more time at the swimming pool and beach during the summer. Whether is is play time or exercise that means wet towels that do not always get washed and dried right away.

We have all forgotten laundry over night in the washing machine or had someone in our house dump their wet towels in the laundry hamper. What happens when damp clothes are left in a closed environment especially in the heat is that bacteria grows in that lovely damp warm environment. And then what? Stinking sour smelling clothes. But here’s a really interesting thing I know about the difference when you use soap nuts as your natural laundry detergent. Not only do they remove that nasty sour smell from wet towels and laundry, but even if someone does leave damp laundry in the washing machine overnight most people find that their is no sour smell. Now how great is that, no more having to rewash a perfectly clean load of laundry just because you forgot it in the washing machine overnight, or your kids pulled damp clothes out of the dryer and dumped them in a basket and forgot to mention it.

In the year that I have used soap nuts as a natural laundry detergent I have noticed many things. One thing in particular is that I have a great deal less dryer lint. So what’s the big deal there you may wonder. Well many of us who tout the benefits of soap nuts point out that because the surfactant (saponin) is natural and not chemically derived your clothes will not only keep their color longer, stay white without bleach but also last longer because there are no harsh chemicals to break down or abrade the fibers. How do I know this is true … my lint filter tells me so. Less dryer lint means that less fiber filaments are being worn away on my clothing. Soap nuts are responsible for that.

All in all you cannot ask for a better natural laundry detergent than soap nuts. They are anti-fungal, antimicrobial, additive free, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and sustainable. Sounds like a home run to me.

Summer’s here … go get some soap nuts and find out for yourself the natural laundry detergent benefits they have to offer.

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Today I want to share with you how to make and use soap nuts shampoo. Yes you can replace many toxic, unsafe, skin irritating skin care and personal care products with soap nuts too, even shampoo.

Many people share that soap nuts can be used as a shampoo, but if I were to hazard a guess few if any of them actually use soap nuts shampoo because their descriptions are so identical and obviously from one central source. I have also concluded that people want more detailed instructions about using soap nuts shampoo because I see a lot of searches for it in my analytics reports.

Before I share with you my recipe for soap nuts shampoo I want to tell you upfront that there is a learning curve to using soap nuts as a shampoo, and that some trial and error is to be expected. Why? Well the most common reason for people having inconsistent results from soap nuts shampoo is our modern programming that encourages us to gauge clean against suds (lather) and also because everyone’s hair texture and water quality is different.

Now that soap nuts shampoo recipes and usage instructions I mentioned before.

I prefer to make my homemade soap nuts liquid the same way some people make sun tea. You’ll find that process in this previous post about making soap nuts liquid greener. (or you can use the soap nuts liquid stove top method)

Once you have your soap nuts liquid prepared according to the recipe of your choice pour approximately 1 cup into either a spray bottle or a foaming pump dispenser, or an old shampoo bottle with a pump top (or pour top). The point here is to put the soap nuts liquid in the type of container that’s most comfortable for you. I personally add approximately 3 tsp of vegetable glycerin because my hair tends towards dry (it’s really more coarse than dry but it likes extra moisturizing). If you choose to add the vegetable glycerin shake the bottle well.

You may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil if you wanted scented shampoo.

So now applying the soap nuts liquid for shampooing. Obviously you need to wet your hair. Start with a very small amount of the liquid if you are pumping or pouring it into your hand. A very small amount of it goes a very long way because it is highly concentrated. There is virtually zero suds so you will feel like you want to put more on your hair looking for suds. I strongly suggest you don’t because you will end up with your hair plastered to your head unless you rinse for a LONG time. You are better off to get your hair a bit wetter and use the extra water for better hair “agitation”.

Now just as a hair stylist would, massage the liquid into your scalp since that’s where healthy hair starts and work it through the rest of your hair. Do you best not to get it in your eyes. Now wet your hair a bit more and rub the liquid through your hair again and then allow it to sit in/on your hair for about 3 minutes.

Rinse WELL preferably with cool water until you see no bubbles in your hair or the water that is running off your head. If your hair feels a bit sticky you need to keep rinsing.

Alternatively if you have one of those foaming pump bottles you will need to dilute the soap nuts liquid approximately 3 to 1 with water and be sure the liquid is very well strained before you put it in the pump because those foamers clog easily.  The process of applying the foamy soap nuts liquid shampoo for this is the same as if you use the straight liquid.

If you choose to try the soap nuts liquid shampoo method using the spray bottle you will want to dilute the soap nuts liquid 2 to 1 to keep your spray nozzle from getting clogged. Mist your wet hair lightly from scalp to hair tips and massage the liquid through your hair.

Some people who wash their hair with soap nuts rinse with white vinegar. I don’t but I do squeeze a small amount of vegetable glycerin into my palm and work it through my damp hair before I comb it.

I wrote above that using soap nuts shampoo has a learning curve to it in part because we are so ill equipped to think of washing hair without that luxuriant suds you get from traditional shampoos.  I cannot emphasize this enough. The suds, as most of you should know, come from chemical foaming agents like sodium laureth sulfate and have no cleansing but potentially very irritating effects.

If you are a real trouper you can try shampooing your hair with soap nuts powder. You’ll need it to be VERY finely ground like you would use it for soap nuts laundry detergent. When I have used soap nuts powder for a shampoo I put it in a shaker with very tiny holes (adding dry rice to the container to keep it from clumping). With the soap nuts powder you will get suds because the saponin is more freely available from the powder. Shake a small dusting of the powder into your damp palms and rub your hands together until you get some suds and then massage it into your hair. Work your way up to more with future washes because again if you use too much you will get plastered hair unless you rinse WELL.

The benefits of using soap nuts shampoo are not limited to just protecting yourself and the planet from irritating and harmful chemical exposure. Let’s not forget that given the antifungal properties of soap nuts this is a perfect anti-fungal shampoo that is also ALL natural.

So if all of this is a bit too much effort for you and you really want to use soap nuts for shampoo you have two other great choices. One you can get right away and one you will need to wait about 4-6 weeks to get your hands on.

This is your first alternative to trying to make your own soap nuts shampoo. Because I love everything NaturOli makes so much, I tried their fabulous soap nuts soap bar to wash my hair several times. I was very happy with the results, you get great lather and all the benefits of soap nuts. There is much less effort and you have more control over how much you use and can clearly see and feel when you’ve rinsed enough.

But here’s the best of all … earlier this week I got the privilege of trying out a new soap nuts shampoo bar that NaturOli created. It was part of a trial batch and word has it a full batch will be available in approximately 4-6 weeks. So come back and check in with me to see when it’s ready to hit the market. Of course like everything NaturOli formulates their soap bars are natural and have 100 percent full ingredient disclosure.

My next post will have before and after pictures of my hair using both the soap nuts soap bar and the soap nuts shampoo bar along with more details about why I am raving about this new soap nuts shampoo bar, and I’ll  also be sharing soap nuts uses for gentle natural skin care and personal care in place of packaged chemical based products.

So go hit the showers (or tubs) and protect yourself and the planet from chemicals by using soap nuts as a chemical free shampoo!

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