GB REVIEW: ECO NUTS ORGANIC LAUNDRY SOAP
- Jul 1, 2015
- 3 min read
Photo by Guru Beauty
A couple of months ago, I posted the above photo of a bunch of products, including a small box. Inside that box were some Eco Nuts. These "nuts" are actually dried berries from the Himalayas. The pulp of these berries is an effective cleaner and is used to make soap in that region without any chemicals or perfume. Some amazing geniuses got the idea to market the berries as laundry soap. These geniuses formed Eco Nuts -- the most recognizable brand for using soap berries as laundry detergent. The berries themselves are completely biodegradable, compostable and Eco Nuts packages them in a recyclable box, instead of a plastic, which means zero waste. For all these reasons, I was super excited when I saw that Eco Nuts are for sale in Turkey! They are available in two sizes: 10 loads and 100 loads. The price is 16.50 TL and 44.00 TL, respectively. Yes, they may seem slightly more expensive than traditional laundry detergents, but they are still reasonably priced for an imported product. Actually, 44.00 TL right now is about $16 USD. The same box (100 loads) retails for $11.00 USD in the US. Also, most conventional laundry detergents in Turkey are at least 20 TL and only for 60 loads or so. Not a bad mark up considering we are used to paying so much more for imported products here. So far, this product was adding up to be a winner, but does it really work? The short answer is yes. I have used Eco Nuts for several weeks now and am happy with the results. The longer answer is more complicated. Here are the pros and cons:
Photo by Eco Nuts
Pros
No plastic! The berries come in a paper box with a cloth pouch for storage.
Easy to use -- you simply place four or five nuts into the cloth pouch it comes with and throw it in with your wash. If you use a dryer, be sure to remove the bag before drying.
Environmentally friendly -- you can use the berries until they fall apart then throw them in with your compost, put them in dirt or throw them away. They are biodegradable.
Relatively cost effective -- Eco Nuts are not that much more expensive than conventional laundry detergents.
Non-toxic -- certified organic in how they are harvested and no chemicals or other toxins are used. They are perfume free, as well!
They work! These bad boys actually remove stains and leave your clothes fresh and clean. I have used them on towels, sweaty yoga clothes and on a rug that suffered an unfortunate mustard incident.
Cons
You have to wait between washes -- the soap nuts need to be used when dry, so you can't go from one load to the next, unless you have a lot of nuts and make sure one batch is dry at all times.
No smell -- if you are someone who associates clean with a certain smell, then you may be put off by these soap nuts. They definitely clean but there is not a lingering "ocean," "fresh," or "floral," smell. They leave a totally pleasant but neutral odor.
Sold in only certain locations -- these are not as readily available as other detergents, but you can find them online at Eko Organic and at Macro Centers across the city.
The pros clearly outweigh the cons, and when it comes to my health and the environment, I try to make choices that reflect the respect I want to give to both. If you give Eco Nuts a try, let me know how it goes in the comments below!
Comments