Soap nuts are actually not a nut; they are in fact a berry from trees that grow in particularly in India and Nepal. A very ecological and economical way to do your laundry, they have been used for centuries thanks to their degreasing qualities.

Once ripe, soap nuts become sticky due to the high content saponin contained in their shells that, when added to water, act as a natural detergent. The detergent properties of the saponin in the soap nuts is due to a combination of lipophilic components (soluble in oily organic compounds) and hydrophilic compounds (soluble in water), which, when agitated, remove grease from clothes, skin or soiled surfaces.

Soap nuts used as shells or in liquid form, do not need any processing or industrial production. Neither do they require any added pollutants (phosphates, solvents, whitening agents) before use. Also when using soap nuts, the water released from your washing machine contains nothing harmful to the environment. In fact, the saponin from the nuts acts as a very good solution to combat the propagation of parasites and the aphids in the garden. Soap nuts are, therefore, considered as non-toxic and non-polluting.

Other Advantages of Ecological Laundry

Soap nuts are not aggressive towards clothing and linen
Soap nuts are very effective for washing delicates, wool and silk without pilling or spoiling the shape
Soap nuts are great for making colours vibrant again
Soap nuts are hypoallergenic and excellent for anyone who suffers from skin complaints
Soap nuts are more economical than traditional washing detergents
Soap nuts can be used for multiple purposes: laundry, jewellery, pets, household, etc.

What Results Can I Expect For My Laundry?

Due to the natural characteristics of saponin, soap nuts are considered to be less effective than chemical detergents but, they are sufficient for most washes. They are great for colours and delicates and can be used for hand or machine wash in temperatures of 30° to 90°. They are also suitable for dish-washing. The people who use soap nuts are generally of the opinion that this green, ecological manner of washing is as good as washing with chemical detergents, although for heavily soiled laundry, the use of a stain remover or bicarbonate of soda is recommended.

Instructions For Use in The Washing Machine

Put 6 half nuts into the cotton bag (normally provided) and add to the laundry in the drum
Add a couple of drops of your favourite smelling essential oil to the wash; because the soap nuts offer no scent.
Re-use the same nuts 3 to 4 times more for low/medium temperature, and less for hotter washes
When the soap nuts become soft, throw them on your garden compost heap and use new ones for your next wash

Soap Nuts Liquid Soap

If you decide to use soap nuts in a liquid form, the same rules apply in terms of using in the washing machine; temperatures ranging 30° to 90°.  Just add about 40ml of liquid direct into the drum or the drawer of the machine and wash as normal; not forgetting the essential oil for scent.

A Few Tips & Tricks

If your laundry is very dirty, pre soak it with bicarbonate of soda as well as the wash nuts.
If there are stains, rub with Savon de Marseille then soak as above
If the water is very hard, soap nuts can be less effective so add a little baking soda or white vinegar to the washing machine

How to Make Liquid Soap

More Uses for Soap Nuts

Available in the UK
For more information, visit our website at http://www.naturalfrenchsoap.com
and our blog at  http://www.naturalfrenchsoap.com/blog.html
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As the world’s attention has turned to renewable energy as a means to aid in the maintenance of the environment, Germany has taken charge as a leader in biofuels.  Biofuels are often used to power automobiles and other machinery.  They are derived from animal waste or from plant matter such as grain or rapeseed oil.  Harmful emissions from fossil fuels are thus avoided.

In an effort to revolutionize biofuel use and technology, Germany decreed that 20% of all fuel consumed would be biofuel by the year 2020.  A new fuel known as E-10 was supposed to have been introduced in 2009, made up of 90% ethanol.  Ethanol is a renewable energy alcohol made from the fermentation of sugar.  Unfortunately, the German Automobile Club found that nearly 3.7 million cars were unable to convert the fuel into power.  The original estimate was that only around 1 million cars would be affected.  Critics of the plan to accelerate the use of first generation biofuels like ethanol propose that if more crops are used to produce biofuel in Germany, then the price of food crops would rise.  In addition, the demand for sugar cane imports from Brazil would threaten more rain forest acreage.  They found the news that the ethanol revolution had hit a snag encouraging.

However, this obstacle has not stopped Germany’s biofuels industry.  In fact, the nation is nearly ready to start commercial production of biofuels this year.  A plant built by Choren Industries is in the final stages of construction in Freiburg, a city in the southern part of the country.  Using wood-based products, the goal is to produce 15,000 tonnes of biomass-to-liquid gas, a second generation biofuel.  Freiburg is already renowned for its recycling efforts, and with the addition of a biofuels plant, they will certainly gain further recognition as an eco-city.  As long ago as 1992, Freiburg city council passed a resolution allowing for only low-energy buildings to be constructed on municipal land.

Choren Industries plans to study the political climate in Germany before constructing larger biofuels plants.  Although they do not produce first generation biofuels from renewable energy materials such as palm oil and rapeseed oil (keeping food costs down), production of second generation biofuels from wood is costlier to produce. Choren is more interested in working in cooperation with German citizens than forcing biofuel plants upon them.  When it comes to the renewable energy of biofuels, Germany wishes to lead by example, not by force.

New-Energy-Portal is a Renewable Energy Directory where you can also contact Biofuel Manufacturers in Germany and Biofuel Suppliers in Germany which provide you the best usage of biofuels.
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Nowadays, one of the most pressing problems in our world is the environment, and how we are slowly polluting it and causing man-made disasters, health problems, and many other bad effects. It is important for us to be environmentally friendly in our own ways so that we can help lessen the effects of pollutants to our environment. Everything must start with ourselves, and we can make a big impact by doing little things.

Firstly, you have to remember to recycle and reuse things around the house. Also, reduce your amount of waste by buying things that have less packaging. You can set up family recycling days to sort out paper, plastic, glass, and cans to send to the recycling center. This can dramatically reduce your amount of carbon dioxide emissions. You can also seek out a recycling center that does its own sorting.

To spare your own budget and conserve energy, then you should start using less heating and air conditioning. If you live in a place with extreme temperatures, add insulation to different parts of your house to keep the cold or hot out of the house. When you’re not in the house, you can turn down the heat or air conditioning.

Everyone has heard of fluorescent lights, and replacing your normal bulbs with them will save you lots of money on electricity. It uses a lot less energy and releases less heat which can save on air conditioning bills in the long run. Aside from this, public transport is also advised. This lessens the number of cars on the road, reducing traffic jams, and it is also very efficient in terms of gas and vehicle use.

In order to get your family hands-on in the process of making the world a better place, you can have an activity like planting a tree. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen, which is necessary for our respiration. Over time they create shade and when planted on the south side of a house, this can reduce air conditioning costs in the summer. Not to mention, trees are beautiful to look at and also fun to plant as seedlings and can prove to be a bonding experience for the family.

Make sure to educate yourself and your family about the importance of being environmentally friendly. You can even go to classes about the ecosystem in places like zoos and other institutions together as a family. You can volunteer as a family and feel good about having helped in the fight against energy and resource waste. This also provides you with a chance to meet other people who also care about the environment so that you will have a support group and you can help each other improve your lifestyles to be more environmentally friendly.

If you get your family to know about the importance of protecting the environment and all of its flora and fauna, then they can inspire others to do the same. We all have the power to make our world a better place, as long as we start with ourselves and help others be like us. Let’s make this world a better place for our children to live in, and our children’s children as well.

Michelle Patelle, stay-at-home mother and writer, hopes that nursing mothers will investigate their choices at sites such as http://babylovesyourmilk.com which has information about breast pump reviews and breast shield fit.
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