Environmental problems are occupying more and more space as a matter of concern today. Yet we are doing little to reduce the pollution burden on the planet. It is a known fact that non-biodegradable materials are one of the main causes of pollution, since they remain as such in our environment throughout the year. Among these non-biodegradable waste, are you aware that what plastic is for soil pollution, so is detergent for water pollution?
Most detergents have non-biodegradable substances that remain in the environment for years and complex compounds take years and years to break down into simpler compounds. However, what we need to keep in mind is that there is an urgent need to replace such chemicals and not just a replacement, but a much more effective alternative. The perfect alternative is nature’s own cleaning agent.
Soap nuts are essentially fruits that produce a substance called saponin which acts like soap and is a fantastic cleaning agent. The best feature of nut soaps as a detergent is that they are an effective low-foaming surfactant, which means it lowers the surface tension of liquids, allowing it to spread and remove dirt, grime, and oil. clothes, instead of forming droplets. This is a feature that is sought after in detergents to provide effective cleaning.
In fact, soap nuts have all the characteristics that make them a perfect HE detergent that can be conveniently used in front-loading washers for which most detergents don’t qualify. Front load washers generally require tumbling rather than agitators for top load washers and this tumbling results in better saponin release, providing a better cleaning effect. Another factor that makes it a perfect cleaner to use in front load washers is that it produces low suds unlike most chemical detergents. Considering the fact that HE washers use less water, soap nuts are good to use even with less water, because when soap nuts come in contact with water, they immediately start releasing saponins for cleaning.
Some of the other characteristics of soap nuts and their carefully crafted all-natural laundry products that make them a distinctive HE detergent are that they are antifungal, antimicrobial, and naturally biodegradable. In addition, being a natural product, they do not cause allergies or roughness in the hands. They are also not harsh on clothes, there is no need for fabric softeners with their use and they are easy to use. They can be used in powder, liquid or simply in their natural form. The outer shell of walnuts is hard when dry and lasts a long time if kept away from moisture. For washing, dry soap nuts, upon contact with water, release their Saponin content, which is used for washing.
With all these features, the cost of soap nuts can be expected to be high. Surprisingly though, soap nuts are very reasonably priced. In fact, they are usually cheaper than some detergents. There is therefore little reason why detergents should not be condemned in favor of soap nuts, which lead to better cleaning as well as reducing some of the pollution we are causing to our environment.
