Alternatives to washing powder??

[flubdub]

I have been put off the idea of using washing powder by the amount of residue left on clothes and nappies. As someone else said, if you rinse nappies until ALL of the suds have gone, it takes all day! So I dread to think what is left on my clothes after just a quick rinse! Also, my eldest has bad excema - SO Im now willing to try something else. I have heard of soapnuts, but thought (for some reason) that they lasted for weeks at a time, not just a few washes.
Do other washer balls really work? Is there anything else?
Cheers

 

[Sam292]

I have started using soapnuts and i get about 5 washes out of 5 shells so its quite economical. So far they seem very good x

 

[flubdub]

I have started using soapnuts and i get about 5 washes out of 5 shells so its quite economical. So far they seem very good x

Do they leave 'bits' in your washing? And do you have to soak them beofre you use them? I was just reading on a website that soaking them for 3 minutes before use makes the "soap" be released quicker, but it sounds a bit of a faff?

 

[discoclare]

I have started using soapnuts and i get about 5 washes out of 5 shells so its quite economical. So far they seem very good x

Do they leave 'bits' in your washing? And do you have to soak them beofre you use them? I was just reading on a website that soaking them for 3 minutes before use makes the "soap" be released quicker, but it sounds a bit of a faff?

No they don't leave bits.
I don't soak before use, would be interested in others answers as I haven't heard of that before.

 

[flubdub]

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100g-Eco-fri...omeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item2310049e01

Well I just ordered these. Only £2.50 so will see how I go with them

I would like to try some washer balls too as I think they last a very long time, but the longer lasting ones arnt so cheap.

 

[Sam292]

I don't soak them but do find they leave bits but its only a few and they are big, so easy to pick out. You can do a trial of them you just pay 75p p&p which is what I did before buying a box. We got the shells but maybe the powder would be better if you were worried about the bits left in the washing. https://www.soapnuts.co.uk/free_soapnut_samples.html

 

[SBB]

I got eco balls, they seem to do the job just fine! I use some essential oil in the softener drawer for a nice smell.

I still use detergent for clothes, but once we've used up what we have left I am going to use ecoballs for everything. In the meantime I've cut down the amount I use.

I am also going to try soapnuts.

x x x

ps nice new avvie pic

 

[flubdub]

I got eco balls, they seem to do the job just fine! I use some essential oil in the softener drawer for a nice smell.

I still use detergent for clothes, but once we've used up what we have left I am going to use ecoballs for everything. In the meantime I've cut down the amount I use.

I am also going to try soapnuts.

x x x

ps nice new avvie pic

Hehe thanks

I thought you used soapnuts for some reason so was waiting for you to comment!

Which eco balls have you got?


Im going to use soapnuts/eco balls for my nappies so theres no build up, and wait until my washing powder runs out, then use them for everything. Thing is, we have two MASSIVE boxes of washing powder (like industrial sized) so it might be a long wait!

 

[LittlePants]

Eco balls are fantastic - I use them for everything, and add a bit of Ecover laundry bleach to light coloured loads and nappies, to help remove any stains. A word of warning though - the heap wash balls are rubbish! They fal to bits in no time, so stick with the original trade marked ecoballs. There's an entry level one now as well. Also, if you have hard water, my team did some tests, and found that a magnoball in addition to the ecoballs makes a huge difference, if your water is hard. I think I have the best price for them, but f you can find them cheaper, let me know where, and I'll price match!

 

[NuKe]

ive been trying to decide whether to use soapnuts or ecoballs so this thread is v helpful! and nice new avatar!

 

[Rachel_C]

I used soap nuts for a while and they were ok but I kept forgetting to take them out before putting stuff in the dryer and they didn't like it! I didn't soak them before but I did run them under the tap and give them a few squeezes till they were wet. You'd see bubbles starting to come out of them a bit and that's how I knew they were ok for another wash. They didn't leave bits cos I used a little mesh bag I got with them.

BTW, it's only if you use too much detergent that it leaves bad residue really.

 

[mommy43]

i use ecoballs n their great for normal washes n last ages i need a magno ball though i have to soak anything stained atm

 

[fluffpuffin]

I bought ecoballs a few weeks back and thought I'd give them a try. but I admit I was a bit dubious as to whether they'd really work. So yesterday came the real test when I did my first nappy wash with them. I add a magnoball as I live in a hard water area and a tiny amount of ecover laundry bleach as suggested by someone here. Well, I can only say I was amazed by the results - they came out smelling of nothing, and looking and feeling totally clean. I was gobsmacked as truth be told I expected to have to wash them again as they were filthy and smelly before . I'm totally converted now and will never use normal detergent on my nappies anymore.

 

[flubdub]

I bought ecoballs a few weeks back and thought I'd give them a try. but I admit I was a bit dubious as to whether they'd really work. So yesterday came the real test when I did my first nappy wash with them. I add a magnoball as I live in a hard water area and a tiny amount of ecover laundry bleach as suggested by someone here. Well, I can only say I was amazed by the results - they came out smelling of nothing, and looking and feeling totally clean. I was gobsmacked as truth be told I expected to have to wash them again as they were filthy and smelly before . I'm totally converted now and will never use normal detergent on my nappies anymore.

Are "Ecoballs", ALL washer balls? Or is it a brand name?

 

[fluffpuffin]

it's a brand name, made by ecozone
https://www.ecozone.com/p_Ecoballs150.html

 

[flubdub]

Not a bad price either, thanks! 150 washes for £10.

 

[LittlePants]

I bought ecoballs a few weeks back and thought I'd give them a try. but I admit I was a bit dubious as to whether they'd really work. So yesterday came the real test when I did my first nappy wash with them. I add a magnoball as I live in a hard water area and a tiny amount of ecover laundry bleach as suggested by someone here. Well, I can only say I was amazed by the results - they came out smelling of nothing, and looking and feeling totally clean. I was gobsmacked as truth be told I expected to have to wash them again as they were filthy and smelly before . I'm totally converted now and will never use normal detergent on my nappies anymore.

Are "Ecoballs", ALL washer balls? Or is it a brand name?

Ecoballs are the original ones. My team has tested out some of the cheaper copycat ones, and they all fell to bits! So I stick with ecoballs, and am an absolute fan of them, using them for everything, but I'm guessing that they are especially good for nappies, as they work by making the water alkaline, which should leave the nappies slight;y alkaline. In theory this should counteract some of the acidity of urine, and help prevent nappy rash!

 

[flubdub]

I bought ecoballs a few weeks back and thought I'd give them a try. but I admit I was a bit dubious as to whether they'd really work. So yesterday came the real test when I did my first nappy wash with them. I add a magnoball as I live in a hard water area and a tiny amount of ecover laundry bleach as suggested by someone here. Well, I can only say I was amazed by the results - they came out smelling of nothing, and looking and feeling totally clean. I was gobsmacked as truth be told I expected to have to wash them again as they were filthy and smelly before . I'm totally converted now and will never use normal detergent on my nappies anymore.

Are "Ecoballs", ALL washer balls? Or is it a brand name?

Ecoballs are the original ones. My team has tested out some of the cheaper copycat ones, and they all fell to bits! So I stick with ecoballs, and am an absolute fan of them, using them for everything, but I'm guessing that they are especially good for nappies, as they work by making the water alkaline, which should leave the nappies slight;y alkaline. In theory this should counteract some of the acidity of urine, and help prevent nappy rash!

Ahh I see!! Thanks for that! I think I'll get some

 

[bky]

Has anyone used any home made washing solutions on nappies? I used to use a borax/baking soda one on our clothes but never got a definitive answer about using it on PUL.
Thanks for the other ideas though I can only use one brand of washing powder on nappies (that I've found that cleans and doesn't need stripping every 2 weeks ) but it's not always on special and I don't like to pay full price as it's a bit more expensive...

 

[mummyclo]

I have some soapnuts that i tried, but they don't work for us...i think because we have very hard water. If anyone wants a nearly full bag message me