|
Home grown soap – well almost!
Thursday 31 July
Nelson company Global Soap is pioneering the use of an environmentally friendly soap that literally grows on trees. Global Soap will have its first shipment of soap nuts available at this year’s Ecofest, at Founders Park on 16 and 17 August, along with three other products that can be used alongside them.
Soap nuts are the fruit of the sapindus mukirossi tree, which is native to Nepal and India. Global Soap owners Ing-Marie and Bronwyn Shallcrass have been trialing soap nuts at home before offering them through their Nile Street shop.
“Our soap nuts are supplied with a wash bag,” said Bronwyn. “You just put four or five nuts in the wash bag and throw it in the machine with your clothes.”
The company is also offering a stain remover, whitener, and essential oil to add a fresh scent, to be used with the soap nuts.
Because the nuts are low foaming they can be used in front loading machines as well at top loading, and can be used for four or five washes before they lose their cleaning power.
“I found that one 250g bag of nuts, which will retail at $15.00, would last my family of five for two months,” said Ing-Marie. The nuts can be used at any wash temperature and go in the compost bin when they need to be replaced. Ing-Marie said liquid soap can be made by simmering the nuts in water. This can then used for a variety of household purposes.
Soap nuts are gentle, hypo allergenic and suitable for delicate fabrics and for people with delicate skin. “We are really excited about soap nuts and looking forward to launching them at Ecofest,” said Bronwyn.
| 
