Soapnuts literally grow on trees - you can't get much more sustainable than this!  Soapnuts contain saponin, and are a great way to get a load of fresh clean laundry for very little cost.  Simply put 6-8 half shells into the small muslin bag supplied (or use an old sock), put in the machine with your washing and wash as usual, no softener or detergent required.  Great for use with reusable sanitary pads and your general laundry.  Any stains will need to be pre-treated, as this natural product doesn't contain any stain removers!  The nuts can be used several times before they lose their effectiveness, then simply put on the compost heap and replace with a few more.  They work out at around 3p a load - very cost effective.  Great for coloureds as they have no bleaching agents or "optical whiteners" so they won't cause fading.  We have also found that they are gentle enough to be tolerated by very sensitive skin, and have been fine for our children who suffer from eczema.  If you'd like your laundry to have some kind of gentle scent, try adding a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil to the conditioner drawer of your machine.

Currently out of stock - more are on order and should be available by June.