Katie received complimentary products for review. Change-Diapers was not otherwise compensated and all opinions are her own. The Eco Nuts mission is to provide a healthier cleaning option for your family and our planet through their nontoxic organic cleaners in sustainable packaging. With there being a huge problem with plastic on our planet, Eco Nuts refuses to contribute to it. They are committed to being as plastic-free as they possibly can so they opt to package in more sustainable, highly recyclable options such as aluminum and paperboard. They want to keep cleaning safe and simple in your home with no hidden chemicals or toxins, choosing safe ingredients for their products. Eco Nuts is also mindful when it comes to manufacturing: their products are cruelty-free and certified organic, and their soap berries are ethically sourced from Nepal, creating jobs there as well. Eco Nuts sent me a box full of cleaning products to review and there are so many products that I decided to break it up into two separate posts.
First up, we’re going to talk about the Wool Dryer Balls that Eco Nuts sent me. These are made from sheep in New Zealand who are protected by the country’s extensive laws and regulations. What are dryer balls you ask? They are a reusable, natural, and chemical-free alternative to fabric softener that will soften your clothes, reduce the drying time and save energy and money, and can also help reduce wrinkles in your clothes. They are free of plastic and chemicals and will last for years. The dryer balls are unscented but if you’re a person who enjoys scents, you can add your favorite essential oil directly to the dryer ball. These dryer balls are made of 100% fully felted wool and will last for thousands of loads! All you have to do is toss all four of the dryer balls into your dryer and let them tumble with your laundry. We have been loving these dryer balls; I definitely noticed that our laundry has been softer after drying them with the dryer balls. We chose to leave them unscented because our older son has sensitive skin.
Next up is their Natural Laundry Detergent. It’s fragrance-free, which is great for those of you who have kiddos who have sensitive skin. The detergent is ultra concentrated and can do up to 192 loads of laundry. Most importantly this detergent is safe for HE washing machines! Their detergent is free from gluten, GMOs, dyes, and fragrance. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free and no animal ingredients or testing. This laundry detergent is made with only three ingredients, (soap berry extract, vegetable glycerin and potassium sorbate, which is food grade preservative), but it still has proven to be a highly effective cleaner and only requires one teaspoon for a regular load of laundry. I’m not usually a huge fan of liquid detergents in general, but I was surprised by how well this one cleaned our laundry. A little detergent goes a long way with the Eco Nuts laundry detergent. I have two young boys, so their clothes are always getting so, so dirty. I’ve been really liking using this detergent for their laundry because it does a good job of getting things cleaned, but I also like that it doesn’t irritate their skin like other detergents can. Now if you have heavily soiled clothing, you may need to add some extra detergent to the washer. Their bottles are recyclable as well, so you can take them anywhere that accepts aluminum. You can also purchase refills on the Eco Nuts website!
Last but not least are the Eco Nuts Soap Berries. I was really excited to be able to try these out and they’re definitely an interesting way to clean your laundry. Just like their liquid detergent, these are safe for HE washing machines as well as nut allergy safe. The odd looking Eco Nuts are actually dried berries from a tree that grows in the Himalayas. When they’re agitated in water, they produce a naturally occurring surfactant called saponin. Saponin can be used as a soap or detergent which cleanses gently. You can also use them as a fabric softener which is a great option for those who are sensitive to conventional laundry detergents. Eco Nuts are wild-harvested and certified USDA Organic by Oregon Tilth. This means they are gathered from wild trees grown without any kind of chemicals, fertilizers or pesticides. Saponin actually tastes bad to insects so no pesticides are needed and the trees naturally love poor uncultivated soil.Â
The directions are pretty straightforward and easy. You’ll want to place 4-5 Eco Nuts in the wash bag provided to you and toss it in the washer with your laundry. Leave them in through the rinse cycle as the saponin that’s released from the berries also acts as a fabric softener. Which means you can use the Eco Nuts for both cleaning and as a fabric softener which is seriously convenient. You can re-use the nuts until they lose their color, become as thin as a piece of paper and are crunchy and brittle when dry. At that point, you’ll want to replace them with new ones. Don’t worry if you notice if they are hollow because the soap is in the shell. Even pieces have soap in them until they become paper thin. Don’t worry if you don’t see any suds because that’s common; they don’t foam like a chemical detergent, but the soap is still there. (Bubbles don’t always equal cleaning power.) The Eco Nuts are gentle on delicate fabrics and colors, are great for those with sensitive skin, and are cloth diaper safe. When you receive a box it will come with 2 wash bags, detailed instructions, and the Eco Nuts. Also, when compared to a 32-load bottled detergent, this box will save 3.125 plastic detergent bottles from ever getting to the landfill or ending up in the ocean! You can find all of the products mentioned in this review and more in the Eco Nuts laundry category.
Don’t forget to come back to check out the second half of the review where I’ll be talking about Eco Nuts cleaning products.
What’s your favorite Eco Nuts product?
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
