While as amazing and effective as Eco Nuts Soap Nuts and Liquid Detergents are, they aren’t a magic solve-all solution for everyone. Sometimes, they just need a little help. First off – it’s not your fault so don’t cry, and don’t blame the little nuts, either. We’re here to help. Below are some solutions to common problems that may occur. If you don’t see your particular situation, we welcome any questions about your experience with Eco Nuts and we’re here to help! You can reach us through our contact page or on our Facebook Page.
HARD WATER
Stuff not getting clean? Stains stay on? Musty odor? You have hard water!
Soap nuts do work in hard water, however, there are some rare cases where the mineral/ph combination will keep the soap from working.
When a customer tells me their clothes aren’t getting clean, I suggest going buy some Calgon, RLR, or white king. I tell people to do that no matter what detergent they use if they are having this problem – because most detergent will not get your clothes clean unless you use a hard water softener in extreme cases. Some of the big brands have fragrances specifically to trick you into thinking your clothes are coming out cleaner and hide the musty mineral odor that is invariably on your clothes.
Other things you can do if you have hard water – wash on a much warmer/hotter setting or an extra Soap Nut, or try our Eco Nuts liquid detergent which is stronger so it works better in hard water.
FRONT LOADER
Stuff not getting clean in a front loader and you don’t have hard water? Those machines can be a little tricky sometimes, but fear not! Here are some causes and possible solutions for you:
Problem: Low Spin – the nuts work well with agitation, so make sure it’s set to high spin
Solution: High Spin or Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent (which doesn’t rely on agitation to release soap)
Problem: Cold Water – this isn’t necessarily a problem, you just want to make sure there’s enough agitation that the nuts can still release soap
Solution: Hot water, more agitation or Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent (which doesn’t rely on water temperature to release soap). You can also try soaking the nuts first in a cup of hot water (I usually put mine in the microwave) and then pouring the bag with the “tea” into the wash.
Problem: Not enough water – some of the HE machines will use too little water to the point that the little nuts aren’t in the water enough to release the soap.
Solution: tell the machine to increase the water level OR add a wet towel to trick the machine into thinking there are more clothes, thus giving the machine more water. The other option is Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent because it is already in a liquid and ready to go.
Problem: Laundry smells like mold or rotten eggs, mold growing in the washing machine
Solution: The machine’s pump filter needs to be cleaned and the rubber gaskets wiped down/cleaned out. This is an easy fix and you can read all about how to keep your machine clean in another article on our blog. The pump filter needs to be cleaned out regularly and is the number one cause of odors in the machine, even when the drum is kept clean.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
Not sure if you want to use Soap Nuts or Liquid or which would be best? Here’s a handy guide to show you what works best to help you out. Please keep in mind that these are just recommendations. So, feel free to use the one you want and try it out. Everyone’s washing machine and water type combo is different!
Do you have a front loader or a top loader?
Front Loader – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent
Top Loader – Eco Nuts Soap Nuts
How hard is your water?
Really Hard – so hard it’s chunky! – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent with Calgon/RLR
Moderately Hard – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent or Soap Nuts with Calgon/RLR (optional)
I’m told it’s hard but I don’t notice a difference – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent or Soap Nuts
Normal –Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent or Soap Nuts
Soft – Eco Nuts Soap Nuts
What temperature do you wash in? Cold all the time – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent A mixture of hot and cold – Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent or Soap Nuts Hot mostly – Eco Nuts Soap Nuts