Nuts for soap

I'm a little skeptical about these, but apparently if you put some of these Soapnuts into a little bag and toss them in the wash, they work as well as laundry detergent, but without all the harsh chemicals.  They're not that expensive (I think: £2.95 for 100g), and about 1kg of soapnuts could do about 100 washes.  Washing comes out clean and without a smell, but if you like your things to have a scent, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the wash beforehand. The nuts can be used for other applications too: shampoo, pet wash, car wash, countertops, even pest repellents for plants.  I'm a vinegar and bread soda gal myself, but if these really work that well, I might have a new favorite green cleaner.  [written by Elana]