The natural alternative to traditional laundry detergent, which can be harsh and contain dangerous chemicals, is conker detergent.
How do conkers make good detergents?
Conker detergent is environmentally friendly and biodegradable, and is especially effective at removing stains from white clothes.
A substance called Saponin is found in conkers, has natural soap-like properties. Saponin aids in removing grime and dirt from clothing, making cleaning easier. We will certainly give it a go, and if you have already tried, let us know how you got on.
What you need:
• 100g of conkers (10 or so)
• 1 litre of water
What to do:
• Clean the Conkers.
• Break them up into little bits (smash with a hammer or chop with a knife)
• Place the conker pieces in a jar of water.
• Conkers should be left to soak for at least an hour.
• The Conker mixture should be strained into a fresh jar.
• Throw away the conker bits.
How to use your conker detergent:
Simply place your clothes in the washing machine and add a cup of conker detergent. For a fresh aroma, you can also add essential oils to the detergent. If you have sensitive skin, you can add 1/4 cup of vinegar to your washing machine to help soften the clothes.
Conker detergent can be kept for up to two weeks in the fridge (make sure you label it for safety!).
You can use the same conkers again a few times, but you will need to leave them soaking for longer each time.
There is a useful video to watch on Youtube
Resources for Teachers and Families
We can learn so much from observing nature. For even more exploration of the natural world, tune in to our ‘Stories, Science, and Secrets’ podcast for kids. Join Matthew, Elaine, Steve Punt and special guests, as we delve into the fascinating world of biomimicry and the inspiring ways science learns from nature’s genius.
Download our FREE lesson plans and slides about Extinction and Biomimicry, themes in our stories.
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