Alma Win Product Testing

Posted by Andy Hamilton - 11/09/08 at 07:09:42 pm

When I first tried soap nuts I really wanted them to work, what better a totally natural washing detergent. They contain Saponin which is apparently the active ingredient. I am slightly embarrassed to say that I have even written about them in our book. At first they did appear to work which is why indeed I wrote about them. After using them for a few months I noticed that none of my clothes were getting clean. I can’t say I am that fussed, being a bit of a messy bloke. My girlfriend was less than pleased and decided to switch back to one of the less than environmental brands for her clothes and much worse switching up to a 40 degree wash.

Undeterred by her environmental terrorism, I am trying out some alternatives that I have picked up to wash at 30 degrees today I am using Alma Win – Cleanut laundry Detergent. – Others will follow. We live in a hard water area so I used 60ml as stated on the bottle.

Results are in and it has performed ok, not great but ok. I must add that there were some pretty dirty clothes in the machine. I lifted my gardening fork up over my shoulder the other day and did not realise that it had been acumulating water inside the hollow handle. This water had turned black. Like an idiot I was wearing one of my favourite shirts. You can guess the rest.  This is why it has not turned out great, the shirt still has black marks on the shoulder and down the sleves. I would say this product just out performed soap nuts although it is hard to tell and is perhaps good for a person who does not get as muddy as me.

Alma Win Verdict – not to be used if you get dirty.   Marks 6/10

7 Comments

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1. I will be following these laundry posts with interest as I am on the lookout for a more Environmentally Friendly detergent.

   I have been considering those Eco-balls for washing but haven’t had a decent review of them on which to base my purchasing on… I might get some and let you know unless you have already tried them

   Comment by StripyPixieSocks — September 12, 2008 #

2. Well Actually I tried Soap Nuts as well and at 30 degrees they don’t really give great results either. Not for allotment muddied clothes anyway. I would give them a 5/10. Nice idea and I really wanted them to work and perhaps even convinced myself that they did for a while but I am afraid to report that they did not do well. I was never that enamored with the fact that they were air freighted in to Newcastle then driven down too.

   Comment by andyhamilton — September 12, 2008 #

3. I’m partly green on this with a Clear Springs green detergent for most washing; allotment stuff does get evil and I usually soak in a mixture of borax/bicarbonate of soda/washing crystals followed by washing in the same mixture. I have an older washing machine and the lowest temperature is 50 degrees on a 32 minute wash. But I have had to keep a box of branded non green washing powder for really evil stains along with Vanish. Even the daughter says the same – she has been using ecover for years – there are times when green fails. Must be the teenogre and playing football in school uniform that is her problem.

   Comment by Flo — September 14, 2008 #

4. Cheers Flo.

   My ultimate quest is to find a green way of washing my allotment stained clothes at low temperatures, I am sure it is out there. I will keep on trying all the products and reporting back.

   I might try adding bicarb to the wash, I use for all the kitchen and bathroom cleaning so it would make sense.

   Comment by andyhamilton — September 14, 2008 #

5. we use co-op own brand eco powder.. 30C wash. seems to work ok.

   Comment by red — September 14, 2008 #

6. I think, that sometimes a scrub with a good old-fashioned wooden scrubbing brush before washing is a good idea… perhaps with a bit of the powder/liquid you intend to use.

   I’ve just bought some borax so will try that on some of the white school polo shirts that J has decorated with various food items. They’ve not washed out so far, so will try and report back.

   Comment by Shirley — September 17, 2008 #

7. Ah yes the co-op not sure with my boycott of supermarkets if the co-op counts?? Not one near us at the moment though.

   Hmm scrubbing and borax yep I think I was working towards that conclusion myself. Do report back though Shirley!

   Comment by andyhamilton — September 19, 2008 #

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