An Instagram influencer has shown how you can ditch your washing powder in favour of conkers for an eco-cleaning alternative.
Josephine Becker revealed on her Instagram how you can save money and stop using harmful detergents by turning conkers into a soapy liquid that you use in your washing machine.
In a short video on Instagram, she explained how it is much better for the environment.
The caption said: "Trends such as buying soapnuts, which are shipped over from e.g. India, is C02 intensive, harms local populations by driving up prices, appropriating their traditional-used items and is also super uneccessary bc we have our own soapnuts in Europe/N.America."
Josephine, who has 26,400 followers on Instagram, showed how she cuts the conkers up before soaking them in a jar of water
In the video, she explains that conkers have saponins, a soap-like plant compound that is sometimes added to shampoo or shower gel.
After they've soaked overnight, the foamy water can be added into the washing machine (while the chestnuts are sieved) and you can add some essential oils for fragrance if you wish.
Fans thanked her for the information, but one woman warned against adding essential oils.
They commented: "Cool idea thanks! But be careful, essentials oils are a nightmare for the environment while use in water, go straight to the sewers or groundwater
"And totally useless in the washing machine, oil & water doesn't mix together, waste of money and pollution, just to let you know!"
Another person raved: "Thank you for this!!!
"I didn’t know we could use these, my housemate and I bought soap nuts earlier this year and love them but next time we know an even better option!"
Another joked: "Right, going to set my kids to work collecting and washing over half term. Edutainment."
Traditionally, conkers haven't been used in washing powders or liquids, so there is no guarantee on how effective it will be, especially if you've got a lot of filthy clothes.
The Woodland Trust has previously written about how Victorians used soaked, crushed up conkers as soap.
