How To Make Laundry Detergent From Conkers

Autumn is the season for fallen leaves, hedgerow finds and shiny brown conkers scattered beneath horse chestnut trees. But conkers are not just for childhood games. They contain natural saponins, which means they can be used to make a simple homemade laundry liquid.

In this post, I will show you how to make laundry detergent from conkers using just horse chestnuts and water. It is a low-cost, seasonal and satisfying way to experiment with a more natural laundry routine, especially if you enjoy slow living, foraging and making use of what nature offers.

There are a few important things to know before you start. Conkers are horse chestnut seeds, not edible chestnuts, and they should never be eaten. Keep them, and the finished laundry liquid, away from children and pets. This is a homemade detergent, not a commercial product, so I recommend using it for everyday laundry rather than very stained, greasy or delicate specialist fabrics

From A Game of Conkers To Washing Clothes.

In Britain, "conkers" usually means two things: the glossy brown seeds of the horse chestnut tree, and the traditional children's game played with them.

My partner, "the Englishman", remembers drilling a hole through a conker, threading it onto string, and taking turns with an opponent to strike one conker against another until one broke. A winning conker became a "one-er", then a "two-er", and so on. A "ten-er" was playground legend.

But conkers are useful for more than childhood nostalgia. Horse chestnut seeds contain natural saponins, which are soap-like compounds that release into water. That is what makes them useful for making a simple homemade laundry liquid.

A serious safety note before you start: conkers are not edible and should not be confused with sweet chestnuts. Do not eat them, and keep both the conkers and the finished laundry liquid away from children and pets.

Now, let's make the detergent.

Why Do Conkers Work As Laundry Detergent?

Conkers, or horse chestnuts, contain natural compounds called saponins. When mixed with water, saponins create a mild, soap-like liquid, which is why some saponin-rich plants have traditionally been used for washing and cleaning.

When chopped conkers are soaked in water, these saponins are released into the liquid. The result is a simple homemade laundry detergent that can be used for everyday washing.

Let's be realistic, though. Conker laundry detergent is not as powerful or consistent as commercial detergent, which is formulated to tackle stains, grease, odours and different washing conditions. It is best suited to lightly worn clothes and general household laundry, rather than heavily stained, oily or very dirty items.

In our household, we have used conker laundry detergent for around a year with good results. Our clothes come out clean and fresh, I have not personally had any skin irritation, and we have not noticed any problems with the washing machine. That is our experience rather than a laboratory test, so test it for yourself and use your judgement.

You can support your wash by adding white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment, especially in hard water areas. Bicarbonate of soda may help with odours, and a few drops of essential oil can be added for fragrance, though I would avoid essential oils for baby clothes, pet bedding or very sensitive skin.

How To Prepare Your Natural Laundry Detergent

For one batch, use about 100g chopped conkers. Place them in a jar or bowl, cover with room-temperature or hot water, and leave to soak for about 30 minutes. The water should turn cloudy and slightly foamy. Strain through a fine sieve or cloth, then use the liquid for your laundry.

Fresh conker laundry liquid can be stored in a clean, labelled jar or bottle in the fridge for up to one week.

If you want to use conkers throughout the year, collect a larger batch while they are in season. I collect around 5kg of conkers, which gives us enough for laundry once or twice a week through the year.

To store them, chop the conkers or carefully break them into small pieces with a hammer. Spread the pieces out in a single layer, then dry them thoroughly in a dehydrator or a low oven. This step is important. If the conker pieces are not completely dry before storing, they can go mouldy and the whole batch may be ruined.

Make sure the dried conker pieces are completely cool and dry before sealing them in a container. Any trapped moisture can lead to mould.

Once fully dry, store the conker pieces in a clean, dry, labelled jar or airtight container. When you want to make laundry liquid, simply soak a portion of the dried conkers in water, strain, and use as needed.

When you are ready to do your laundry with the dry conkers, rehydrate 100 g of conkers by pouring 500 ml of boiling water over them and setting them aside overnight to steep.

The next morning, strain and it's ready to use. Again, the liquid can be kept in the fridge for up to a week.

When using conker liquid in a machine wash, simply pour the liquid into the detergent drawer. If you want, you can add white vinegar or baking soda.

How-To Video Guide

Here is a video guide to making your natural laundry detergent.

F.A.Qs

I am no expert on the chemistry of saponins and conkers, and I share what I have learned from my experience and experimentation!