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Bouncing Bet and delicate fabrics

Now this is something I should have already tried, but I haven't.

The plant bouncing bet is also known as soapwort. It appears to be highly recomended for cleaning laces and delicate fabrics (and washing hair and people and some pets and....).

Has anybody tried it? The reports on it seem to vary. You have some people swearing it beats Biz for getting the yellow out of fine old linens and then opinions right on down the line to others pshawing the whole notion of washing with a plant. Seems it might be a useful plant for me to grow if it works, especially with kiri's soapmaking and all.

On the other paw, is it a particular problem to grow? Might I be waiting a couple of decades for it to spout, or worse than that spend a couple of decades trying to keep it reined in? That seems to be yet another area of vast disagreement.

NightMist is pshawing a real word?

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NightMist
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There are quite a few different soapworts. Bouncing Bet is a common used for many of these. You want to make sure you use "Saponaria officinalis" for the best results. The whole plant will suds up but the best are the roots. You dry them and then pound them and swoosh in water to work up suds. One of the gentlemen who worked on textile restoration in a museum I sewed reproduction costumes for swore by it. I grew it in my garden and used it to wash my hair once in awhile. Left it nice, shiny and soft but it was more trouble than it was worth IMO. I did grow it in my garden, low growing spreader, has a very pretty pink flower.....and grows like a weed, at least in Seattle.

Val

Reply to
Val

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