Hi i thought i'd try my hand at making some horsechestnut soap with conkers i'm told it's traditional and easy but i can't find any links to such a recipie.
can anyone help?
can anyone help?
Horsechestnut soap recipie?
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That's the soap i am familiar with, i also use it, though i've heard that you can make a half decent bar of soap from it, knowing how to is the problem at hand.
though i've heard that you can make a half decent bar of soap from it, knowing how to is the problem at hand. 
I'm not aware that the conker has the sapolin in it. it might be possible to get a lot of leaves dry and powder or just even bruise them - steep in hot water, filter and reduce to make a liquid soap.
worth a try if nothing else.
worth a try if nothing else.
I've actually got a recipe somewhere for this, I believe the vikings used this soap. I don't have it here but I think it goes something like; shell the conkers, soak them in water for a few hours, leave them in the sun to dry, use. I will try to find the recipe somewhere.
From the Wikipedia entry:
"In the past, Horse-chestnut seeds were used in France and Switzerland for whitening hemp, flax, silk and wool. They contain a soapy juice, fit for washing of linens and stuffs, for milling of caps and stockings, etc., and for fulling of cloth. For this, 20 horse-chestnut seeds were sufficient for six litres of water. They were peeled, then rasped or dried, and ground in a malt or other mill. The water must be soft, either rain or river water, for hard well water will not do. The nuts are then steeped in cold water, which soon becomes frothy, as with soap, and then turns white as milk. It must be stirred well at first, and then, after standing to settle, strained or poured off clear. Linen washed in this liquid, and afterwards rinsed in clear running water, takes on an agreeable light sky-blue colour. It takes spots out of both linen and woollen, and never damages or injures the cloth."
"In the past, Horse-chestnut seeds were used in France and Switzerland for whitening hemp, flax, silk and wool. They contain a soapy juice, fit for washing of linens and stuffs, for milling of caps and stockings, etc., and for fulling of cloth. For this, 20 horse-chestnut seeds were sufficient for six litres of water. They were peeled, then rasped or dried, and ground in a malt or other mill. The water must be soft, either rain or river water, for hard well water will not do. The nuts are then steeped in cold water, which soon becomes frothy, as with soap, and then turns white as milk. It must be stirred well at first, and then, after standing to settle, strained or poured off clear. Linen washed in this liquid, and afterwards rinsed in clear running water, takes on an agreeable light sky-blue colour. It takes spots out of both linen and woollen, and never damages or injures the cloth."
Horse chestnut is used to give yellow dye but the plant also is a source of esculine which is a fluorescent blue dye. I think this is the blue white that is imparted to the linen when washed in the chestnut saponins.
It's very toxic, especially to fish, so please be careful if using chestnuts when out and about near water sources.
Cheers,
Toddy
It's very toxic, especially to fish, so please be careful if using chestnuts when out and about near water sources.
Cheers,
Toddy
toddy - is it poisonous to fish because its actually toxic or because the soap de oxygenates the water stunning them and making them float to the surface ala aboriginal fishing techniques?
not intending ot try it down the local trout farm but the theory could be interesting enough to pass on.
not intending ot try it down the local trout farm but the theory could be interesting enough to pass on.
It basically stupefies them since they absorb it pretty much straight into the blood stream through their gills. Some will recover & survive if they are washed into clean water but not all. The saponins are toxic to us too, but we don't absorb them so easily.
I'll see if I can find links.
Cheers,
Toddy
Bits of information on these sites, if not directly giving reference to our home grown chestnuts
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_soapberry.html
http://www.primitiveways.com/fish_poison.html
http://www.cnykoi.com/articles/plantpoisonous.asp
I'll see if I can find links.
Cheers,
Toddy
Bits of information on these sites, if not directly giving reference to our home grown chestnuts
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_soapberry.html
http://www.primitiveways.com/fish_poison.html
http://www.cnykoi.com/articles/plantpoisonous.asp
WOW!! :You_Rock_
more information than i thought there was!
cheers!
i need to collect some more horsechestnuts first though!
more information than i thought there was!
cheers!
i need to collect some more horsechestnuts first though!
I posted info on various natural soap options, including Horse chestnut here;
Plants Used As A Soap Substitute
Plants Used As A Soap Substitute
