Horse chestnuts as an alternative detergent

Guest · 2020-10-18T18:08:04.520Z

We have been washing all our family laundry with a horse chestnut decoction for a year now. It has just as good a washing effect as conventional detergents. This decoction is obtained by mixing horse chestnut flour/grist with boiled water and then sieving off the solids. We think it would be great if Migros could also sell such a simple and natural alternative to conventional washing powder. It would also be important not to use overly elaborate packaging.

M-Infoline

Hello CrazyFood, thank you for your input on our range. I was happy to clarify this with the specialist department. When washing clothes, several factors are crucial to achieve a good result. Surfactants to dissolve dirt, bleaching agents to lighten stains and the temperature. An extract of horse chestnut contains saponins and tannins. Saponins have a surfactant effect and dissolve dirt. Tanning agents can partly replace bleaching agents. This means that essences made from plant material can clean laundry to a certain extent. With natural substances in particular, it must be borne in mind that these are subject to fluctuations and their performance is lower than that of a classic detergent. This effect may not be noticeable to the end consumer, as the laundry is only lightly soiled. Furthermore, in many cases natural substances have their own color or odour, so that the quantity used is limited so that the positive effect does not turn into a negative effect. Acceptance by our customers is very important to us. To meet the demand for natural ingredients, we have developed the M-Plus range, which is up to 100% biodegradable. For example: https://produkte.migros.ch/m-plus-vollwaschmittel-500156400000. Have a nice day. Best regards, Sina

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M-PLUS SODA PLV 1.875K

4.1

Guest

I've never heard of this before. I've already read up on more ecological ways of washing, but that's also new to me. Very interesting, I'll probably have a look at that too.

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Guest

I've never heard of this before. I've already read up on more ecological ways of washing, but that's also new to me. Very interesting, I'll probably have a look at that too.

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Guest

I've never heard of this before. I've already read up on more ecological ways of washing, but that's also new to me. Very interesting, I'll probably have a look at that too.

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In my experience, however, this also depends heavily on the washing machine itself, how often it is cleaned and more (see here, for example: https://www.einrichtungsradar.de/waschmaschine-test/). You can also do something good for the environment by washing your laundry at lower temperatures (of course, this doesn't work for every wash, but sweaters don't always have to be washed at 60°C). This means that fewer fibers and, in the case of plastic clothing, fewer microplastics are released from the laundry. :)

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Guest

In my experience, however, this also depends heavily on the washing machine itself, how often it is cleaned and more (see here, for example: https://www.einrichtungsradar.de/waschmaschine-test/). You can also do something good for the environment by washing your laundry at lower temperatures (of course, this doesn't work for every wash, but sweaters don't always have to be washed at 60°C). This means that fewer fibers and, in the case of plastic clothing, fewer microplastics are released from the laundry. :)

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I never wash above 60 degrees and my normal clothes are always around 30 degrees. I think that's more than enough! I also have a new washing machine with eco programs and I'm very happy with it.

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Rapunzel1978

It would be simply brilliant if migros were to move forward in terms of sustainability and above all with ecological packaging. It's exasperating how slow it's going! I hope they step on the gas soon. Nobody wants to voluntarily buy plastic packaging these days! Refilling instead of recycling would be the right motto. The environment is suffering, move forward, dear migros!!! Get rid of the plastic.

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Rapunzel1978

M-Infoline

Hello CrazyFood, thank you for your input on our range. I was happy to clarify this with the specialist department. When washing clothes, several factors are crucial to achieve a good result. Surfactants to dissolve dirt, bleaching agents to lighten stains and the temperature. An extract of horse chestnut contains saponins and tannins. Saponins have a surfactant effect and dissolve dirt. Tanning agents can partly replace bleaching agents. This means that essences made from plant material can clean laundry to a certain extent. With natural substances in particular, it must be borne in mind that these are subject to fluctuations and their performance is lower than that of a classic detergent. This effect may not be noticeable to the end consumer, as the laundry is only lightly soiled. Furthermore, in many cases natural substances have their own color or odour, so that the quantity used is limited so that the positive effect does not turn into a negative effect. Acceptance by our customers is very important to us. To meet the demand for natural ingredients, we have developed the M-Plus range, which is up to 100% biodegradable. For example: https://produkte.migros.ch/m-plus-vollwaschmittel-500156400000. Have a nice day. Best regards, Sina

(Machine translation)

M-PLUS SODA PLV 1.875K

4.1

It would be simply brilliant if migros were to move forward in terms of sustainability and above all with ecological packaging. It's exasperating how slow it's going! I hope they step on the gas soon. Nobody wants to voluntarily buy plastic packaging these days! Refilling instead of recycling would be the right motto. The environment is suffering, move forward, dear migros!!! Get rid of the plastic.

(Machine translation)

M-Infoline

Rapunzel1978

It would be simply brilliant if migros were to move forward in terms of sustainability and above all with ecological packaging. It's exasperating how slow it's going! I hope they step on the gas soon. Nobody wants to voluntarily buy plastic packaging these days! Refilling instead of recycling would be the right motto. The environment is suffering, move forward, dear migros!!! Get rid of the plastic.

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Hello Rapunzel1978 The cooperatives are constantly examining whether an expansion of open sales is feasible and ecologically sensible. We are currently selling rice and pulses openly in the Geneva cooperative. Migros Valais and Basel are also looking into open sales concepts for food. We are still at the beginning with these concepts, but we are constantly learning and optimizing them where necessary. We also want to promote reusable utensils similar to reusable trays and veggie bags. Depending on the location, up to one in three dishes is already served in reusable trays. Since its introduction, the reusable bowl has replaced around 60,000 disposable containers. Migros is also switching its disposable tableware range from plastic to more environmentally friendly alternatives by the end of 2020. In February 2020, 60% had already been converted. Several experts are working at Migros every day to test future-oriented materials. As Migros manufactures over 80% of its products itself, we have the opportunity to approach the industry directly. One example: By developing a new hybrid meat packaging over two years, 70 percent of plastic can now be saved. We are definitely staying on top of this issue. Even if it's a little too slow for you - we are constantly working on improvements. Kind regards, Angela

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Guest

Rapunzel1978

It would be simply brilliant if migros were to move forward in terms of sustainability and above all with ecological packaging. It's exasperating how slow it's going! I hope they step on the gas soon. Nobody wants to voluntarily buy plastic packaging these days! Refilling instead of recycling would be the right motto. The environment is suffering, move forward, dear migros!!! Get rid of the plastic.

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I agree with you soo much, @Rapunzel1978! Sometimes you search in vain for sustainable products or without plastic packaging. There really is still a lot that can and must be done!!! But has anyone ever tried washing chestnuts? I haven't actually, but a friend of mine did for a while. The laundry smells relatively neutral at the end and not like a nice detergent, but I think it's also an alternative to think about! :)

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Rapunzel1978

Guest

I agree with you soo much, @Rapunzel1978! Sometimes you search in vain for sustainable products or without plastic packaging. There really is still a lot that can and must be done!!! But has anyone ever tried washing chestnuts? I haven't actually, but a friend of mine did for a while. The laundry smells relatively neutral at the end and not like a nice detergent, but I think it's also an alternative to think about! :)

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@ms_anna Thank you very much, I'll be happy to try the chestnuts! This forum is really great and I think it's great that Migros takes customer requests so seriously and provides clarifications and detailed answers. Super! It would be very desirable if we, as a rich country, took our responsibility seriously and tried to rethink as quickly as possible and protect the environment as much as possible so that we can then help other poorer countries to rethink too.

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Rosskastanien als alternatives Waschmittel

All replies (11)

All replies (11)