When you think of eco-friendly laundry detergent, you might think of fancy packaging with all-natural ingredients listed in fine print. But did you know that one of the best sustainable options comes straight from trees, scattered in parks and urban areas? Yes, I’m talking about conkers!
Conkers were a big part of my childhood too. I remember walking through parks and up hills, filling bags with them, and turning it into a competition to see who could collect the most. Who would’ve thought that years later, I’d find a completely new appreciation for these shiny brown nuts—not for games, but for something as practical as laundry.


Why Choose Sustainable Laundry Detergent?
Sustainable laundry detergent is not just about keeping your clothes clean. It’s about reducing waste, using natural ingredients, and minimizing your environmental footprint. Choosing something as simple as a conker-based detergent means using what nature provides, avoiding synthetic chemicals, and keeping your laundry routine 100% zero-waste. Plus, it’s a fun DIY project that makes laundry feel a bit less like a chore.
How to Make Your Own Conker Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
- 4 kg of conkers (horse chestnuts)
- 1/2 cup of conker powder
- 3 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda (optional)
- Essential oil drops (optional)
Instructions:
- Collect Your Conkers – First, you’ll need about 4 kg of horse chestnuts. You can usually find them in parks or scattered in urban areas during autumn.
- Wash and Prep – Once collected, wash your conkers to remove dirt and debris. Then, cut them into small chunks. You’ll need to blend these chunks into a pulp to make your conker powder. If you’ve got a strong blender, great—otherwise, a food processor works just as well.
- Dry the Powder – You can air dry, use a dehydrator, or even pop them in the oven. Once the powder is dry, store it in airtight jars.
- Make the Detergent – About 30 minutes before you start, mix 1/2 cup of conker powder with 3 cups of hot water in a jar. The hot water will help release the natural saponins from the chestnuts (that’s the magic cleaning compound).
- Strain and Store – After the conkers have soaked for a bit, strain the liquid. You should end up with a milky, foamy mixture. This is your conker detergent. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week—just remember to give it a little shake before using.
- Use in Your Laundry – For each load, add about 1/2 cup of your homemade detergent. Keep in mind, that this works best for lightly soiled clothes. If you’re dealing with heavy stains or whites, you can boost it by adding some baking soda and essential oils for a nice scent.
A Few Cautions
While Conker detergent is perfectly safe for your clothes, it’s important to remember not to eat them! Horse chestnuts contain esculin and saponin, which are toxic to humans and animals if consumed. So, be sure to keep your conker detergent safely out of reach of kids and pets.
Making your own conker laundry detergent is not just a great way to cut down on waste, but it’s also a fun, nostalgic activity that brings you closer to nature. Whether you’re a gardener, a sustainability enthusiast, or just someone who loves trying new DIY projects, this is a great step toward a greener lifestyle. And who knows, maybe laundry day will become a bit more enjoyable!
Happy DIY!