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Backyard Bazaars

Backyard Soapwort Root Antique Textile Cleanser Brewer

Harvest wild soapwort roots from garden beds, simmer them in water, and bottle natural saponin soap liquid for delicate antique fabric restorers.

Startup Cost: £15 Location: Hybrid Difficulty: Easy Useful side income A few hours a week

Earning and time figures are our broad estimates, not guarantees — actual results depend on your area, your effort and demand.

Why it's left-field

Antique textile restorers buy jars of soapy liquid boiled out of garden roots to wash historical lace without chemicals.

How it works

  1. 1Harvest soapwort roots and leaves from garden beds in late summer.
  2. 2Simmer chopped roots in distilled water to extract natural foaming saponins.
  3. 3Strain liquid into glass bottles and list on textile craft marketplaces.

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