What Are Soap Nuts?

Have you heard about Soap Nuts?  I had heard the term here and there over the past few years and it has always peaked my interest.  It's funny that I didn't look into them until recently and what I have experienced has been amazing. You know when you try a new product and you just love it so much, you want to tell everyone?  Well this is how I feel about Soap Nuts.  The first time I used them, I really put them to the test.  I used one bag of Soap Nuts for 4 loads of laundry, in a row, and the results were stunning.  My laundry came out soft, clean, and looking better than ever.  Really...my husband thought I was a bit nuts because I couldn't stop talking about how nice the laundry looked. 

So what are Soap Nuts?  Well they are actually not even a nut, but they are the fruit from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree which is primarily found in North India. 

What makes them good for cleaning your laundry?  The Soap Nuts contain a natural cleaning agent called saponin.  Saponin is a natural detergent commonly used for cleaning among many other things.  Soapnuts have long been used in the Western world for soap production, usually together with many chemical additives which are not necessary for the actual washing process and are damaging to the user as well as our environment.

What makes them eco friendly?  Soapnuts have become a very popular environmentally friendly alternative to  manufactured chemical detergents.  Soap nuts are 100% organic, natural, and biodegradable.  4 Soap Nuts can be used for up to 5 loads of laundry, and after the 5 loads you can compost them. 

How do you use them?  Simply place 4 Soap Nuts in a small cotton drawstring bag and pull the bag closed.  Toss the bag in your washing machine along with your laundry and run your washer as you normally would.  I was told to use warm or hot water, but that is a no no in our household, so I used cold water and everything turned out fabulous!  If you like a little scent in your laundry, simple place 3-4 drops of essential oil in the bag. 

What else can you use soap nuts for?  Soap Nuts are not just great for your laundry, but also work for other household cleaning.  Making Soapnut Soak (see recipe below) is easy and can be used to for many things such as Mosquito repellent, liquid hand soap, shampoo, liquid laundry detergent, all purpose cleaner, window cleaner, cleaning jewelry, and more. 

How to make Soaput Soak:

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a heavy saucepan with a lid.
2. Turn off the heat and toss 6-8 soapnuts in the saucepan with the hot water.
3. Cover the saucepan, and let it sit overnight.
4. In the morning, discard the remaining soapnut shells.
5. Pour the cooled liquid into a container with a lid or squirt bottle.
6. If you’d like your Soapnut Soak to have a scent, add your favorite essential oils. We suggest lemon or tea tree oil for bathroom cleanser, lavender for cold water laundry loads, and Sweet Orange for dishwasher cleaning liquid.

This batch of Soapnut Soak will wash at least 8 loads of laundry. Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup for each load. (You can adjust this amount as needed, depending on the size of the load and how dirty the contents are).
Store in a cold place such as your refrigerator if not used within 7 days.

There you have it!  Soap Nuts in a nut shell!  If you are interested in trying this eco friendly method of washing your clothes, check out our laundry supplies section to find several different options....including a trial size bag for $2.49. 

Enjoy!

**Great for use in HE washers, safe for septic systems, and wonderful for use on babies clothing or people with sensitive skin.

What Are Soap Nuts?