Soap Nuts Natural Laundry Detergent

WHAT ARE THEY?

In India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries, a tree called sapindus mukorrosi grows small fruits surrounded by a firm outer shell. This tree is unique because it produces its own natural saponins, a soap-like product,  that coats the shell of the fruit. When the fruits ripen and fall from the tree, local families harvest it, then remove the fruit from the seed. The soap nut shell is then dried out in the sun, using absolutely no chemical processing or manufacturing processes.

This soap nut shell absorbs water and releases saponins which circulate as a natural surfactant in the wash water, reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing dirt, grime and oils from the clothing.  They act just as commercial laundry detergents, but without the chemicals.

When the clothes are rinsed, the soapnut saponins are washed downstream where they remain harmless to the environment. No synthetic chemicals, no fragrance chemicals, no foaming agents or other toxins. Just shells grown by nature.

WHY SHOULD I USE SOAP NUTS?
Soap nuts are an excellent choice for people who desire to use environmentally friendly products. They are a pure product, and contain no added chemicals, fragrances, dyes or fillers. They are also wonderful for people with skin allergies, eczema, or sensitivities to commercial detergents.

HOW DO I USE SOAP NUTS?
Place 4 to 6 soap nut shells in the small muslin bag, tie it closed, and throw it into the drum of your washing machine. You can reuse this batch for 4 to 6 loads of laundry. If you have an HE washer, you may even get many more loads of laundry out of your soap nuts.  The soap nuts will be mushy and gray when they need to be composted. Alternatively, you can use 3Tbsp (45mL) of soap nuts liquid per large load of laundry.

TO MAKE SOAP NUTS LIQUID:
Boil 100g soap nuts with 12 cups (3L) of water for 30 minutes. When cooled, remove the soap nuts, and pour the   liquid into an appropriate container.


You can use the soap nuts liquid for more than just laundry!

All Purpose Cleaner
Keep the liquid in a spray bottle and use to clean the bathroom, kitchen, floors,  etc. Add a few drops of essential oil if you prefer a different scent.  Make sure that you don’t keep too much at a time, though.  They are 100% natural with no chemicals, and therefore will spoil.

Cleaning Jewelry
Soak your jewelry in the liquid for a few minutes. Use an old soft toothbrush to gently remove debris. Rinse with clean water and polish with a dry cloth.

Window and Glass Cleaner
Fill a spray bottle with 250mL water, 15mL vinegar and 15mL soap nuts liquid. Spray and wipe windows or mirrors clean. Polish with a dry cloth or newspaper.

In the Dishwasher
Fill the soap dispenser with soap nuts liquid. Add vinegar as a rinse agent, and your dishes will come out sparkling clean!

Liquid Hand Soap and Shampoo
Fill a squirt or pump bottle with the liquid and use to wash your hands or hair. Your hair will come out soft, thicker and manageable.

Pet Shampoo
Add the liquid to a squirt or spray bottle to wash your pet. It will leave the fur soft and manageable.

Plant Wash and Pest Repellent
Add 250mL water, 15mL soap nuts liquid and 15mL Neem oil (optional) to a clean spray bottle. Shake well. For plant wash, spray leaves and wipe clean. To repel pests, spray plant thoroughly, covering all surfaces and allow to air dry.

Hand Washing Silks and Delicates
Add 15mL soap nuts liquid to warm water. Gently wash your delicate clothes. Rinse with warm water and hang or lay flat to dry.Steam Cleaning Spot Treatment
Add 30mL to 4L hot water and use in a portable steam cleaner. Great for getting out urine smells and stains.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are soap nuts an additive to my regular laundry detergent?
There is no need to add commercial detergent. Soap nuts do a wonderful job of washing laundry. Try it for yourself!

Are soap nuts safe to use in my HE or front load washer?
Yes. Soap nuts are low sudsing, so they are perfect for these types of washers. Put 4 or 5 soapnuts in the mini wash bag, tie it closed, and throw it into the drum of your machine. Use this bag for 4 or 5 loads of laundry. Or you can use 3Tbsp of liquid per large load in the detergent drawer.

Can I use soap nuts to safely and effectively wash cloth diapers?
Yes! Soap nuts are found to be the best detergent for washing cloth diapers. They effectively eliminate all lingering smells. They will ’strip’ the diaper of detergent build-up, increasing the diaper’s absorbency!

There are no bubbles during the wash cycle. What’s wrong?
There is nothing wrong! Soap nuts are a natural, low sudsing product. There are no added fillers, dyes or chemicals that would create bubbles in the wash. Even without lots of bubbles, the soap nuts will thoroughly clean your clothes.

Are soap nuts safe for people with nut allergies?
Absolutely! Soapnuts are actually a fruit related to the lychee, so there is need to worry for those with nut allergies.

Are soap nuts safe for people with sensitive skin or skin disorders?
Yes! Soap nuts are natural and hypoallergenic. They do not contain added chemicals or fragrance which often irritates people with skin sensitivities. Soap nuts are beneficial for both bathing and laundry.  Some people see their eczema and psoriasis fade or even go away after regularily using soap nuts as a laundry detergent.  The only allergy you could have to soap nuts would be comparable to somebody being allergic to apples, or another fruit.

Do soap nuts come in different fragrances?
No. Soap nuts are natural so there are no added fragrances. Soap nuts have a distinct smell like apple cider vinegar. However, once you wash your clothes, they will be fragrance free.

For more information on Soap Nuts & how to order, visit http://www.BuySoapNuts.com

Published in:  on March 5, 2009 at 4:05 pm Comments (2)
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  1. On August 1, 2009 at 7:24 am Layla Said:

    Hi!

    Have you any info/experience on washing cloth pads (for menstruation) with soap nuts?

    I tried washing cloth pads & other white linen with soap nuts, I put 10 halves of soap nuts in a cloth bag & washed on 90°C as usual (Mum insists on washing at high temperature for ’sterilizing’ purposes).
    A few undies & a cloth pad washed okay, the rest still had stains (though less than before).
    The cloth pads & undies were pre-soaked in cold water (& pre-rinsed).

    Would soap-nut liquid work better, or would it be necessary to remove the stains first with a soap or (hopefully biodegradable/organic) bleaching agent or something like that? (& would you recommend any of those for that purpose, as natural as possible?)

    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. On August 1, 2009 at 7:27 am Layla Said:

    Oh, also male undies didn’t wash well (sometimes there are stains even with regular washing powders, but some of the undies washed with soapnuts as above really had much more stains than with the regular powders..)

    How were kiddie cloth diapers washed exactly, for best effect? (with liquid & vinegar or…?)

    Reply

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