Soap NutsUpdated 4 months ago
What is a Soap Nut exactly?
Soap nuts are actually the dried shells (or husks) from the soapberry nut, which come from the Sapindus mukorossi tree—a unique species of trees found in both the eastern and western hemispheres, but native to the tropical conditions of India and Nepal. While called a nut, they're
actually classified as dried berries (or rather, the husks of berries) so those with nut allergies need not worry. Soap Nuts are 100% natural and biodegradable, making them an wonderful alternative to chemical detergents.
If you need to hand wash an item, you can certainly still use these! Just put around 2 nuts in the muslin bag and soak them in a jar of hot water (be sure to agitate the jar a little). Then add the water mixture to your sink or large bowl of cool water and hand wash away.
Soap nuts may be used several times (About 10 washes, or until the soap nuts disintegrate). Once the shells become soft, grey, and start to disintegrate, toss them into your compost.
Tip: Saponin needs hot water in order to be activated. For cold water loads, simply stick the bag of soap nuts into a jar (mason or whatever you have on hand) of hot water, shake for a minute or so, and let them soak while you prepare your load. Once you're ready, simply tip the contents of the jar (nuts included) into the load to wash!
Benefits of using Soap Nuts
Gentle - Soap Nuts are a great option for those who have sensitive skin, eczema, or psoriasis. 
They are perfect for laundering baby clothes, cloth diapers, and delicate items, leaving no harsh chemical residue.
Versatile - Soap nuts can be used for all laundry types: hand-washed, commercial and standard machines, as well as HE washers. They are also safe for both septic and greywater systems. It can also be used for shampoo or body wash formulations as well. It can come in solid or powder form, and a liquid concentrate can be made from it.
Economical and Environmental Friendly - A little goes a long way with these! It costs significantly less to purchase and use soap nuts as a natural alternative to chemical detergents and there is no plastic waste associated with these. They are 100% natural and biodegradable.
Recipes:
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap with Soap Nuts-Mountain Rose Herbs
Soap Nut Powder Detergent
1 cup Soap Nut Powder – Fine
½ Cup Sodium Carbonate
½ Cup Sodium Bicarbonate
(These ingredients can be found on Wholesale Supplies Plus and MakeYourOwn.Buzz)
Directions: (Wear a mask and Goggles for safety because the powders are fine and will become airborne)
- Add 1 cup of Fine Soap Nut Powder, 1 cup sodium carbonate, 1 cup sodium bicarbonate and mix.
- Use 2-3 teaspoons per wash load.
- Store in a ziplock bag or airtight container.
The Results:
- This was super simple to make. I put the dry mix in the dry detergent dispenser of my washer, used hot water.
- It did not clear all the way out of the dispenser, and upon doing more research, I found that the powder will disintegrate better if thrown directly in with the clothes.
- This recipe also worked surprisingly well. My bath towels, and my son’s clothes came out clean and free of odors. I also did not use softener, and the items were soft and fluffy out of the dryer. Excellent Cleaning power!
- My favorite of all the homemade choices.
As always, test any new formulation or ingredient before use to ensure it works as intended and make sure you are in compliance with all FDA regulations.