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Soap Nuts Fact Sheet
Although known as Soapnuts, these are actually berry shells that grow in India, Nepal and China on a tree known as Sapindus Mukorossi. The outer shell of this
berry is rich in natural saponin which is released when in water, making it ideal for a totally natural and efficient laundry cleaner.
Soapnuts are antimicrobial, working on your clothes and assisting to break down grey water in our sewer system. They do not contain any optical whiteners,
toxic foaming agents, fragrances, softeners or fillers, guaranteeing the clothes we place on our children and ourselves are safe to wear, with no remaining
chemical residue to penetrate our skin.
Using your soapnuts:
Place a small handful of soapnuts (about 10 half shells) into a
delicates bag or calico pouch. This handful will last several washes,
or until the shells start to break down and totally lose their stickiness.
You can then compost the used shells.
Soapnuts are low sudsing. They work best in water between 30 and
60 degrees. If washing in cold water, swoosh bagged nuts briefly in
hot water to release the saponin.
Soapnuts contain no artificial fragrances. Essential oils may be
added if desired. When washing whites you can add lemon juice,
washing soda or vinegar to enhance results if you are used to very
bright whites.
Sapindus Mukorossi Tree
Harvested Soapnuts
Soapnuts soften naturally, eliminating the need to use fabric softener.
As soapnuts contain absolutely no chemicals, rinsing is not
necessary. In automatic machines, leave the bag in for the whole
cycle anyway as that provides a more thorough wash.
Frequently asked Questions
Q: Are the soapnuts ‘grey water friendly’?
A: Harvesting greywater is a great way to utilise an on-site non-potable source of supplemental irrigation water, which, along with rainwater, can greatly reduce
or eliminate our “need” to irrigate our landscapes with costly potable drinking water. Therefore it’s important to select detergents and other cleaning products
that have fewer to no ingredients harmful to plants. Soapnuts have been used as a natural detergent for centuries and leave no residue on plants or in your grey
water system.
Q: Are they difficult to use?
A: Soapnuts look very different to our usual box or bottle of detergent, but they are EASY to use. Just pop a handful into a delicates bag and throw the whole
bag into the wash. Six washes later, replace the nuts with a fresh batch. The native families in India have used soapnuts for centuries to wash their own clothes,
allowing the used soapnuts to wash downstream where they remain harmless to the environment. Bagged soapnuts don’t damage washing machines. In fact,
the absence of chemicals and fillers actually cleans your machine.
Q: Is using soapnuts good for the community that grows the trees?
A: The trees are harvested sustainably using no chemicals or machinery, thereby supporting local families and economies. Unfortunately, because the trees
grow in abundance, they can become more useful as firewood rather than for the soapnuts they grow. By increasing the overseas demand for soapnuts, the
trees become more valuable alive, hence we play a part in preserving the tropical forests.
Q: Are soapnuts cost-effective?
A: A 200 gram bag costs $10 and, depending on how many nuts you put in your bag, will last up to 80 washes. Yes… really! There’s no detergent mess in your
laundry anymore and no nasty residue on your clothes.