WHAT ARE SOAP NUTS?

Soap nuts, or Indian soap berries, are an a natural detergent alternative to commercial laundry soaps. They are the fruit from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, which is native to the Himalayas. Soap nuts contain a natural cleaning agent called saponin that produces an effect comparable to soap. They can be  used as an alternative to laundry detergent, dish and hand soap, and shampoo and body wash.

We sell a dozen soap nuts in a small bag for you to use in your laundry. Do not use all twelve at once. You only need to use 3-4 at a time, and each soap nut can be used between for and six times before discarding.

HOW TO USE SOAP NUTS

1. As a liquid soap concentrate

• Place 4-6 crushed soapnuts with 2 cups of water in a pot.
• Bring to boil, turn down the flame and let it simmer for 20- 30 minutes.
• Strain the liquid, put the soap nuts to dry (they can be reused to make more soap liquid) and once cold pour the soapnut concentrate in a bottle.
• Keep in the fridge for up to a week.

2. As laundry detergent

• All you need is about 4-6 soapnut shells.
• Put them into a muslin bag, a sock or a washing net.
• Place the soapnuts into the washing machine and select your cycle.
• When the washing cycle is over, take your soapnuts out of the bag and allow them to air dry.
• You can reuse the same soapnuts 3-4 times before you add them to your compost bin.

3. A shampoo

• Place 5 or 6 soapnuts in a pan.
• Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. 
• Simmer for 30 minutes and allow it to cool.
• Scent it with a few drops of essential oils (optional).
• Place into a squeeze bottle and pour a generous amount in your hair for washing.

4. As an all-purpose spray cleaner

• Make the liquid concentrate (as described above).
• In a spray bottle, mix one cup of concentrate to two cups of water.
• Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the bottle
• Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
• Store it in a spray bottle and use it to clean counters, tables, toilets, and glass surfaces.

5. As a dishwashing liquid

• Make the liquid concentrate (as described above).
• Mix one cup of soapnut liquid concentrate with 7-8 drops of lemon essential oil and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil.
• Add to a squeeze bottle. Squeeze onto your dishes or add to your sink as you fill it to create a soap dish water.
• Wash dishes and rinse them as you normally would.