Soap Nuts

 and their many benefits.

 Soap nuts are a fruit grown on a Chinese Soapberry Tree which grow in India and Nepal. The fruit ripens and is harvested from the inner fruit of the outer shell. The shell is dried in the sun using no chemical or manufacturing process. The shell of the fruit has a protective wax coating which contains saponin.

When the soap nut is used to wash clothes the saponin acts as a water surfactant reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing the dirt from the clothes leaving them clean and fresh without the use of any harmful synthetic products.

I have researched soap nuts on-line and found so much excellent information on Soap Nuts and their many, many uses that it became mind-boggling.

As there is so much information on-line that I could literally fill a book, I       instead refer you to a couple of sites, or just do a search for soap nuts.

www.buysoapnuts.com/

http://soapnuts.webs.com/usesofsoapnuts.htm

“Mother Nature’s Gift”

Soap nuts from the Chinese soapberry tree, is a berry not a nut.

100% natural alternative to chemical detergents.

Eco-friendly, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, unscented and highly effective.

“How did I get started”

Good question.  A fellow crafter showed me her soap nut products and I was very impressed, so I bought a small package to try out.

I used them in my wash, and being totally impressed, I gave them to a few friends and they were equally impressed.

After thinking about it, I realized this would be a natural add on to my soap line.

What better way to go GREEN!

One 100% natural product for almost all your cleaning needs.

Ever wondered about a natural alternative to laundry soap? Soap nuts are the answer!  Environmentally friendly, biodegradable and compostable!

 What are Soap Nuts?

Soap nuts grow on trees in India and Nepal.  The shells contain “saponin” - a natural soap.

 How do Soap Nuts Work?

Using soap nuts for your laundry couldn’t be easier.  Just put 5-8 half shells or equivalent in pieces into a cotton bag (included) and place in your washing machine with your wash.  If you want your laundry scented, add a few drops of essential oil in the softener drawer. 

For Whites, add 1 tbsp. borax or baking soda.

Add extra nuts to the cotton bag for heavily soiled clothes.

You can skip the rinse cycle if desired as there is no soap residue.  Remove bag and hang to dry.  Using in a dryer will shorten the longevity of use of the soap nuts.

When the soap nuts are exhausted, they will appear darker and soft, at which point you can throw them on your compost.

You can probably realize 4-6 loads of wash per bag of soap nuts.

Alternatively, you can also use 3 tbsp. (45 ml) liquid soap nut detergent

Simple, isn’t it.

Soap Nut Liquid

Bring 10-12 whole soap nut shells with 6 cups of water to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes.  When it is boiled down, you will have about 4 cups of liquid detergent. Let it cool and then strain the liquid into a bottle or jar.

Other uses and tips for Soap Nuts

· You can grind soap nuts in a coffee grinder to make an abrasive cleaner for toilets and hard to clean surfaces.