Soapnuts

100% BIODEGRADABLE!

IDEAL FOR regular laundry and delicates.

HYPOALLERGENIC!

NATURAL FABRIC SOFTENER!

LOW SUDSING!

Soap Nuts Liquid is a great concentrated cleaner. It can safely replace many household chemicals. Use it for washing humans, pets, fruit and vegetables, spot treating laundry, liquid hand soap, delicate laundry soap, and even shampoo! Use it for a bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, floor cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, for washing cars and plants, repelling pests, cleaning jewelry, even for sparkling windows!

What Are Soap Nuts?

Soap nuts are the sun dried fruits of the Chinese Soapberry tree (Sapindus mukorrosi), similar to the lychee. The outer shell of the soapnut contains saponin, a natural substance known for its ability to cleanse. Soap nuts have been used traditionally for many purposes. They have been used to clean all kinds of fabrics. They have been used in India for centuries by women to wash their hair, They are used in the ancient medical system of Tibet and in Ayurveda. They are totally natural, organically grown and free of harsh chemicals, so they are gentle on clothes and on skin. They are especially good for those with sensitive skin, including babies and those that suffer from allergies, eczema, and psoriasis. They have even been known to facilitate healing of these conditions. They are 100% non-allergenic. Being that they are grown on trees, Soap nuts are totally biodegradeable. They’re better for the environment than regular laundry detergents and they’re antimicrobial, so they’re even good for septic and greywater systems. They actually help break down the grey water in your septic system.

How to Use

Put 3-5 soapnuts (or the equivalent in broken shells) in the small cotton drawstring bag that came with your soapnuts. You won’t need detergents and softeners, but you might want to add a scoop of oxygen bleach if you prefer really bright whites. And just like with regular detergent, if you’ve got tough stains, you’ll probably want to consider using a stain remover.

  • Pull the bag closed and toss it in the washing machine with your laundry.
  • Wash on the hot or warm setting, and you can rinse in cool or cold. See below for cold water wash.
  • Your clean laundry won’t have a scent when finished, but you can use essential oils if you like to add some fragrance
  • You can leave the soap nuts bag in during the rinse cycle, because the saponin is only released by the hot temperatures of the wash cycle.
  • You can re-use the same soapnuts in your laundry up to FOUR times! Re-use them immediately, or set them aside to dry out and and be re-used later.

250 gram bag This is our mid-sized bag of soapnuts, and it will wash approximately 85 loads:

Note: to conveniently order multiple products, try our Ordering Page.

For Cold Water Wash - pre-soak 4 Soap Nuts in the cotton sack in hot water for a few minutes. Add the “tea” and sack to your cold wash load.

For More Heavy Duty Dirt - Pre-soak 4 Soap Nuts in the cotton sack in hot water for a few minutes. Add the "tea" and sack to your wash load. Use hot water and add fewer clothes to your machine so there is a lot of room for them to agitate. Will They Clean Difficult Items? Yes and No. They are one of the best detergents to get rid of bad odors. Musty towels and wash cloths, even cloth diapers come out smelling fresh and new. Stubborn stains, though, such as blood & red wine, require a stain remover to help the cleaning process.

For Whites - Always separate your colors. For extra stain removal, add a scoop of oxygen bleach. You can also use 1/2c. lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide to help brighten your white clothes.

Fabric Softener - Soap Nuts naturally soften and add body to your clothes. You’ll love how soft your clothes feel after washing

Hand Washables - Soak 2 Soap Nuts in cup of hot water for a few minutes. Add the “tea” to your cool water basin. Or, add a squirt of your liquid Soap Nuts cleaner to the cool basin.

Soapnuts Liquid

The easiest way to make it: It takes less than 5 minutes, including the time to find all the utensils.

  • In a heavy saucepan with a lid, bring four cups of water to a boil.
  • Turn off the heat and toss 6-8 soapnuts in the saucepan with the hot water.
  • Then cover the saucepan, and let it sit overnight.
  • In the morning, fish out and discard the remaining soapnut shells.
  • Pour the cooled liquid into a container with a lid or an empty spray bottle.

This batch of Liquid Soapnuts will wash at least 8 loads of laundry. (Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup for each load). The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. If you’ve made enough to last more than a week or two, it’s probably a good idea to keep it refrigerated. If you’d like your Soapnut Soak to have a scent, add your favorite essential oils. Lemon and grapefruit are good for cutting through dirt and grease, tea tree oil adds anti-bacterial power for a bathroom cleanser, lavender is nice for cold water laundry loads and hand soap. Or, for a more concentrated liquid use the recipe on the back of the soap nuts bag.

For Sparkling Windows - Fill a clean spray bottle with 10 parts water, 1 part Soap Nuts liquid, and a splash of vinegar. Shake well. Spray and wipe windows clean. Polish glass with a clean, dry towel or newspaper.

To clean Jewelry - Soak your jewels (metal and stones) for a few minutes in a small amount of Soap Nuts liquid. Use a soft toothbrush to gently loosen any debris. Rinse with clean water and polish with a soft, dry cloth.

For Plant Wash and Pest Repellent - Add 10 parts water, 1 part Soap Nuts liquid, and 1 tablespoon 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.

For Shampoo - use liquid Soap Nuts as shampoo. It works as natural, mild, surfactant cleanser but without stripping the natural oil from you hair so it also acts as a conditioner. The anti-microbial properties can help in controlling dandruff and keeping hair and scalp healthy. Try adding a few drops of lavender, rosemary, or tea tree essential oils for additional healing and conditioning properties or sweet orange for an uplifting fragrance.