Everything you need to know about Living Naturally SoapNut Shells...

Where do Soap Nuts come from?

Soap Nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry Tree (Sapindus Mukorossi), related to the lychee and rambutan. Soap Nuts are harvested in Indian and Indonesian jungles where Soap Nut trees are holding forests and families together! Our Soap Nuts fall to the ground where they are collected by local folks who have used them for centuries.

The Soap berry tree grows uncultivated in poor quality ground and helps fights erosion, particularly in the Himalayan foothills. It also provides needed income to the local population. It is a relatively hardy tree being resistant to diseases and insects. The tree grows to 10 to 20 meters in height and begins flowering and bearing fruit after about 9 years. The tree has great longevity and will produce fruit (soap nuts) for about 90 years.

Local farmers / families harvest the fruit after it falls from the tree. The seed is removed from the shell / husk, and the shells are dried in the sun using absolutely no chemical processing. No commercial manufacturing processes are required in any way for the soap nut to become effective. Hence, soap nuts are absolutely 100% natural, unmodified dried fruit shells. The seeds can then be replanted.

We also ship them instead of flying them over, so your conscious can rest easy.

 

Are soap nuts safe for those with nut allergies?

Absolutely! They are actually a fruit related to the lychee, so there is need to worry for those with nut allergies.

Are soap nuts safe for those with sensitive skin?

Absolutely! Soap nuts are highly recommended for those with allergies or sensitive skin. They are 100% natural, free of synthetic chemicals and are hypoallergenic. Soap nuts are wonderful for use by those who are sensitive to the dyes, perfumes and chemicals used in most commercial detergents and cleansers. Most people who are irritated by such commercial products find soap nuts their ideal solution. Some people have seen their eczema and psoriasis clear up as a result of using them. Soap nuts are beneficial for both bathing and as a laundry detergent.

Are soap nuts good for washing cloth nappies?

Commercial detergents and soaps contain chemicals that build up in the nappy. Not only do these chemicals break down the fibres of the material causing it to loose absorbency and colour, but can also be irritating to your baby's skin. In addition, soap nuts are very effective at removing odours!

In fact, using commercial detergents does this to all of your clothes. Your clothes are coated with "whitening agents", optical bleaches and unknown chemicals and enzymes which affect the fibres and strip the colours away.

Have a look at our testimonials to see how many people report that their skin irritation and/or eczema ceases once they start to use soap nuts and bin their old chemical detergents.

I see very little suds when washing with soap nuts, are they cleaning my clothes?

Yes. Soap nuts can produce very little suds, but they are still working very effectively. Your clothes will still come out of the wash clean and fresh.

Suds should not be equated to cleaning power. We have been brainwashed to think this way through decades of marketing. The foaming you see with most detergents is because of the artificial foaming agents used.

Not all soapnuts will clean or sud in the same way. We have test-driven six different varieties/suppliers before deciding on these. We paid a bit more to ensure we got the right kind of soapnuts, so that they will yield the most saponin and as a result more suds and more cleaning power!

However, for all you die-hard suds addicts…to increase suds, between washes store your bag of soap nuts in a jar with water in and cover with a lid. When you use these already softened and moist nuts the saponin will be released quicker and you will get much more bubbles. The liquid in the jar can also be used in a dispenser in the drum of your washing machine as well.

Does it matter that some of the soap nuts are pieces instead of whole?

No. Since agitation is a catalyst in releasing the saponin, small pieces will work fine and possibly even release the saponin faster. Do not hesitate to break up the soap nuts into smaller pieces if desired, or be concerned if they are broken up while handling.

If you prefer, you can use your broken up shells to make soapnut powder or liquid, have a look at our ‘Other Uses…’ page for more recipes and ideas.

Soap nuts have a vinegar-like scent. Will my laundry have this scent?

The scent of the soap nuts does not transfer to your clothes. Amazingly, clothes come out of the wash smelling totally fresh and clean. There is not even a trace scent of the soap nut itself. Even though pure soap nut liquid has an unpleasant scent also, it will not transfer to your laundry or cleaning either. If you prefer a scent, you can simply add a few drops of your essential oil of choice to a damp wash cloth and drop it in the dryer. The scent of the oil will remain.

The soap nuts are really sticky. Is there something wrong?

Soap nuts absorb moisture very easily, and will become dark and sticky if left exposed to air, or in hot and humid weather. Sticky soap nuts do not mean they have gone bad; they will still wash and clean as normal. Some people prefer stickier soap nuts because the give more bubbles!

I use bleach in my whites. Are soap nuts a substitute for bleach?

No. If you desire to bleach your whites, adding your bleach of choice will not affect the cleaning power of the soap nuts. Soap nuts do not have any added whiteners or enzymes to help with stains, so you will need to pre-treat stubborn stains prior to washing. Use your favourite stain remover in conjunction with soap nuts laundry detergent. See our How To Use page for tips.

If the soap nuts stay in the wash through the rinse cycle, don't they keep releasing soap?

No, as long as you are using cold water in the rinse cycle. Soap nuts release very little saponin during the rinse cycle. This is why it is best to pre-soften soap nuts in warm water, use a cup of soap nuts liquid, or soap nuts powder, when washing in cold water.

Should I use a fabric softener or dryer sheets anymore?

Normally there is no need. Soap nuts naturally soften your laundry and reduce static. We highly recommend using no additives at all. Due to certain combinations of fabrics and environmental conditions, sometimes additives may be desired, but the need will be dramatically reduced. See our How To Use page for tips.

Can I use too many nuts?

We recommend four to eight whole Soap Nuts per load. For really dirty clothes, giant loads, or when washing in cold water, you can use more nuts. You’ll know you’ve used too many nuts if your clothes feel stiff after washing. The stiffness results from excess saponin in the rinse water and is not harmful to you or the clothes. The stiffness will go away after the next washing.

Will Soap Nuts keep my colours bright?

Yes! Soap Nuts are 100% natural and gentle. Becuase you will be washing away all the fillers and other chemicals from normal laundry detergent that just coat your washing and leave them dull, your colours will start to look brighter again!

Can Soap Nuts help me save water and energy?

Yes! Since there’s no soapy residue to rinse away you can use short to no rinse cycle on your washing machine. Also, soapnuts are totally organic and, as stated earlier, a mild insecticide.  It is safe, even beneficial to put on your garden.  Your washing machine uses about 50 litres (12 gallons!) of water per wash.  Collect that waste and your watering problems are over.

What do I do with the leftover shells?

Fresh shells look like satin varnish, and progressively after approx 5 washes the inside of the nuts become matt beige and the surface becomes darker. We suggest composting the shells, as the saponin should be completely exhausted there will be nothing to inhibit the creepy crawlies ingesting it. However if you are worried, put it in your green recycling.

 

Is there anything that I should concern myself with in using Soap Nuts?

As with a chemical cleanser, the only thing that we highly recommend is that soap nuts (in all forms) should be kept out of reach of children and pets. Soap nuts are not consumable and are harmful if eaten. Given their date-like appearance in raw shell form, a bag of soap nuts could look like food to a child or pet. Given their absolutely horrible taste, it is quite unlikely that any child or even a pet would not literally gag at the taste, but we simply recommend using good judgment and common sense in the storage of them.