Soap nuts are an amazing natural product organically grown and produced in the Himalayas, natures SOAP. The natural saponins in the nut shells are released when immersed in water. They can be used for clothes washing, personal care, pet care and general household cleaning. Safe moisturising to the skin, antiseptic, Chemical free and great for the environment. Once they are no longer needed for cleaning they can be composted or just placed in the garden.
The Wild soap nuts are ideally suited to people with chemical sensitivities and just delicate sensitive skin. Soap nuts are the outside of a macadamia sized berry, which is cracked open and dried in the sun, producing a dark golden shell. These shells known as "soap nuts", 'washnuts", or 'soapberries' can be placed into your washing machine instead of detergent and fabric softener, leaving your clothes clean soft and scent free.
The shells contain a very high percentage of saponins ( mother natures soap), a surfactant, which removes dirt and oils from fabric when dispersed in water.
What can I use them for?
laundry detergent
body/hand wash
conditioning shampoo
general purpose cleaner
pet wash
vegetable wash
carpet/ upholstery cleaner
How do I use them?
Put 2-6 soap nuts in cotton wash bag and place in washing machine, more shells for larger loads, hot water for heavily soiled clothes
Do not need to remove shells in the rise phase as they leave no harmful residue
Soap nuts can be reused 4-6 times, once they loose the slippery feel when wet they can be composted in the garden
Can be made into liquid soap by simmering 100gm nuts in 3 litres of water for an hour. The strained liquid can be decanted into bottles and used instead of any liquid soap
Essential oils can be added to make your own individual fragrance or for the antiseptic and healing benifits of the essential oils.
And best of all they are a economical environmentally friendly and can safely replace all the cleaners in your home.