Soap Nuts Articles & Information
Soap Nuts (Soapnuts) – Nature’s Natural Detergent
By James J Clarkson
I’m not an environmentalist by any means, but I do consider the impact of what
I am doing has on the environment. That is why when my wife started using
Soap Nuts as our household cleaner, it sparked my curiosity to learn more.
What are Soap Nuts?
They are actually not nuts at all. They are berries (also known as Soap Berries) that grow on trees in India & Nepal. There are two main varieties: sapindus trifoliatus (The Small Soap Nut) and sapindus mukorossi (The Large Soap Nut). The Large Nut is the most commonly used in cleaning (probably due to its size & ease of harvesting), but both varieties are quite effective.
How do Soap Nuts Work as a Detergent?
They contain large amounts of saponin in their shells, which acts as a natural, gentle detergent when it comes into contact with water. Without added chemicals, fragrances or dyes, Soap berries are safe and gentle for hand washing delicates, yet tough enough for regular laundry. They will leave your laundry soft, clean and fragrance free, without the use of fabric softeners.
Will Soap Nuts Clean Difficult Items?
Yes and No. They are one of the best detergents out there to get rid of bad odors. Musty towels and wash cloths, even cloth diapers, come out smelling fresh and new. When it comes to stubborn stains, though, such as blood & red wine, you will want to use a stain remover to help the cleaning process.
What About My Allergies to Soap?
Most allergic reactions to soap are due to added chemicals and fragrance. Soap berries are naturally grown and chemical free. When we began using them as our laundry detergent, the eczema which I had across my chest and belly cleared up and has been gone now for 6 months. Soap Nuts are 100% non-allergenic.
How do I use Soap Nuts in my Laundry?
For Laundry Detergent, you can use them one of two ways:
1. Toss 2 or 3 Soap berries in a small muslin bag (provided with most Soap Nuts orders) and throw it in with your laundry. (Make sure that you take the soap nuts out before putting your clothes in the dryer). The nuts will do 3 or 4 loads.
2. Boil 100 g Soap Nuts in 12 cups (3L) of water for 30 minutes. The liquid you have is now a concentrated, chemical free detergent. The leftover shells can be placed in your compost. Use 3 Tbsp or 45 ml of this detergent with each load of laundry. This allows you to do approximately 60 loads of laundry. Not bad for under $10!
Can Soap Nuts be used for More Than Just Laundry Detergent?
Yes. They can be used, in the liquid form, for cleaning just about anything. From dish washer soap, to window & glass cleaner, to repairing oily or dry hair, Soap Nuts are a multi-purpose cleaner.
The End Product Still Goes Down the Drain. Does That Hurt the Environment?
No. Soap nuts are antimicrobial. This means that they actually help in breaking down the grey water in the septic system. Also, you do not have to do a rinse cycle when you do your laundry with them. This can save gallons of water every wash cycle. Don’t worry, though; if you forget to stop your machine before the rinse cycle they are just as effective. The amount of saponin left in the rinse cycle will just leave your clothes feeling soft.
Soap Nuts are a Win-Win Situation
With great cleaning power, no harmful chemicals, & prices that rival any other detergents, Soap Nuts are one of the best cleaning agents you can buy.
Soap Nuts (Soapnuts) – The Environmental Detergent
By Matt Johnson
Have you ever thought about all the chemicals that we pour down the drain daily? What impact do they have on our environment? What does this mean for our children’s future? How can we minimize the harmful chemicals we use & save the environment at the same time? Soap Nuts are the answer.
What are Soap Nuts?
They are not actually nuts at all, but berries (also known as soap berries) that grow on trees in India & Nepal. They contain high concentrations of saponin, which acts as a natural soap when it comes into contact with water.
What can I use Soap Nuts for?
The most common & easiest use is as a laundry detergent. Just place three or four shells of soap nuts in a muslin bag (provided with most soap nuts orders) and throw it in with your laundry instead of regular detergent and you are on your way to becoming environmentally friendly. When using them in your laundry, you do not even need a rinse cycle, thus preventing gallons of water from unnecessarily going down the drain. If you want to expand your soap nuts into a multi-purpose cleaner, simply boil 100 g of soap nuts in 12 cups (3L) of water for 30 minutes. Fish out the shells, throw them in your compost, & you are left with a highly concentrated, natural, liquid detergent.
How does the use of Soap Nuts affect Grey Water?
Soap nuts are antimicrobial. After their detergent goes into the sewer system, it helps break down the grey water into a more usable form. The use of them actually benefits the environment, rather than hurting it as the harmful chemicals we use do. Because of their unique antimicrobial properties, soap nuts are also used in aid of soil restoration.
What harmful chemicals are found in my regular laundry detergent?
Regular laundry detergents may contain any or all of the following:
•
Enzymes – Are a skin sensitizer, but may cause dermatitis and allergic reactions
Enzymes – Are a skin sensitizer, but may cause dermatitis and allergic reactions•Sodium Hypochlorite – Causes lung irritations, bronchial or respiratory reactions, cardiovascular damage, as well as eye and skin damage.
Sodium Hypochlorite – Causes lung irritations, bronchial or respiratory reactions, cardiovascular damage, as well as eye and skin damage.•Nonylphenoxy Ethoxylates – Is an edocrine disruptor, and can cause an activation of cellular estrogen receptors (even at low levels) This is implicated in causes of a rise in breast and prostate cancer, infertility issues, a decline in amphibian populations and the reversal / feminization of birds, fish or reptiles.
Nonylphenoxy Ethoxylates – Is an edocrine disruptor, and can cause an activation of cellular estrogen receptors (even at low levels) This is implicated in causes of a rise in breast and prostate cancer, infertility issues, a decline in amphibian populations and the reversal / feminization of birds, fish or reptiles.Are Soap Nuts Gentle on my skin?
Yes. They contain no chemicals, and are therefore non-allergenic. Many people (myself included) who suffered from eczema and other skin irritations have seen their problems diminish after switching to soap nuts as a laundry detergent.
How does my Purchase of Soap Nuts affect India & Nepal?
Your purchase is beneficial to both the economy & environment of India & Nepal. In these two countries, there are many poor people. Because soap nuts are plentiful, they become non-saleable locally. Therefore, the trees become more valuable & marketable as firewood than for the environmentally friendly soap nuts that they grow. When soap nuts are marketed overseas, it employs local residents to harvest them, which in turn, stimulates the economy. At the same time, it makes the trees more valuable living than dead. This helps save our tropical forests.
Soap Nuts are the Environmental Detergent.
The use of soap nuts reduces the use of harmful chemicals, helps in restoring our polluted earth, and saves our tropical forests. Isn’t it time you did your part in painting a greener future for our children?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sapindus
Sapindus marginatus shrubs
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Sapindus
Sapindus is a genus of about five to twelve species of shrubs and small trees in the Sapindaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. Common names include soapberry and soapnut, both names referring to the use of the crushed seeds to make soap.
The leaves are alternate, 15-40 cm long, pinnate, with 14-30 leaflets, the terminal leaflet often absent. The flowers form in large panicles, each flower small, creamy white. The fruit, called a soap nut, is a small leathery-skinned drupe 1-2 cm diameter, yellow ripening blackish, containing one to three seeds.
Soap nuts contain saponin, a natural detergent which is used to clean clothes. Soap nuts, especially Sapindus mukorossi, have become popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to manufactured, chemical detergents . A few nuts can be placed in a cotton drawstring bag in with a washload and reused several times. Soap nuts are safe for washing silk, woolens and other delicate fabrics.
Soap nuts, especially Sapindus mukorossi, are used medically as an expectorant, emetic, contraceptive, and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis, and migraines. Studies show that saponin from soap nuts inhibits tumor cell growth. Soap nuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They are a popular ingredient in shampoos and cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soap nuts have gentle insecticidal properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp.
Soap nuts are antimicrobial and are beneficial for septic systems and greywater. Soap nuts are used in the remediation of contaminated soil.
Soap nuts are used by Indian and Indonesian jewelers to remove the tarnish from silver and other precious metals.
Sapindus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita malabaricus.
How to Wash Cloth Diapers & Get Them Really Clean
Things You’ll Need:
1. Dirty cloth diapers
2. Baking soda OR Borax OR Washing Soda
3. Soap Nuts OR Soap Nuts Liquid
Step 1:
Throw the whole batch of diapers in the wash, and set it to a Cold-Cold wash. This will just be a prewash cycle to get rid of any 'solids' that you could not get rid of by dunking. Add about 1/2c baking soda OR Borax OR washing soda to help eliminate stains and smells.
Step 2:
When this full cycle is done, turn it to a Hot-Cold wash cycle. At this time, add either 3Tbsp soap nuts liquid OR a small bag with 4 or 5 shells. There is no need to add vinegar because the nuts will leave the diapers soft.
Step 3:
When this cycle is done, take out the diapers and give them a big whiff! (I dare you....) They will smell clean! There will not be any lingering odors nor detergent build-up.
Step 4:
Dry your diapers as usual.
Soap Nuts: Green Clean Detergents
By Matt Johnson
The North American consumer is moving towards becoming an informed buyer. An average American is now aware of facts that previously went unnoticed such as the presence of Triclosan in anti-bacterial soaps, bisphenol-A in plastics and that air fresheners are abuzz with phthalates. In simple words, the above describes the various harmful chemicals that are present in items that a person uses on a daily basis. People are now coming to realize that such chemicals are not just harmful to human health but also deplete the environment. The shift towards plant based and natural products is evident.
Why not regular laundry detergents?
Cleaning and washing laundry are a regular household task. There are various options in the market in the form of cleaning aids and commercial laundry detergents. These detergents contain a blend of many toxic chemicals that are present in the form of residue on clothes after they are washed. The skin may absorb these chemicals into the blood stream or they may evaporate and be taken in by children causing potential health effects.
Regular laundry detergents contain ammonia and phosphates which is why many people experience itching, rashes and allergic reactions ,such as eczema, to these detergents. A better, safer, ethical and environmental friendly option would be to use Soap nuts as a detergent and cleaning aid.
Soap nuts as detergents and cleaning aids
Soap nuts are a type of berry native to India, Nepal and other South Asian countries. The larger variety, (Sapindus Mukorrosi) is widely used as a natural detergent and cleaning aid all over the world. The saponins in them make them an excellent detergent and cleaning aid.
Saponins are nature’s cleansing agents that act like soap when they come in contact with water. The saponins dissolves in the water and function as detergents. The soap nuts allow water to penetrate well into the fabric thereby washing and cleaning them. The dirt is attached to the surfactant which is then drained along with the water.
How to use soap nuts for laundry?
In order to use them for laundry purposes, 4-6 soap nut shells will be required. The shells should be taken and tied together in small muslin bag (supplied with most soap nuts orders), and tossed into the washing machine. Now you can add your clothes and do your normal laundry cycle. This batch can be used for 4 to 5 loads of laundry. The soap nuts should be changed when they become grayish or mushy. It is advisable to allow the soap nuts to dry between successive loads of laundry. The bag should be removed before running the clothes in the dryer.
To make a liquid solution, 100 grams of soap nuts, (or approximately30-35 whole soap nuts) should be boiled in approximately 3L of water for about 20 to 30 minutes. A liquid will be obtained which is a chemical free, concentrated soap nut solution; a natural aid to all your laundry detergent needs. The shells that are left over may be added to your compost. Then 45 ml of this solution (approximately 3 tablespoons) can be used for a load of laundry. The solution made with 100 grams of soap nuts can be used for washing approximately 40 loads of laundry and will cost you less than $10!
Benefits of using soap nuts as a laundry detergent
They help maintain the bright colors of the fabric and prevent fading with each wash. They can be used to wash the most delicate fabrics such as silks and woolen garments without causing any harm to them.
Clothes washed with them come out feeling very soft eliminating the need to use additional fabric softeners.
The use of them does not cause any allergic reactions as it is completely natural and chemical free. They are ideal for people with allergies, eczema, dermatitis and sensitive skin.
