Soapnuts - The Environmentally Friendly & Natural Cleaner
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Soapnuts - natural and environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry
We have four children and like many parents, my husband and I are very worried about the potentially toxic mixes that we keep in our cleaning cupboards. The fact that we have to lock these products away tells us how dangerous they are to our children and we need to be just as concerned about their effect on the environment.
A chance meeting with UK BBC Radio 2 Presenter Janey Lee Grace, The Imperfectly Natural Woman motivated me to start looking at all the unnatural stuff I use to clean my home.
As well as reading her books and looking at clips of Janey Lee Grace on You Tube, I am gradually starting to use some of the natural products that she recommends and have been amazed to learn about Soapnuts. They really are a safe, natural, environmentally friendly alternative to the variety of laundry aids and cleaning products that can be found in my cleaning cupboard and I hope you will also benefit from my research and that you too will go nuts!
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Table of Contents
Do you already know about Soapnuts?
I heard about Soapnuts from Janey Lee Grace
Imperfectly Natural Woman uses soapnuts
Janey is the "Queen" of natural living!-
Janey Lee Grace
-
Janey Lee Grace is a UK expert in the field of "natural" living. Janey describes herself as an "Imperfectly Natural Woman" and has written a best selling book with the same title. More recently "The Wright Stuff" on UK TV has started referring to her...
What are Soapnuts?
The only soap that grows on trees!
Soapnuts are the fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, commonly known as Soapnut, Soap Nut, Soapberry, Soap Berry, Washnut, and Wash Nut. They are actually berries, not nuts. Varieties grow wild in various parts of Asia, including Northern India and China and the nuts contain saponin, which reacts when it comes into contact with water. Soapnuts contain Saponin, which is a 100% natural soap which has been used for thousands of years to clean clothes.Soapnuts have long been used for commercial soap production, usually together with many chemical additives which are not necessary for the actual washing process and can be damaging to the user as well as our environment. Soapnuts are becoming a very popular environmentally friendly alternative to manufactured chemical detergents. They also eliminate the need to add fabric softeners to your laundry as clothes stay remarkably soft.
Soapnuts are highly-effective but gentle at the same time. They are mild so they will keep colours bright and they are so gentle that your clothes will stay in good condition for a lot longer than if you use biological detergents. They can be used on all fabrics including delicates like cashmere, silk and wool. They are also great for nappies.
Why use Soapnuts?
They are natural and environmentally friendly
Most people are aware of the damage we are doing to the environment because of the chemicals we use to clean our homes everyday. More people are switching to natural, environmentally friendly alternatives as we recognise that anything that should be locked away from our children is very toxic and if it is harmful to them then it is probably harmful to the environment.But how many of us stop and check the labels of all our shampoos, soaps and other items that we regularly use not only on our skin but our children as well?
I could write pages and pages about dangerous additives in our toiletries and household cleaning products but I thought if I could only highlight just one dangerous additive, then what would it be?
It had to be: Sodium Laureth Sulphate. SLS is a foaming agent that creates all those bubbles we come to expect from all our personal cleaning products. The irony is that they are purely cosmetic. More bubbles do not mean more effective cleaning. If you would like to know more about SLS then just Google it.
Do you ever wonder why you are told not to get this stuff in your eyes. OK, so it stings, but perhaps this is the main reason: SLS is a powerful detergent. Apparently garages use it to clean engine oil from their floors. It is also very corrosive. SLS also attacks the formation of essential proteins in the eyes, which can lead to cataracts in adults. It is so harmful to the skin that it is used in medical laboratories to damage skin before healing agents can be tested!
I have also heard of a case where someone was told to use a very well known baby shampoo to clean some printer rollers!!
Need I say more?
Eco friendly cleaning on YouTube
Listen to what Janey Lee Grace says about Soapnuts
Brand new book from The Imperfectly Natural Woman - Janey Lee Grace
The UK's "Green Queen" with fab natural tips
Imperfectly Natural Woman: The Pocket Book
Amazon Price: $14.73 (as of 07/06/2009)
This new publication includes tips and ideas extracted from the original book: Imperfectly Natural Woman together with some new tips, with added sections (particularly recipes for making your own natural skincare) and some gorgeous illustrations.
It would make the perfect gift for Mother's Day or a fabulous birthday present.
Some medical info about Soapnuts
Soapnuts can usually be used by people with sensitive skin and other conditions
According to my research Soapnuts are actually a fruit not a nut - see the Wikipedia article here - so they should be safe to use by people with nut allergies. However, anyone with a nut allergy would be wise to do their own research and also consult their Doctor.
Are Soapnuts expensive?
Going green and natural will NOT cost you the earth
As Soapnuts contain no natural perfume, you may prefer to add some essential oil such as Lavender, Tea Tree or any fragrance you like. However, if using on children or by anyone who has sensitive skin some essential oils may not be suitable, so please check first. Also you should not use Lavender and some other oils if you are pregnant. Just add a few drops of the oil to the conditioner drawer on your washing machine or into the cloth bag that you put the Soapnuts in.
Some people put a few drops of essential oil on the conditioner cloths they put in their tumble driers, but as I am trying to promote more environmentally friendly living I won't mention that!
Once you have used the Soapnuts for your washing a few times, you can use them to make liquid soap (see below) and then add them to your compost.
How to use Soapnuts in your laundry
Eco-friendly washing
To start with you may need to experiment to find out how Soapnuts will suit your needs. You will need to consider the following:
size of your washing machine
size of the load you are washing
how dirty the clothes are
the temperature of the wash
For an average load, with normal soiling, you will probably need 4-6 half shells; a larger and dirtier load may require 6-8 shell halves; smaller loads may only need 2-4.
You just pop the shells into the small cotton sack that is usually supplied with your order (you could also use a knotted sock) tie it up and drop it in the washing machine with the load. However, be aware that if you are tempted to use those little bags that come with commercial washing powder tablets, they are much more open and let more water flow through. So each set of nuts will be exhausted sooner.
Once you have put the Soapnuts in the load, you will not need to add anything else, unless you are using an essential oil. Soapnuts wash effectively between 30 and 60 degrees and will last on average about 3-4 washes. If you have a particulary dirty wash or a "whites wash" then you may find it better to use fresh Soapnuts for these loads.
Soapnuts don't contain any natural whiteners or brighteners so you may like to occasionally give your whites a boost by using Ecover bleach or bicarbonate of soda. For extra softness, without chemical nastiness, try white vinegar in the conditioner compartment.
When the Saponin has been used up the shells will look dark and feel soggy. However, they will still have their uses! At this point you can use them to make Soapnut liquid (see below). They also make a great hand soap, just toss them in your blender with some water and there you have it. Just strain out any tiny bits of shell that may be left.
Cleaning your laundry with Soapnuts leaves your washing completely odorless so if you prefer a scent, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the wash. You can apply the drops directly to your Soapnut bag before adding it to your washing machine.
If you prefer to use Soapnut Liquid rather than the nuts, then follow the recipes below and use it as you would normally use a liquid detergent. Use approx 3 tablespoons (or 45ml) per laundry load, but again you may need to experiment at first.
Soapnuts on Amazon
Cheap eco-friendly cleaning
Maggie's Soap Nuts 20 load tub
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Maggie's Soap Nuts. (50 Loads) 100% Natural Laundry Soap. Grows on TreesTM.
Amazon Price: $17.09 (as of 07/06/2009)
Maggie's Soap Nuts. (1 Kilo, 200+ Loads) 100% Natural Laundry Soap. Grows on TreesTM.
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Maggie's Soap Nuts. (20 Loads) 100% Natural Laundry Soap. Grows on TreesTM.
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/06/2009)
Where to buy Soapnuts in the UK
Ethical Superstore - great suppliers of environmentally friendly products
How to store your Soapnuts
Keep your Eco-cleaners in an airtight container
Soapnut Liquid
Try these recipes for environmentally friendly cleaning
Boiling MethodCrush about 100g (about 2 handfuls) of Soap Nut Shells.
Add to approximately 12 cups/3 litres of water.
Bring mixture to the boil, and simmer for approximately 30 minutes.
The boiling process extracts the saponin from the nut shells, which combines with the water. You can use the liquid immediately, or let it steep overnight. Strain into your container and try making more liquid with the same shells - this may give a weaker concentration but can still be used for lighter cleaning jobs.
This concentrated, chemical free, environmentally friendly liquid can be used as a laundry detergent, organic pest control, shampoo, all purpose household cleaner, car/screen wash, liquid soap, pet shampoo, washing up liquid or any other things you would normally clean with a liquid.
Experiment with the mix of Soapnuts to water, adding more or less shells and water for stronger and weaker concentrations.
Once you have finished with the shells they can be added to your compost.
Soaking Method
1 cup Soap Nuts
4 cups water
(UK 1 cup = approx 8 fluid ounces)
Add Soapnuts to the water. Leave overnight. In the morning, liquefy the mixture in your blender. Strain through a very fine sieve into a bottle.
Just when you think you have extracted all the Saponin from your soapnuts
Throw some used shells into the blender with a bit of water and hey presto - you have liquid soap for the handbasin!
GREEN Tip of the Day
Other uses for Soapnuts and Soapnut liquid
More environmentally friendly and natural cleaning
Washing dishes and glasses: hand washing - don't worry about the lack of bubbles. In the dish washer, just put 3 shells in the bottom of the cutlery holder and some vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser and your dishes will come out sparkling clean. You can also use approx 50 ml Soapnut liquid in the normal dispenser. However, if you have any pans with badly burnt food on them, then you will probably need to hand wash these.
Washing hands: Put your old shells, with any new little "broken off" pieces that are too small to put in the bag / sock, in a blender. You need to break all the shells into tiny bits so that they release as much "soap" as possible. Add approx half pint of water and blend for a few seconds. Simmer for a few minutes and then allow the liquid to settle for awhile. In the meantime take an old soap dispensing bottle, remove the inner tube and cut it so that the tube only reaches about half way down to the bottom. Strain the liquid through a fine sive into a jug, then pour into the dispenser so that the level is below the pipe. Give it a shake and then pump. You will get a palmful of foam that you can wash your hands with.
Shower/bath soap
Washing hair: use a small amount of Soapnut liquid - a little goes a long way! Put the Soapnut liquid into a small bottle to keep in the bathroom/shower. Give it a good shake to get some foam. Rub into the hair and scalp, leave for 30 seconds or so as you massage in. Rinse well - then apply again. Keep adding until the liquid starts to foam up a little. It won't be much as there is none of those nasty foaming chemical additives. Rinse well, then rinse again. Keep it out of your eyes - yes, it does sting! It may feel sticky on your hair when you use it, but it rinses out to leave smooth, silky hair. If your hair feels slightly dry after using the liquid, you may have used too much. Since Soapnut liquid does not produce a lot of lather, it is easy to overdo it.
Screenwash in cars
Natural pesticide: plant spray to deter Greenfly and Aphids. Soapnut liquid, diluted about 5:1 with water, is also a highly effective snail killer.
Cleaning Jewellery: soak in Soapnut liquid and then rub with a cloth to give it a shine.
Cleaning fruit and veg: soak for approximately 10-15 minutes in the Soapnut liquid. Rinse off and the solution can then be reused for household cleaning. Or spray from a dispenser.
Pet shampoo: Parasites can be removed from pets' fur and skin by washing with a mild solution of Soapnut liquid. Your pet will be left clean, soft and protected from further infestations.
Household cleaning: Good inside and out.
Windows: a 50:50 mix of Soapnut liquid with vinegar and a final polish with a clean cloth is very effective.
Using Soapnuts with greywater systems
Aphids beware!
If you have one of those homes where "grey water" (from baths, wash basins and washing etc) is collected for using on the garden, then Soapnuts won't be harmful. In fact they will actually be beneficial as they are a mild, natural insecticide.
Your washing machine uses about 50 litres (12 gallons!) of water per wash. Collect that waste and you need not worry about hose pipe bans. Of course, the aphids will have plenty to worry about though!
My friend Ade is a brilliant photographer. You can check out his photostream here.
So will you give Soapnuts a try?
Will you try these eco-friendly cleaning ideas?
Other books that recommend Soapnuts
Getting life right the natural way
Imperfectly Natural Home: Everything You Need to Know to Create a Natural Home
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 07/06/2009)
Imperfectly Natural Woman: Getting Life Right the Natural Way
Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 07/06/2009)
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Where I found a lot of the info on Soapnuts
Acknowledgements and references
- Sapindus Mukorossi.com
- The Complete Soapnut Guide!
- Corick.co.uk
- Website dedicated to soapnuts
- ebay
- ebay review on Soapnuts
Guestbook
Please let me know what you think of this lens and don't forget to add your own natural cleaning lenses to the Plexo. If you have time to add a star rating too, I will be really grateful!
C-Joy wrote...
I have never heard of these before, but they sound perfect for my home! Thanks for sharing :)
Posted June 09, 2009
Beas wrote...
I like the fact that you can clean with these soapnuts. Had never heard of them. All initiatives to make people more aware of natural alternatives should be encouraged and that's what you are doing.
Great lens too! And thanks for lensrolling my lens about Manuka honey. I will add this lens to mine too.
Posted May 20, 2009
calicoskies wrote...
I have never heard of "soap nuts" - I am going to have to try them! Excellent lens :)
Posted May 20, 2009
Mugsie wrote...
Wonderful lens! Never heard of soap nuts but think I'll give them a try. Thanks for all the info.
Posted May 18, 2009
jmsp206 wrote...
I have never heard of soapnuts but they sound a great ingredient to have as part of your washing power.I try to be as green as possible, I will have to hunt these down in Australia.love the clean,very wet cats lol.
Posted May 17, 2009
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Lensmaster aj2008, aka AJ , has been a member since July 10 2008, has rated 1,991 lenses, favorited 403, and has created 52 lenses from scratch. AJ donates their royalties to Save the Children. This member's top-ranked page is "Bullying At Primary School". See all my lenses
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