All About: Soap Nuts

Sapindus Saponaria
Image credit: wikipedia

 If you haven't tried soapnuts before, and don't want to purchase a whole box just yet, let us know via email and we'll include a small sample and an info brochure for free with your order.

What are Soap Nuts?

Soap Nuts are a natural alternative to conventional washing detergents; and have been used by many cultures throughout the world for thousands of years.

The "nuts" are actually the dried shells of berries from the Sapindus tree, which is native to India and South America. A tree takes about 10 years to produce fruit, and will continue to produce for about 90 years. The fruit is harvested once a year in Autumn, when the berries fall to the ground. The berries are sun-dried, shelled to remove the seed, and packed ready for use. There's no chemical process involved, and once your soapnut shells are spent, you can dispose of them in your compost.

Soapnuts are orangey-brown and have a wrinkled, leathery, sticky texture. They look a bit like giant sultanas but they're hollow, and much tougher. They have a tart, vinegary smell, but they leave no fragrance on your washing.

The drying process & finished soap nuts.
Image credits clockwise from top left: vegancrunk.blogspot.com; newnit.com.au; organictrader.com.au; turbyandjohn.com; teluguone.com

How are they used?
There are a few different methods and uses for soapnuts. Primarily they're used for washing laundry, but they can also be used as a general purpose cleaner, and even in body products! If you buy soapnuts through Caravan Organic you'll receive a 500g box of whole split shells and a reusable drawstring bag - just like the image above.

The most basic way to use them is to place 4-6 shells in the drawstring bag and add it to the washing machine drum with your clothes. This method works best if you wash with warm water & rinse with cold, but it also suitable for long cold wash cycles. You don't need to remove them during the final rinse cycle because cold water won't release much saponin from the shell. You can reuse the same soapnut shells for several washes - you'll know they're spent when they have turned a paler colour and have gone quite soggy. Then it's time to put them in the compost bin and start the process again with fresh shells. Used this way, you can expect a 500g box to last many months. The dried shells have a very long shelf life.

Here in the Caravan house, we prefer to make soapnut liquid concentrate with our shells and use it in the same way we would use ordinary liquid detergent. To make soapnut liquid, simply boil a cupful or so of soapnut shells in a litre of plain water at a low simmer for an hour or more. There are no strict rules for making soapnut liquid (although there are lots of recipes online if you'd like more detail) - you'll get a feel for when the liquid is ready when the shells have become mushy and pale, and the liquid has thickened a bit and turned a dark colour. Strain the shells out and allow the liquid to cool before storing. Soapnut liquid has a limited shelf life of about 2 weeks. For this reason, we make it in big batches and freeze it in ice cube trays. We add three soapnut ice cubes to a normal wash and four to a really big wash; and we have been doing so for about three years with no complaints. Boiling the shells releases the most saponin so the liquid has very good cleaning power. The defrosted liquid can be used as a dish detergent, general purpose cleaner, or as shampoo! Soapnut liquid can leave a slightly sticky residue on surfaces, so be sure to wipe or rinse well.

If you have a coffee or spice grinder that you aren't too precious about, you can also make soapnut powder. I have tried this using my high speed blender, and it ended in a sticky mess - but if you're interested in this method; do a google search for "how to make your own soapnut powder" - there's a lot of soapnut info out there!!

We're pleased to offer Eaternal brand organic soapnuts. They are fair trade and come in environmentally friendly packaging; and we have been consistently happy with the quality.

If you'd like a sample, please let us know either in the comments section of our order form, or by emailing us at the address on the right, and we'll include it with your next order.