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I don’t see suds. Are the soapnuts working?

The quantity of suds do not have any bearing on the effectiveness of the cleaning product. Although some soaps by nature are foaming, commercial detergents are generally low foaming with a foaming agent added to increase the perception of cleaning power. A surfactant is something that reduces water’s surface tension allowing water to break up dirt, grease and grime from fabrics. Continued sudsing is not required for effective cleaning. New “high efficiency” washing machines prove this by requiring detergents that produce very little suds, and this is why soapnuts are ideal for these washers.

Can I use soapnuts with cold water?

Yes! It's best to soak the soanuts just prior to using in hot water to release the saponins. The saponins release more slowly in cold water but they still work effectively.

Are they safe to use in all machines (front and top loaders)?
Absolutely - just remember to keep them in the cotton wash bag provided (or alternatively an old sock tied at the top) to avoid the shells sticking in any filters in your machine. If the nuts have come free in the wash check your filter to ensure none have become lodged. Soapnuts are superb in front loaders as the process of tumbling the laundry is actually better than top-loading agitators – further facilitating the release of the soapnuts saponin.

Do I need to remove the soapnut bag prior to the rinse cycle?

No, you do not need to remove the bag. Saponin is so mild that it will not be problematic, and is totally non-irritating to the skin. However, if you do choose to remove the bag prior to the rinse cycle you may get more washes out of the soapnuts.

Do I need to use fabric softener?

The saponins contained in soapnuts leave your laundry beautifully soft so there should be no need for further softeners.

Can you use soapnuts if you have a nut allergy?

Soapnuts despite the name are NOT actually nuts: they are a BERRY. They are not part of the nut family and won’t cause any nut allergy.

Can I use soapnuts if I have sensitive skin?

Soapnuts are ideal for people with allergies or sensitive skin, being 100% natural, free of sysnthetic chemicals, and hypoallergenic. They are recommended for people who are sensitive to the perfumes and dyes used in most commercial detergents. People who suffer from eczema, psoriasis and rosacea often report relief with soapnuts.

Will my whites stay white?

As soap nuts are free from chemical whiteners and bleaches you may find yourself looking for something to reinvigorate that sparkling white appearance over time. To do this you can add 50ml of lemon juice or 1 teaspoon of citric acid to your rinse cycle per kilogram of clothing.

Will my colours stay true?

Another advantage of soap nuts is that without chemical whiteners and bleaches your colours will not be faded as quickly as with other laundry detergents. Without the addition of reflective optical brighteners found in washing powders your colours will show their natural brightness wash after wash.

Will they remove stains?

They are effective at removing everyday stains but you may need to use a separate stain treatment for more stubborn ones. Of course, there will always be difficult stains, like those containing zinc for example, that will always require special treatment. Lipstick is a classic example. 

For a really dirty load, we recommend using half the load size with the usual quantity of soapnuts. When you do use hotter washes (e.g. 60C +) you will probably only get around one or two washes out of one batch of soapnut shells.

Can soapnuts be used to handwash clothes?

Yes you can either make up a liquid soap or else you can soak them for a few minutes in their bag in warm water.

I live in a hard water area, are soapnuts still suitable?

If you are supplied with 'hard water', water that is heavily laden with minerals, your clothing will naturally grey in time as the mineral deposits build up in the garment. To prevent this, use soapnuts as recommended and add ¼ cup baking soda to the wash water or half a cup of vinegar to your rinse water for a full load. Please be aware that clothes will not have the same level of softness as they would without the vinegar.

Can I add fragrance to my wash?

As your clothes slowly relinquish the chemical residue from previous washings they will develop the odour that any fabric typically has when wet. It is noticeable as a woody or earthy odour when wet and simply disappears when dry. It is a natural phenomenon just like the smell of surrounding plants just after it has rained.

If you prefer your wet items not to produce this scent or you miss that 'fresh' smell that your previous detergent had then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil either to the wash bag or to the fabric softener dispenser. Adding Citronella/lemon grass oil would help keep away mosquitoes – particularly when washing children’s clothes.

How do I store my Soapnuts?

Keep your soapnut shells in a dry place. Moisture can lead to early saponin release, and possible mould or mildew. Provided soapnuts are kept in a dry place they should remain as effective as the day you bought them.

Can soapnuts be eaten?

We do NOT recommend eating Soap in a Nutshell soapnuts or soapnut powder. They are being sold purely as a cleaning product and should not be ingested.

Using Soapnuts

General instructions for washing machine use: Place 6-8 half shells (or equivalent pieces) in the small wash bag provided, and place in the washing machine. If using cold wash, soak the bag of nuts in warm/hot water first for a few minutes and then tip the bag and water into the wash.

Wash as normal. There is no need to add any fabric softener or remove the bag between the wash and rinse cycle, as any residual saponin (which would not be much) will just add body and softness to your laundry, and is non-irritating to the skin. After wash, remove the nuts from the bag and let bag and nuts dry. The nuts can be reused up to 6 times in cold water (until the soapnuts become darker and lose their sheen). Hotter washes will give less rewashes, perhaps only one or two in very hot water.

An alternative method is to make liquid soap (see below) and use this instead of the nuts in the bag.

Used soapnuts can be disposed of in compost or mulch. Washing water can be reused as grey water as it only contains pure natural ingredients.

Other uses for Soapnuts

Soapnuts are a very cost effective and efficient alternative to commercial laundry detergents, and they can be used for a number of different purposes, some of which are listed below. Please note these are only suggestions, and there is really no incorrect way to use them. Feel free to experiment and see what works best for you.

Liquid Soap

Boil 15-20 half shells in 500mls of water for 5-10 minutes, allow to cool and pass through a sieve to remove the shells. Store the liquid in an air tight container, and dispose used shells into compost. Note the liquid soap has a short shelf life (several days), and therefore it may be best to freeze ice cubes of the liquid soap for use as required.

Household Cleaner

The liquid soap can be put in a clean spray bottle and used as a regular cleaner around the house (including windows), and works as effectively as chemical cleaners. Afew drops of Eucalyptus oil can be added if desired.

Hand-washing

Use the liquid soap, adding water soluble essential oils if desired, to soak and hand-wash delicates.

Shampoo

Place 3 shells in 500ml water. Simmer for 10 minutes and add cornflour to thicken if desired as well as any essential oils to scent (Lavender is great).  The shampoo will not lather as you may be used to but it will clean your hair. PLEASE KEEP AWAY FROM THE EYES.

Relaxing/Cleansing Bath

Place 3-4 soap nut shells in washbag and allow to steep in hot bathwater for 5 minutes. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil. PLEASE KEEP AWAY FROM THE EYES

Pet Wash

Use a mild solution (3-4  shells in 1 litre of hot water). PLEASE KEEP AWAY FROM THE EYES.

Jewellery Cleaner

Use a mild solution (3-4 shells in 500mls hot water) to soak jewellery before rinsing, drying and polishing. It is non abrasive and does not damage the precious metals.

In the garden

A mild solution of soapnuts (3-4 shells in 1 litre of hot water) sprayed on leaves will help repel small insects like aphids and thrips.

Our Soapnuts are supplied by Asha Handicrafts, (Asha means "hope" in Sanskrit), which was established in 1975 by a group of Christian businessmen, and today successfully markets handcrafts for over 50 family workshops around India, representing 1500 artisans, irrespective of caste or creed. Asha Handicrafts provides a secure market for small scale artisan workshops like ANSA, the soapnut harvesters in Tamil Nadu region in southern India.

Asha Handicrafts provide the artisans’ families with medical care and educational assistance, including scholarships for primary school children, school fees, uniforms and books, as well as monetary advances to purchase raw materials and interest free loans. Instead of becoming reliant on Asha, they encourage and assists the workshops to find their own markets and to deal directly with customers, eventually becoming independent.

Anthyodaya Sangham (ANSA) is an NGO founded in 1980 in Tamil Nadu to help rural folk sustain themselves through indigenous business practices. ('Anthyodaya' means development from destruction, 'Sangha' means association.) ANSA aims at integrated development of the marginalized and oppressed sections of the society. The people ANSA work with are mostly castes who are socially marginalized.

On the social side they seek to involve women’s groups in most of their activities, empowering them economically and socially by providing them with adequate training and education. They have several self-help groups of women who are involved in saving and micro-credit schemes and are given entrepreneurship training to grow their own group businesses. 

About the Producer - Member of the World Fair Trade Organisation - Located in India

Provides markets, medical and education assistance, raw materials and interest-free loans to producers

Encourages producers to set up their own businesses and find their own markets

Visit Asha Handicrafts website - http://www.ashahandicrafts.net/products.php