Go Nuts For Soap Nuts

For the past 10 years we only use soap nuts for our laundry. What is a soap nut you might wonder? Soap nuts or also known as soapberries, actually are a fruit from a bush native in India and Nepal. The outer shell of the soap nut contains saponin, a natural substance known for its ability to cleanse and wash. (That’s what makes them so GREAT for cleaning your laundry!) And here’s a cool fact: soap nuts are not a new concept; they have been used to clean all kinds of fabric for centuries.

• Soap nuts are 100% natural
• They are organic, free of harsh chemical, making the perfect for sensitive skins including babies.
• They are 100% biodegradable so better for the environment than regular detergent. After the nuts are done just throw them into the compost.
• They’re antimicrobial, so they’re good for septic and greywater systems
• They work!!! We use them on everything including solid cloth diapers and they clean every time.
• They are cost efficient because five soaps nuts can be used for 3-4 loads of laundry, so one bag of soap nuts will last a really long time.

To use place 4-6 nuts in cotton muslin bag and tie the bag up. Place bag with laundry. There will be no bubbles and the smell is like apple cider vinegar. If you like a nicer smell, just add a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or vanilla. After a while the soap nuts will look mushy grey and that’s when it’s time to discard them and use some new.

Most people when they hear about us using  method they think it is crazy. But I swear by them and made a believer out of my husband who was on the fence about them at first. I have tried everything from store bought  eco-friendly laundry detergent to homemade kinds but they still create waste and since soap nuts can be composted they are the only true sustainable, green and non-toxic laundry option for green and clean laundry.