Signora Sheila

According to statistics, the average American family of four spends about $18 a year on laundry detergent.¹ Add another $39 for bleach, and $66 for fabric softener. That’s a lot of money going down the drain. (No pun intended!) And that doesn’t even take into account the toll all those chemicals take on the environment. 

But you can wash laundry for almost nothing! Just switch to soapnuts! I did it years ago, and have never regretted it! I pay about €15 ($16) for 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) of “soapnuts”, which will last the two of us almost two years! That’s a great savings and good stewardship!

But what exactly are soapnuts?

They’are not really nuts at all, but the dried fruit shells of the Sapindus Mukurossi tree. They are also known as soapberries. They contain a natural substance called saponin; which is released by warm water and agitation.

By the way soap in Italian is sapone! So Soapnuts are essentially natural soap that has been used for centuries in places like India and Nepal for laundry, cleaning, bathing, and dishwashing!

Laundry soap from trees!

Soapnuts, the only organic laundry detergent that grows on trees:

• Reusable: each nut can be used up to 6 times before it’s used up;
• Easy to use: just toss them in with the wash or make them into a liquid;
• Naturally softening: they eliminate the need for fabric softener;
• Affordable: less expensive than detergent and fabric softener;
• 100% certified organic: no harmful ingredients, non-toxic;
• Sustainable and renewable;
• Non-polluting: 100% compostable & safe for gray water systems;
• Eco friendly: less processing, energy, and packaging;
• Water & energy saving: requires fewer & shorter rinse cycles;
• Vegan: many liquid laundry detergents contain animal fats;
• Front-loading friendly: produce less suds, so they’re also perfect for HE machines;
• Antimicrobial: disinfect clothes & surfaces naturally;
• No soap residue: no rinsing required;
• Gentle: safe on all fabrics, even silk and wool,
• Cloth diaper safe: and gentle enough for infants;
• Fragrance free: or add your own essential oils;
• Hypoallergenic: no skin or respiratory irritations;
• Not actually nuts: totally safe even for nut allergies;
• Easy to travel with: no liquids to spill or get through customs;
• Indefinite shelf life: if stored in a cool, dry place.

Two Methods for using soapnuts:

Method #1: Use whole nuts.

This method only works with water at 30°C (86°F) or higher. However, it has the advantage of allowing you to reuse the soapberries over and over again.

Unlike commercial detergents, soapnuts do not produce a lot of suds. Manufactured detergents contain unnecessary chemicals to make them more bubbly. But bubbles, which are just trapped air that bursts, do not increase cleaning power!

• Unlike DIY laundry detergents, there’s no mixing involved;
• Tear 5-6 of the shells into pieces, by hand;
• Place in the small cotton bag (which is included), tie it shut, and toss it in with the clothes;
• For a bit of fragrance, put drops of essential oil directly on the bag;
• Leave in for the entire cycle; they leave no residue;
• You can reuse the soapnuts immediately or hang the bag to dry until the next load;
• If you accidentally throw it in the dryer? No harm done, just keep reusing.

Method #2: Buy liquid soapnut detergent.

This is even easier, although a little more expensive. Just pour ¼ cup of the liquid into the washing machine. It works well even in cold water.

How will you know when the soap nuts are used up? The nuts get mushy, less shiny, and no suds come out when you squeeze them. Note that hot water tends to use them up more quickly than cold water.

How well do soapnuts work?

1. Goodbye fabric softener!

Soapnuts naturally soften fabrics! Trust me on this. We don’t have a clothes dryer, but even jeans and towels always come out soft and fluffy! (Although this might change with extremely hard water.)

2. They do not remove all stains.

But I’ve never yet found a detergent that does! They all seem to need some help.

3. And one drawback (for some people) is that they’re odorless.

They leave absolutely no scent on your clothes, so some people add essential oils. Which I found to be  an unnecessary expense. For me, it was more a matter of getting used to the simple smell of clean.

Laundry boosters

So which laundry boosters do I use?

• Stain removal: a dab of organic, biodegradable dish soap on stains; it’s a great degreaser and safe for fabrics.
• Whitening: 1 tbsp mild, organic lye soap (lisciva, in Italian). Or 1 tbsp of citric acid (which also softens fabric).
• Odor killer: Rub a little dry baking soda on the underarms of dry clothes. (Do not use on silk or wool.)

An added benefit of soapnuts: Soapnuts are great for traveling. No liquids to spill or cause check-in problems. They’re lightweight, take up no space, and a few go a long way!

Have you ever heard of soapnuts? Do they sound crazy, or would you be willing to try them? If so, some places even sell sample packs so that you don’t have to buy a whole package!

I wish I had discovered them a lot sooner and I think you will too!

📷 Image credits: soapnuts in bag; soapnuts in jar is mine