Soap Nuts... the natural laundry fruit.

When soap nuts are used to wash clothes, the saponin acts as a water surfactant reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing the dirt, grime and oils from the clothing, leaving your clothes clean and fresh without the use of any harmful synthetic products. Recommended for use on all your baby's laundry, please check with cloth diaper manufacturer's before using on cloth diapers.

Why parents are raving about Soap Nuts:

• The safest, most natural laundry soap available on the market today.
• Soap Nuts are an environmentally friendly, sustainable, bio-degradable and renewable product that can be composted after use.
• Anti-microbial, making it suitable for septic systems.
• Hypoallergenic - Suitable for people with sensitive skin and allergies, also safe for babies.
• Economical – approximately 50% cheaper than other eco-products.
• Multifunctional – Boil soap nuts to make a general cleaning solution for cleaning floors/carpets, pets, cars, dishes and even your hair.
• Sustainable – Soapberry Trees live up to 90 years and the wood and foliage of the tree are also cultivated. No waste, no de-forestation.
• No need for fabric softener.
• Colors remain bright and vibrant.
• Supports local people and economy.
• Phosphate Free – Save our Rivers and Streams!!

Soap nuts are low sudsing which make them ideal for High Efficiency front load washers and customers on a septic system.

What are soap nuts?

Soap Nuts are a fruit grown on the Rittha Tree (Sapindus Mukorossi), also known as the Chinese Soapberry Tree, which grows in India and Nepal. When the fruit ripens and falls from the tree, local families harvest them and remove the inner fruit from the outer shell. The shell is then dried in the sun, using no chemical or manufacturing processes. The shell of the fruit has a protective waxy coating which contains saponin. When the soap nut is used to wash clothes, the saponin acts as a water surfactant reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing the dirt, grime and oils from the clothing, leaving your clothes clean and fresh without the use of any harmful synthetic products.

The locals of India have been using the soap nuts for centuries as a safe and effective way to clean their clothes.

Kaley's Soap Nuts are ethically sourced from India.

How to use Soap Nuts:

Place 2-3 whole soap nuts (or equivalents if using halves) in the re-usable cotton bag and place it in your wash. If using cold water or have very dirty clothes, use 4-5 soap nuts (or equivalents if using halves). Soap Nuts used in warm water can be re-used 2-3 times, cold water 4-5 times. Take the soap nuts out of the cotton bag and let them air-dry between each use. Once the soap nuts have been used to their potential they can either be boiled with water to make a cleaning solution or thrown into your compost.

If using a cold-water wash cycle, it is best to soak the bag of soap nuts in a cup of warm water first for a few seconds. This will help to stimulate the release of saponin quicker from the soap nuts. Pour this liquid and then put the bag right into the machine along with your washing. Another option is placing the soap nut bag directly under the agitator for a few seconds using hot water, then switch the water temperature to cool.

To make an all purpose cleaning solution:

Take 7-8 soap nuts and place in a saucepan with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the liquid into a container and throw the used soap nuts in your compost. You may strain the liquid if you prefer. The solution will last for about 3 months. Keep refrigerated to last longer. This liquid does not contain many suds so it can be added to a pump bottle to create additional suds. This liquid can be used to:

• Wash your hair
• Clean floors/carpets, bathrooms, cars, pets, etc.
• Add to water and spray on plants, clean vegetables and fruits of pesticides, rinse food before eating.

How do I know when the soap nuts are exhausted of saponins?

A little bag of 4 whole soap nuts can be reused 2 to 3 times, or even more. So how do you know when the saponin in the the soap nuts is exhausted and that they are ready to be tossed into our compost bin? It's actually quite easy to identify.

The color of the soap nuts will turn lighter after every wash. When it becomes thin and brittle when dry, it is time to replace them. You can either throw them away or choose to add them to your compost for your garden.

You could also add the shells into a bottle half filled with water and shake to check for suds. If very little or no suds are visible, the saponins are exhausted and the soap nuts can be thrown away. If there are still suds, the soap nuts can still be reused.