What are Soap Nuts?

Recently, an ingredient only used in Asia and Europe has been made available in North America! The Soapnut is the fruit from a tree (Sapindus Mukorossi) which grows in India and Nepal. It has been used for many years as an economical alternative to laundry soap, shampoo, skin cleanser, and insecticidal soap. This amazing nut is all-natural and environmentally safe. The nut is the dried fruit of the Rittha tree, a species of trees native to India and the lower forests of Nepal.

The shell of the nut contains saponins which are released in the presence of warm or hot water. In the rural areas where it has been in use for many years, it is highly valued as a naturally produced shampoo and also used for washing woolen and silk garments. Soap nuts are a completely renewable, biodegradable material that can be composted after use.

Because they are natural, they have proven especially good for babies and those with eczema and sensitive skin. People with allergies or dermatitis can do their washing with the nuts as clothes cleaned this way do not irritate the skin or cause itching the way commercial detergents can. The nuts also soften clothes, so a fabric softener is not necessary! Soap nuts also preserve the colours of fabric better than commercial detergents. Whites may become slightly grey after extended use but this effect can be mitigated with the use of an oxy whitener (sodium percarbonate) which is also safe for the environment. Sodium Percarbonate is a biodegradable laundry product which breaks down into water, oxygen, and soda ash. The nuts are economical compared to other brands of detergent: 1 kg of soapnuts can be used for up to 150 loads of laundry.

The purchase of soap nuts also helps to support the local economy of the regions where it is harvested. Families in India often depend on the harvest of their few trees to supplement their income. The nuts are excellent for cottages and campers because one ingredient will do all your washing: from clothing, to personal care and as an insecticidal shampoo for pets.

Soap nuts are available in four sizes: