Our "Select" Soap Nuts are USDA Certified Organic and Ecocert internationally Certified Organic.
- Seedless! Fresh, large and plump newly harvested Sapindus Mukorossi - the world's finest quality.
- Hand sorted, inspected & packaged right here IN THE USA.
- Completely free of any and all synthetic chemicals. Non-polluting.
- Low sudsing. Ideal for High Efficiency, (HE) - and all front loading washing machines.
- Very low cost per load. Reduces need for softeners and dryer sheets.
- Reduces or eliminates residue, mildew and odors.
- Ready-to-use in raw form, or easily converted to powder or liquid.
- Fragrance free. Excellent for sensitive skin and noses.
Mother Nature never lets us down in our search for better, healthier ways to live. Keeping with our mission of bringing you effective, green, safe, chemical-free, non-toxic alternatives to the products that poison us daily, we present Soap Nuts. Soap Nuts are extremely gentle, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, chemical free, yet highly effective.
Far away, in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, Mother Nature has provided us a great treasure.
Soap nuts are known worldwide by many names such as soapnuts, soapberry, washing nuts, soap nut shells, wash shells, soapberry nut husk, Ritha (Hindi) nut shell, Chinese soapberry and many more. Very simply, soap nuts are the dried shells (or husks) from the soapberry (or soap berry nut). These berries are the fruit from a quite unique tree species. These shells contain a substance called saponin that produces a soaping effect. Saponin is a 100% natural alternative to chemical laundry detergent and cleansers. It can replace many chemical detergents such as those containing sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) that are becoming well known by consumers for being a skin irritant and health hazard.
Soap nuts have been used for centuries throughout the world as a laundry detergent, as soap for personal hygiene, and as a cleanser with a plethora of other uses. It is most commonly used in India, China, parts of Europe and numerous countries in the eastern hemisphere. There is even a species, Quillaja Saponaria (called a soap bark tree) that grows in South America. However, only in recent years has the soap nut and its many benefits made its way to the shores of the U.S.
The Trees and the Soapberry Nuts:
Sapindus (the botanical name) is a sustainable agriculture and forest product. In many ways it is similar to an olive tree. There are several common varieties of the soapberry tree. Sapindus Mukorossi and Sapindus Trifoliatus are the primary sources for the soapberry that has become know as the soap nut. They are both of the family Sapindaceae, and the genus Sapindus. The botanical name is derived from the Latin words, sapo (soap) and indicus (Indian).
Based upon its high amount of 'soap' content and consistency, the highest quality soap nut is Sapindus Mukorossi, which grows primarily in northern India and Nepal. It grows uncultivated in poor quality ground and helps fights erosion, particularly in the Himalayan foothills. It also provides needed income to the local population. It is a relatively hardy tree being resistant to diseases and insects. The tree grows to 10 to 20 meters in height and begins flowering and bearing fruit after about 9 years.
It blooms with small, white grouped flowers in spring and early summer and is harvested annually during the fall season. The soapberry fruits (the soap nut) are round yellow berries that become gummy, reddish tan and wrinkled as they ripen. Its appearance is somewhat like that of a date. The tree synthesizes its own natural saponins, (soap) which coat the shell of the fruit. The tree has great longevity and will produce fruit (soap nuts) for about 90 years.
Soap Nut Tree Species:
The Sapindus Mukorossi variety produces the most consistent quality of soap nuts of high saponin content. Sapindus Trifoliatus, which grows primarily in southern India, Indonesia and Pakistan, is a smaller tree producing smaller fruit that lack consistency and saponin content compared to Sapindus Mukorossi. The soap nuts from the Mukorossi tree are larger, brighter in color and gloss and are more effective in producing the 'soapy' effect. These soap nuts are typically exported from New Delhi (closer to their growth areas in the Himalayans). Soap nuts from the Trifoliatus tree are less desirable, of lower cost and are often exported from Indonesia. All soap nuts being marketed throughout the world contain the all-important saponins. Consistently high saponin content is the primary measure of quality. In this regard,Sapindus Mukorossi reigns supreme.
Note: Many other varieties of this remarkable tree grow around the world, including the U.S. (one notably called the Florida Soap Berry Tree). The data with regard to the effectiveness of their fruit as laundry detergent is limited and often conflicting. However, data consistently indicates that the Sapindus Mukorossi is the premier variety, and its fruit is the most cherished. To date, we have no knowledge of successful growth and harvests of Mukorossi outside its Asian origins. Albeit, there is no evidence that it cannot be cultivated elsewhere.
Harvesting Soap Nuts:
Local farmers and families harvest the prized soapberry fruit after it falls from the tree. The seed is removed from the shell (or husk), and the shells are dried in the sun using absolutely no chemical processing. No commercial manufacturing processes are required in any way for the soap nut to become effective. The soap nut shell is not altered in any way. Hence, soap nuts are absolutely 100% natural, unmodified dried fruit shells. Note: The actual nut (or better yet, seed) does not release saponin, hence has no cleaning properties. It is used for planting new trees and is sometimes used to make necklaces and other jewelry.
Very, very simply
But first, the name Soap Nut is misleading for it is the shell that actually works. The soap nut SHELL contains and releases the saponins (soap) when it comes in contact with warm or hot water. (See directions for use in cold water.) Agitation further releases these saponins. The saponins then circulate as a natural surfactant (surface active ingredient). They break down the surface tension between water and oil in the wash water reducing the surface tension of the water aiding it in freeing dirt, grime and oils from clothes. Essentially this is the exact same fundamental principle that applies to how most detergents and soaps work. It's simply not achieved via use of synthetic chemicals.
The name saponin is derived from the Latin word 'sapo', which means soap. There are many plants around the world that are saponaceous (meaning that they contain saponins) but only a few, are known to produce appreciable amounts. Hence, this is why soap nuts are so very special in their ability to be an effective cleanser - directly from the tree. As discussed on other pages, sapindus mukorossi trees have been found to produce the highest and most consistent quality soap nuts.
Ready for use by the end user directly from harvest, extraction of the saponin from the soap nuts requires nothing more than putting them directly in the wash machine in warm water. Drawstring bags are used to contain the soap nut shells, and the shells can be reused until their saponin content has been depleted. Given that the saponins are naturally a low sudsing detergent, they are ideal for high efficiency (HE) washers and even carpet cleaners.
Important points about Soap Nuts:
Simple at-home methods and tips.
There is no rocket science here. If you can grind coffee beans or boil water, you can start making great soap nut powder and liquids for a myriad of uses. Not only are powdered and liquid forms great for laundry, but also the list of other chemical products that can be replaced is long and getting longer every day.
Please email us if you would like powder or liquid forms of soap nuts. We can provide either in household or commercial quantities. However, the basic processes are so simple that instructions are provided below.
Powder: Simply grind soap nuts shells to a very fine powder in a coffee grinder. A similar appliance will work, such as a blender, however a coffee grinder tends to produce the finest powder. This may require grinding the soap nut shells a couple of times. Remove any un-ground pieces or sift through a sifter. Place in airtight container. Shelf life is indefinite as long as the soap nut powder is stored in a cool dry place.
Liquid: Place 12 to 15 soapnuts (about 1.5 ounces) in about 6 cups of water. For best results, bring to a boil and simmer for approximately an hour. You will know that you have fully extracted from the soap nuts when they turn very light tan or gray and are mushy. Allow to cool and strain. Store the soap nuts liquid in an airtight glass jar. As with other botanicals, the infused soap nut solution is best stored in a cool place away from direct sunlight. This 100% pure soap nut solution has absolutely no preservative of any kind; hence it has a limited shelf life of several days. It should be refrigerated to extend its shelf life. This is typical of virtually all water-based botanical solutions. For the make-at-home solution, simply don't make more than you'll use in a few days.
TIPS:
Soap nuts will last longer using warm vs. hot water.
Soft water may require less soap nuts. Very hard water will require a bag of 5 shells.
There is no need for fabric softener. Soap nuts leave your cloths soft.
Soap nuts have a distinct odor, similar to vinegar when they are dry and more pungent when wet. Soap nuts do not smell pleasant: but amazingly your clothes smell clean and fresh after washing with soap nuts.
If you like scent, you can add 10 drops of essential oil on the cotton bag before tossing it into the machine.
Soap nuts will not remove heavy stains, as with any detergent, pre-treat stains with a stain remover as you normally would.
If clothes are very dirty, do half size loads instead of full.
If you like super whites, you can add oxygen bleach to the load.
Soap nuts perform better in a less than full load.
There will be very little suds. No suds actually means no commercial foaming agents or chemicals.
Soap nuts are wonderful for washing cloth diapers. Unlike chemical detergents, they will not clog the fabric causing the diaper to loose its absorbency and they will not cause diaper rash. In addition, soap nuts will clean and remove detergent residue from diapers.