Soap Nut shells contain saponins, which are a natural detergent. Similar to soap, when the shells come in contact with water, the saponins are released and suds are produced. Soap Nuts are excellent for cleaning laundry, leaving it beautifully soft. 

When your clothes or household items are rinsed, the Soap Nut saponins are washed out, but pose no threat to the environment. These saponins are completely organic and biodegradable, without any synthetic chemicals, fragrances, foaming agents or other toxins. 

Only the Soap Nut shells contain saponins. When they’re in pieces, more surface area is exposed to the water, which releases more suds. If you find an occasional nut in a shell, toss it into your compost bin.

The quantity is not critical. We recommend a small handful equivalent to about 5 to 8 half-Soap Nut shells per wash. These can then be reused around four times … until the Soap Nuts start to become grey and lose their sheen. As a general rule, 50 grams of Soap Nuts should be enough for 20 to 25 washes. A one-kilogram bag should be able to handle seven to 10 loads per week for almost a entire year before you run out.

They’re amazingly economical to use. Many customers say they’ve satisfactorily washed as many as seven loads of laundry from just eight half-shells!

Yes. Soap Nuts release saponins more slowly in cold water, but they still work effectively. If you want to speed up the release of the saponins in cold water, pre-soak the nuts in hot water for a few minutes while your washing machine is filling up (use the cotton bag for soaking the nuts), then add them to the wash. 

Note: If your area has hard water, it’s a good idea to add a small amount of sodium bicarbonate to your laundry along with the Soap Nuts. This will balance the pH and increase the effectiveness of the saponins (or any detergent, for that matter).

Yes. Soap Nuts don’t produce a lot of suds, but their cleaning power is effective nonetheless. Remember, unlike most other detergents, Soap Nuts do not contain any added chemical foaming agents that are usually added to convince the consumer that their watered-down product is stronger than it really is.

They are quite effective at removing everyday stains such as grass and tomato ketchup. Remember, however, that Soap Nuts don’t contain stain removers, so the stubborn messes might need separate or additional treatment. Did you know that Botanecol^® can also be used as a pre-spray for tough stains on laundry? Check out "Cleaning with Botanecol" on the Botanical Science Resource page.

Not if you rinse with cold water, because the saponins are released only in warm water. In general, there’s no residue to wash away. The few saponins that remain in the rinse cycle add body and softness to your laundry … they can even help you save water and energy by reducing your rinse cycle times!

That is just one of life’s imponderables: they just don’t seem to leave any residue. We’re not sure why, but are glad they work the way they do.

Simply add several drops of essential oil to the conditioner drawer on your washing machine for soft, sweet-smelling laundry.

The saponins contained in Soap Nuts leave your laundry beautifully soft, so there should be no need for further softeners.

For the best laundry results, always separate your colours and whites. Because Soap Nuts don’t contain optical brighteners, they might cause some graying to whites over time. To help avoid this, try adding a half-cup of lemon juice to your whites, give them a boost with an eco-friendly bleach or use sodium precarbonate, which is also safe for the environment. (More details on sodium precarbonate can be found in "Washing With Soap Nuts" in the Resource section.)

Yes! Soap Nuts are especially beneficial for colours: your clothes will never have looked brighter!

Although our supplier does not yet have formal Fair Trade certification, we have been assured that employees are fairly treated and there is no child labor involved. By purchasing Soap Nuts, you’re not only helping to maintain a natural habitat and environment that’s existed for centuries but are providing a living to people in some of the more impoverished areas of India.

Despite their name, Soap Nuts are NOT actually nuts. They’re berries unrelated to the nut family, and won’t cause any nut allergies.

Absolutely! Just give Soap Nuts a try and see if they pass the smell test! As always, though, be careful if you plan to add essential oils to laundry items that will touch a baby’s sensitive skin.

Absolutely. Just remember to keep the Soap Nuts in the cotton wash bag provided (or alternatively, use an old sock that’s tied at the top) to prevent the shells from sticking in any filters in your machine. If the Soap Nuts come free in the wash, check your filter to make sure there are none in there. Incidentally, Soap Nuts are the perfect laundry soap for front-loading washing machines, as the manufacturers recommend a low sudsing detergent.

Yes, indeed! These versatile little wonders can be used for a whole range of things. To make a liquid soap, simmer 25 grams of Soap Nuts in 500 ml of water for eight to 10 minutes, then strain: You now have a great liquid household cleaner or soap for washing your pets. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and it becomes a wonderfully scented liquid hand soap or shampoo.

No, don’t even try! They are not edible, nutritious or good for you.