Using Soap Nuts to Wash Clothes
– Should You and How To
This post was last updated in 2023
Hello there my eco-conscious warriors 😊
Today, I’m diving into the world of sustainable laundry solutions, and I wanted to share with you the wonders of soap nuts.
If you’ve never heard of them, don’t worry—I was in the same boat once upon a time. But let me tell you, these little nuggets of nature will surprise you – in a good way.
Are you wondering if you can use soap nuts to wash clothes? You can absolutely use soap nuts to wash clothes! The natural cleaning agent in soap nuts will clean your clothes without the need for any additional chemicals. Using soap nuts is the most natural and eco-friendly alternative to conventional laundry detergents out there.
In this blog post, I will get into how to use soap nuts effectively to wash your clothes. Specifically I will cover:
Plus the follwing which are covered in a FAQ section:
Let’s get into it 🚀
What are soap nuts?
Soap nuts are the dried outer husks from berries picked from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree. The husks of these berries contain a natural cleaning agent called saponin, a plant-based surfactant that produces an effect comparable to soap. It’s purely natural but it has amazing cleaning abilities.
And they are berries – not nuts – so anyone with allergies can be rest assured.
Nothing is added to the soap nuts to make them work as a cleaner – they come as they are (as a dried outer husk) and all you have to do is add water and movement will lather them up.
And using them in your laundry is super easy.
How to use soap nuts in your laundry
To use soap nuts in your laundry, you put 5 – 6 nuts in a small fabric bag, close the bag up, pop it into the main part of the washing machine and run the wash as normal. You refill the bag once the nuts get brittle/too soft. Used nuts can go into your compost when they are done.
Here are some step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
You’ll need soap nuts, a small cotton bag (often included when you purchase soap nuts), and, of course, your laundry. Ensure your washing machine is in good working order and ready for a more natural cleaning experience 😊
Step 2: Measure Your Soap Nuts
For a standard load, you’ll typically need 5-6 soap nuts. This may vary depending on the size of your load and the hardness of your water. If your water is particularly hard, you might want to use a few more soap nuts to enhance the cleaning power.
Step 3: Place Soap Nuts in the Cotton Bag
Pop the soap nuts into the small cotton bag. This bag serves as a convenient pouch that allows soap nuts to move freely in the washing machine, releasing their natural saponin.
Step 4: Toss the Bag into the Washing Machine
Place the cotton bag with the soap nuts directly into the drum of your washing machine along with your clothes. Unlike traditional detergents, there’s no need to worry about measuring or pouring liquid – it’s a zero-mess solution!
Step 5: Start Your Wash Cycle
Select your desired wash cycle, whether it’s a quick cycle for lightly soiled clothes or a heavy-duty cycle for more robust cleaning. Soap nuts are versatile and work well in various washing machine models, including both top-loaders and front-loaders and various temperatures (see below for some cold machine wash tips).
Step 6: Enjoy the Natural Cleaning Process
As the washing machine agitates, the soap nuts release their natural saponin, which acts as a gentle yet effective cleaning agent. You’ll notice a subtle, earthy aroma – a far cry from the synthetic fragrances found in traditional detergents.
Step 7: Remove the Cotton Bag After Washing
Once the cycle is complete, simply remove the cotton bag with the used soap nuts. You can set these aside for the next load, as soap nuts are good for multiple washes. A bag of 6 soap nuts lasts around 6 washes.
As mentioned earlier, you will need to replace the used soap nuts once they get too soft or brittle. They can be composted. Or thrown into landfill if you don’t have a compost bin.
Step 8: Let the Bag Dry
Allow the cotton bag with the used soap nuts to dry between uses. This helps preserve the longevity of the soap nuts and ensures they are ready next time.
Extra Tips:
- Experiment with the number of soap nuts based on your preferences and the size of your load.
- I kept two small bags on hand and alternated between them. That allowed time for one bag to dry out before needing to use it again.
- If you’re dealing with particularly stubborn stains, pre-soak the stained garment in a solution made from crushed soap nuts and water before tossing it into the wash. Or you can soak it in equal parts oxygen bleach and washing soda as an alternative. Or treat with a stain remover of your choice – it doesn’t matter which 🙂
- You can add a little baking soda or lemon juice to your laundry to get your whites that bit whiter. Another alternative is to add 1/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide. My preference is to use half a cup of my home “napisan” mixture (equal parts oxygen bleach and washing soda)
- If you have hard water, add a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle. This will help break down the minerals.
Benefits of using soap nuts in your laundry
There are multiple benefits to using soap nuts – they are chemical-free, hypoallergenic, cost-effective, versatile, easy to use and they work! It is also environmentally friendly, as it is typically sustainably produced, plastic-free and compostable at the end of its life.
Here’s a list of some of the benefits you might want to know about:
1. Eco-Friendly Choice
Soap nuts are environmentally friendly on many different levels.
They come from a renewable resource, and their production requires minimal processing. They are typically grown in Nepal or India and most companies sourcing soap nuts have sustainability as one of their core values. This ensures soap nuts are sourced from sustainable and ethical farming practices.
Unlike traditional detergents that often come packaged in plastic bottles, soap nuts typically come in a simple, biodegradable cotton bag, reducing your contribution to plastic waste.
And their use has minimal impact on the environment. Contrast this with traditional laundry powders which have chemicals that eventually end up in our natural waterways. These chemicals have been known to cause algal blooms that are highly toxic to aquatic life. Who knows what other impacts they have…
Finally soap nuts are zero waste as they can be composted at the end of their useful life. Even if you do not compost them, they will biodegrade over time.
2. Gentle on Fabrics
One of the standout features of soap nuts is their gentleness.
Unlike some commercial detergents that can be harsh on fabrics, causing colours to fade and fibres to weaken over time, soap nuts clean without compromising the integrity of your favourite garments.
However, it should be noted that soap nuts are not going to brighten your clothes like traditional laundry products. Also, some have noticed that whites do tend to dull over time when using soap nuts (I have tried lots of different laundry products and I feel like there is NOTHING that can stop my whites from dulling over time – this is not a soap nut problem in my eyes!).
3. Safe for Sensitive Skin
If you or your loved ones have sensitive skin, soap nuts are a game-changer. Free from harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, they are hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin. No more worrying about itchy, irritated skin after doing the laundry!
I think it’s important to move away from traditional laundry powders for this very reason.
Our skin is our largest organ and our clothes go right on top of that – close contact. Washing them in powders and liquids full of chemicals that are not naturally occurring can not be good for us.
Studies have show that laundry detergents are full of plastic polymers/ brighteners that can react with your skin and fragrances that disrupt normal hormonal activity.
To learn more, check out this handy resource created by Low Tox Life that summarises all the different chemicals you can find in laundry detergents and what you should avoid:
4. Easy to Use
As shown above, using soap nuts is a breeze! Just toss 5-6 soap nuts into a small cotton bag and throw it into the washing machine with your clothes. The agitation from the machine releases the natural saponin, which goes to work cleaning your laundry.
It’s simple but effective.
5. Cost-effective
Because you can reuse a bag of soap nuts several times over, a little goes a long way. This makes soap nuts not only good for the planet but easy on your wallet
I got a 1 kg bag a while back and it lasted me for years. I think around 3 years for my family of four.
Currently, 500g costs $27. This should last around 200 washes so you are looking at 14c per wash load. Its nothing.
6. Versatile
There are so many uses for soap nuts beyond the laundry. I have listed some of these below:
- Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
- Hand Wash
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Shampoo
- Body Wash
- Pet Shampoo
- Insect Repellent
- Window Cleaner
- Jewelry Cleaner
- Car Wash
- Plant Pest Control
It’s very much like castile soap in that way. The only issue is for many of these uses, you do need to create a liquid soap using soap nuts.
Here’s a video that shows you how to do this if that interests you:
I don’t do this myself, as there are other eco-friendly alternatives, like castile soap, that can do the same things listed above.
Do soap nuts really work?
Yes, soap nuts really work to clean your clothes. They may not brighten your clothes or leave a lingering scent that you are used to, but they will clean your clothes, remove stains and take any nasty scents away from your clothing, ensuring they are clean and no longer smell.
I used them for several years and it did take a bit of getting used to. Mentally.
I could not mentally accept that these little nuts could produce enough soap to clean a bunch of clothes.
But it works. It really does work. Our clothes came out clean, fresh, and without any irritating residues.
The only issue I had was when I did not tie the bags properly, the soap nuts would escape and end up staining anything white in the wash. But the stain washed right out in the next wash run.
My husband wasn’t a fan as he just didn’t believe they worked. I couldn’t convince him no matter how many times I would show him the results. The thing is, when I showed him the clean clothes he would smell it and then say it doesn’t “smell clean”. It’s not that it smelled bad – he was looking for that chemical “clean” smell and it wasn’t there.
I do know from others that soap nuts does not work well for heavily soiled or stained clothes – so if you have little kids that squish their food on their clothes or a partner that has heavily soiled clothing from work etc., soap nuts may not cut it.
Other than that, I would recommend it. It is a low fuss, low waste, low tox cleaning product. No chemicals and 100% natural.
So there you have it! Soap nuts are a game-changer for eco-conscious laundry warriors.
For some other cleaning tips check out the blog posts I have on castile soap, vinegar, gumption for some surprising facts and interesting uses.
I’ve tried and tested so many options over many, many years and have hit upon things that work. And it’s important to consider more sustainable options as it is through these conscious choices, we can collectively work towards a more sustainable future 🌎
xxx Tahsin
FAQs
How many soap nuts do you use per wash?
Typically, 4-6 soap nuts are all you need for a standard load. Just toss them in a small cotton bag (usually included when you buy soap nuts) and throw them in with your clothes. It’s that easy!
How many times can you use the same soap nuts?
Soap nuts are so cost-effective – they can be reused for multiple washes. On average, you can get about 4-6 washes per batch of soap nuts. Once they start to look a bit worn out or lose their natural sheen, it’s time to retire them from laundry duty.
How many washes do soap nuts last?
A typical 500-gram bag of soap nuts can last for about 200 washes. That’s a lot of clean clothes for your buck!
Do soap nuts work in cold water?
Soap nuts are most effective in hot water, as hot water releases the saponins more quickly. However, soap nuts do also work in cold water. No pretreatment is needed – pop a bag of soap nuts into a cold wash load and you will have clean clothes.
I have seen some people mention that you can soak the berries in some hot water before you throw the bag into a cold water wash but I have found that is not necessary. I have used soap nuts so many times in cold water washes with no issues.
Can I use soap nuts in a front loader?
Whether you have a top loader or a front loader, soap nuts will work just the same. Just toss the bag in with your laundry, and let the magic happen.
Do you need fabric softener with soap nuts?
No, you do not need fabric softener when you use soap nuts. Soap nuts naturally contain saponin, which not only cleans your clothes but also acts as a natural fabric softener.
Are soap nuts safe for wool?
Absolutely! Soap nuts are gentle enough for delicate fabrics like wool. They clean without compromising the integrity of your sweaters or woollen garments.
A Heads Up: This posts contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Also as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products and services that will help you take steps towards a more sustainable life and will never recommend anything that does not align, in some way, with these values.
