How do I know how many soapnuts to use?

On average, 3-5 soapnut shells work great, but keep these variables in mind:

  • If your water is hard, try using 4 or 5 shells for better results.
  • If your laundry isn’t very dirty, try using 2 or 3.
  • If you use hot water washes, your soapnuts will quickly release all of their saponin, and they won’t be good for as many re-uses — so try using fewer soapnuts the first time. We like to wash the really grungy stuff first (like hubby’s greasy work jeans) and then wash the “less dirty” loads (like colors or towels) with the same nuts.
  • Our most important advice: experiment to find out what best suits your family’s washing conditions!

We just received a new shipment of soapnuts that are larger and sappier than any we’ve ever seen!

That’s good news for you — it means that the nuts will quickly release their saponin, and you’ll need fewer soapnuts. If you’ve noticed a difference in our “loads per bag” estimates recently, this is why. (Because the individual fruits are larger and heavier, in the same total weight, you get fewer than before). Our solution: try using less soapnuts for each normal load — we think you’ll find that your laundry will still get clean!