Soapnuts are natural so there are no added fragrances – but we’d be less than honest if we didn’t admit that they do have their own, noticeably pungent scent. Don’t worry, though — your laundry WON’T smell like soapnuts when it’s done. In fact, it will have no special smell at all! If you prefer a fragrance (like we do)…
- You can add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil directly on the cotton wash bag before you toss it in the wash. (We really like to use our Energy blend or Lavender essential oil).
- You can also try experimenting with adding the oils into the fabric conditioner dispenser. (We’ve had mixed results with this method, because the oil tends to leave spots on our clothes sometimes. But we do it this way for sheets and towels, because it seems to produce a stronger scent).
- Another way to add scent is to add a few drops of essential oil to a scrap piece of fabric and toss it in the dryer with your clean laundry. (We find that thin fabric — or even a used dryer sheet — works really well).
Absolutely! Soapnuts are 100% natural and hypoallergenic, and they do not contain added chemicals or fragrances which can often lead to skin irritation in babies and others with skin sensitivities.
Absolutely! In fact, if you are currently using a commercial detergent on your cloth diapers, you are using more diapers than necessary! Here’s why: each time you wash a cloth diaper in commercial detergent, the fabric becomes more and more clogged. (Commercial detergents leave a residue on the diaper, as they don’t rinse completely). This residue can cause loss of absorbancy and even diaper rash in little ones with sensitive skin.
That’s why soapnuts are an ideal solution for washing cloth diapers:
- Soapnuts are all natural, and contain no harsh chemicals that will irritate your baby’s skin and cause diaper rash
- Soapnuts naturally soften and add body to laundry — without “clogging up” the fibers of the diapers. In fact, soapnuts will ’strip’ the diaper of build-up caused by commercial detergents, and *increase* the diaper’s absorbency!
- Soapnuts gently and effectively eliminate ALL lingering smells. If you like your laundry to have a scent, consider using our Baby Powder fragrant oil for an added baby scent “boost.”
They sure are! Soap nuts are antimicrobial and are actually beneficial for both septic and greywater systems. Also, because soapnuts are 100% natural and biodegradable, it’s completely safe to wash the soapnut suds down the drain.
Absolutely! Unlike regular detergent, soapnuts do not have a high acid content — that means you can use them to safely wash delicate fabrics such as wool and silk. In fact, the soapnut’s gentle cleansing properties has long made it the favored washing medium for the delicate Indian fabrics, including Kashmir embroidery with its delicate natural dyes, and India’s most expensive brocades and silks, with their beautiful interwoven gold and silver threads.
For the whitest whites, we recommend that you wash your whites and colors separately. Remember that soapnuts are all natural, and contain no bleaching agents and no optical brighteners — so if you like your whites to be super-white, it’s probably a good idea to add a scoop of oxygen bleach.
No. Despite their name, soapnuts are not actually nuts; they are a berry-like fruit of the Sapindus Mukorrosi tree.
Absolutely! In fact, because they don’t create many suds, soapnuts are great for high-efficiency (HE, or front-loading) washers! A front-loading washing machine requires a special detergent, called HE detergent, to allow it to clean your laundry properly. HE detergent is unique because it doesn’t produce lots of suds like regular detergent does.
Soapnuts are naturally a low-sudsing product — with no added fillers, dyes or chemicals to create bubbles in the wash. But even without the bubbles, you will find that the soapnuts will thoroughly clean your laundry.
With a really dirty load, use the same amount of soapnuts, but only fill the machine half full. (This will give the laundry some room for the clothes to move freely). As with all laundry cleaners, it may also be necessary to use stain remover to eliminate resistant stains.
Absolutely! Hot water causes the soapnuts to release their saponin, but cold water has little, if any, effect on them. So the saponin is released during the wash cycle, and is washed away during the cold water rinse. Pretty cool, huh?
If you lose your wash bag (or it breaks) you can:
- Use an old pair of stockings or an old sock instead, or
- Send us an email, and we’ll mail you a new one.
Soapnuts are especially great for those with sensitive skin — including babies and those that suffer from allergies, eczema, and psoriasis! Commercial detergents can easily irritate skin that is dry and sensitive, but soapnuts are extremely gentle and chemical free — alleviating the potential for problems. Liquid or sheet fabric softeners may also irritate skin, but since soapnuts make your laundry soft and fluffy, those products are are truly unnecessary!
Soapnuts are totally natural – which means that there are no commercial foaming agents or chemicals added. Those chemicals, which are commonly used in commercial detergents, aren’t actually necessary. The saponin released by the soapnuts will only make mild suds — and you’ll find that your laundry will be just as clean without the presence of the extra suds – and the harsh chemicals that make them.
Yes — absolutely sure! We’ll admit that soapnuts are a VERY odd-looking laundry detergent, and vastly different than anything most people have ever considered washing with. But they do a GREAT job of cleaning! Sometimes you might see a tiny bit of brown discoloration on the washbag, but that’s just saponin and it’ll wash right out in the next load. (We think it’s particulary cool, because it’s extra evidence that something CLEAN is happening in the wash)!
First, we totally understand your skepticism. Here’s what we recommend for the cure: get your hands on a sample bag. Use that sample bag to wash a load of towels or sheets. You’ll notice that they’re softer and fluffier — without softener or dryer sheets — than they are when you use your favorite detergent. (And if you were worried that the soapnuts will stain (they won’t), you’ll probably feel more comfortable testing them on your towels than your favorite blouse).
Still not convinced? Wash a load of jeans. (Especially jeans that have been often overdried until they’re “crunchy”). Again — softer. Clean-smelling.
