Soap nuts

Properties

This packet contains only the shells, not the whole nut; indeed, only the shells, which contain the saponin, have a cleansing power.

By buying only the shells, you save money.

On contact with water, the shell releases a very soapy detergent (the saponin).

It is best to avoid adding a fabric softener, which is harsh on the skin and a cause of allergies and eczema. The laundry will be soft and silky thanks to the saponin.
Indeed, the saponin takes care of fabrics and colours.

It washes delicate laundry, such as silk and wool.
The laundry is clean and soft and the colours are preserved, but it is not scented.

Use:

For your cotton, colour, wool and silk washes, from 30° to 90°C:

Optional tips:
Pre-treat large stains with Aleppo soap Stain Remover.
To avoid greying of white laundry: add 1 to 2 tablespoons of Sodium Percarbonate.

Instructions for use:

Fill a small bag with 5 soap nuts, close it and place it in the drum of the washing machine (or in the cutlery basket of the dishwasher).
Start the machine.

On average, you can count up to 3 uses with the same nuts for a 30° wash, 2 uses at 40°, 1 or 2 uses at 60° and 1 use at 90°.
The bag containing the nuts must be able to move freely among the laundry and release the detergent. The machine must not be overloaded or too lightly filled.
The bag is left in for the whole wash cycle, including the rinse.

In the dishwasher:
For 1 wash: place 4 shells in a small cotton bag and put it in the cutlery basket.
The machine's heating elements are often clogged with whitish residues from everyday products and limescale. Prolonged use of soap nuts will make them largely disappear.
The saponin is not a problem on the dishes, but if it bothers you, you can remove them before the rinse.

For your hand washing and dishwashing:

Prepare a decoction of soap nut shells.


The shells can be used several times until they no longer contain any saponin. That is why they are so economical. They become dull, paler, lose their shiny appearance and their sticky feel.

A tip: to find out whether a shell is used up, rub it with a wet finger; if it still foams, there is saponin left.

Wash water from soap nuts releases no chemical or polluting agent into sewage systems and watercourses. Take the opportunity to collect the water from the machine and water your plants or garden!

How to scent the laundry?

As the smell of soap nuts is neutral, you can personalise the scent of your laundry with a natural essence added directly to the pouch.