Soap Nuts (sapindus mukorossi) are simply berries that grow on trees and they produce soap. They are not nuts at all! Understand that, and you get an A. Soap nuts are known worldwide by many names such as soap berry, washing nuts, and of course soap nuts. They are a great option that we have available to help us get on the path to a healthier green age. Soap nuts are the best high efficiency natural laundry soap available anywhere, at any price. Period. Blessed Creek’s soap nuts are organic, and saponin, which is the single active ingredient is a 100% natural plant…it doesn’t get better than that. Soap nuts are used in their natural state to produce the soaping effect required for cleaning. No other plant yet known contains such high concentrations. No need for fabric softener, they do that too. It's all I use in my home..
Soap berries are: anti-microbial, anti-fungal and more.
For laundry: Add 6 berries to a drawstring bag. (provided in all purchases) Pull string taught and add to washer. Reuse 5-7 times or until the berries are soft and grey. At that point, I add them to a jar, keeping the lid off until they are dry, and refill the bag with fresh berries. Being the frugal woman that I am, I let the berries dry in the jar, then when I have a couple loads worth, I add water and let soak, using this as a pre soak for stains and other household uses. (really bad ones can use a bit of baking soda rubbed into it and let set. If your laundry is particularly soiled, let the load soak for a while after filling machine and before agitation cycle begins. (You can also add Blessed Creek's enzyme cleaner) Also FYI, because of the nature of soap nuts, you don't NEED to rinse your laundry, or if you feel better and feel uncomfortable with it, you can shorten the cycle for those who are extra concerned about water. Keep in mind clothing fiber types are vast, some natural and some synthetic and like all 'detergents' some fibers just don't come clean. Soap nuts are perfect for fine hand washables and fabulous on cloth diapers, cleaning the fibers of residue and helping them to be more absorbent.
For walls and floors: Add 2 nuts to a quart jar of warm water, shake and let sit. Use ¼ cup to a gallon of warm water
For more uses see below.
Bulk Soapnuts
$19.00
8 ozs soapnuts bulk packaged. Drawstring bag and instructions included, Washes over 90 loads
General Liquid Spray Cleaners: Place 6 used ((for fresh use 1 quart of water) soapnuts into 3 cups of water in a saucepan bring to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add enough water to bring volume back up to original amount. When cool, strain into a spray bottle and if desired, add a few drops of essential oil such as lavender, tea tree, orange, lemon, clove, eucalyptus, citronella, bergamot.. Whatever you like. Use on floors, walls, woodwork, appliances, counters.... Where ever you wash. Shake before use. Be sure and label your bottle and add a warning: Do not consume and keep out of eyes. All in one cleaner and disinfectant.
You can compost the berries from there... but if you are extra frugal.. take it to the next level..
Soap Nuts powder: Dry the berries extremely well and grind in your coffee maker or blender.
Dry Scrub: Mix with baking soda and use as a kitchen and bath scrub...
Shampoo:: To 1 cup liquid and add a couple drops of lavender or other essential oils. Label keep out of eyes. Drop you head back under the sower when using.
Body Wash: To your liquid, add about 4 drops of essential oil of your choice 1 cup of the liquid.
Dog spray and wash: To a cup of liquid, add 2 drops of clove essential oil to a spray bottle. Shake before use. BE SURE AND DO NOT GET IT IN YOUR DOG'S EYES. WASH FROM THE NECK DOWN. Helps keep pets coats shiny and some say free of mites fleas and ticks.
Garden: Spray very diluted liquid onto garden plants and flowers for prevention and some elimination of aphids and other insects.
Home: Spray curtains, and inside cabinets and drawers for moths
Odors: Helps with neutralizing odors. Spray diluted liquid around room. Helps with stale cigarette smoke.
Dishwasher: Place 5 soap nuts into dispenser and vinegar into rinse dispenser. No chemical residue.. (I use 3 and it works fine)
Citrus Scrub: 1/2 cup dried, finely blended citrus peel, 1/2 cup soap nuts powder, 1/4 cup liquid cleanser. Mix well. This will keep for a long time.
Body Scrub: 1 cup soap nuts powder, 1/2 cup raw sugar, 2-3 Tablespoons oil ( jojoba, olive, avocado, ...) Mix well and store in an airtight container. Scrub and rinse... add a couple of drops of essential oil of choice if desired.
Shaving or cleaning foam: 2 Tablespoons of powder to 2 cups of water. Put in food processor and spin until desired consistency has been achieved.
PLEASE NOTE: Essential oils have a strong effect on the body. It is advisable to do adequate research as to which oils are right for you and it is always better to use less than more.