Imagine a world where soap grows on trees. If you think this sounds like a scene from an environmentalists futuristic movie, then think again.

Today, we are beginning to rethink the way we wash clothing, as more and more people are looking towards eco-friendly, natural soaps and cleaners for their household needs.

In fact, for centuries, traditional societies have been using soap nuts to wash their clothing. Using soap nuts is a wonderful way to support a green living environment, reducing not only the amount of toxic soap residues in our world, but also in the clothing that comes into contact with our skin on a daily basis.

What Are Soap Nuts?

Soup nuts, or soap berries, are a form of dried fruit similar to a lychee. These cleansing fruits are collected from the Asian Soapberry tree (Sapindus mukorrosi). Sapindus is a type of small shrub tree related to the maple family. The fruit from the Asian Soapberry tree is only 1-3 centimeters in diameter, yellow in color, and blackish and leathery when dried.

Hundreds of years ago, South East Asians learned that when these dried fruits came into contact with water, they released a substance called saponin, a natural cleanser that works well on the fabric of clothing. Today, soap nuts come from all over Asia, but are most common in India, Nepal and Indonesia, where they have a long tradition of collecting the cleansing nuts.

How Do Soap Nuts Work?

The process of converting this fruit into soap nuts is relatively easy. They are first harvested from the tree when the fruit is ripe.

Secondly, the seeds of the fruit are removed. Lastly, the fruit is dried in the sun. From there, this excellent alternative laundry detergent goes directly into your washing machine.

The outer shell of the soapnut is the part of the fruit that contains saponin, its natural surfactant. It then creates a sudsy mixture that does an excellent job at removing dirt and grim from clothing and fabric.

The Benefits of Using Soap Nuts

• They are 100% natural & biodegradable
• They are antimicrobial, so they actually clean our septic and grey-water systems
• They are organically grown
• They are extremely useful in treating lice in the scalp
• Soap nuts are useful in the remediation of contaminated soil
• They are used to clean tarnished precious metals in both India and Indonesia
• They are 100% free of harsh chemicals, which is particularly important for people with skin sensitivities
• They are gentle on delicate clothing items
• They are perfect for babies’ skin
• They are used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce eczema and psoriasis
• They act as a natural, yet gentle, insecticidal agent
• They are good for individuals who suffer from toxic overload and allergies.
• Medicinally, soap nuts are known expectorants, emetics and pain relievers.
• Some studies indicate that saponin from soap nuts may aid in inhibiting tumor cell growth in the human body
• They are a common ingredient in many Ayurvedic cleansing products, such as natural shampoos and cleansers.

Where Can I Buy Soap Nuts?

I have been testing soap nuts for about 1 year now and they work great. I use the concentrated form and I was so happy with the results I decided to actually stock this product. You can also buy soap nuts in the liquid form.

For all the subscribers to this blog, I would like to offer everyone a 10% discount on our soap nut laundry detergent. To get this discount, please use the following coupon code — soapnuts

Related Articles:

• The Benefits of Organic Laundry Detergent
• The Benefits of All-Natural, Organic Soap
• The Benefits of Organic Shampoo & Conditioners