Soap Nuts

Traditional laundry detergents have a major negative effect on our environment and our bodies. There are many unnatural chemical additives in most laundry detergents that are harsh and abrasive on the skin. They also pollute our rivers, waterways, and ground soil, while hurting our wildlife and destroying our clothes. Soap nuts are an eco friendly alternative to laundry detergent that is much more gentle on your clothing, and will not have harmful effects on the environment. Read on for more information on soap nuts, where you can buy them, and what they can do for you.

Just what are soapnuts?

Soap nuts, of the genus Sapindus, are a small leathery skinned fruit ranging in size of about 1/2" to 1" in size. Soap nuts contain a natural soap detergent cleaner called saponin, which can clean you clothing in an environmentally friendly way. Soap nuts can also be reused over several washes, and are even suitable to wash delicate clothing from wool to silk.

Directions to use soap nuts to wash your clothing

Chartreuse has made available small sample size soap nuts with 4-5 berries in a muslin bag for only $2.00 each. To wash your clothing, soap nuts will use more on hot/warm washes than cold. For a cold water wash, you will place 4-5 berries in the drawstring bag provided, tie it up, and soak for 3-5 minutes in hot water if using the berries for the first time. Add the bag to the washing machine along with the clothes and wash as you normally would. The soap nuts will last 5-7 washes. Keep the berries in the bag until they turn soft or gray in color, and saponin can no longer be felt on your hands when the berries are gently squeezed when wet. They can be composted once they've been used up. For hot water washes, the berries will last only one wash for 3 berries.

Cold water washes will not only save you money on your utility and electric bill, but your clothing will last longer, and you'll be a little be greener at the same time.

Chartreuse's Laundry Soap Nuts:

-8 oz soap nuts, approximately 80 loads

$14.95

-Sample Size (4-5 berries in a muslin bag)

$2.00

Note: the soap nuts are contained under the link "shop for products" on the right hand side once you click through.

By the way, these soap nuts go great with Chartreuse's reusable dryer sheets!

Save the environment, save your clothing, save some money!

1. Soap nuts are better for the environment. Traditional detergents produce hazardous suds, soap runoff, and leak chemicals into your clothing and into the water.

2. Soap nuts will make your clothing last longer. They're much gentler on your clothing than harsh detergents, yet still removing dirt and grime, so your clothing will be wearable much longer.

3. You won't have to buy fabric softener any more! Soap nuts have a natural softener in them that leave your clothing amazing soft.

4. Soap nuts will save you money if reused! Soap nuts can be used 5-7 loads. This adds up!

5. They're odor free, so people sensitive to allergies from traditional detergent will love them.

6. Soap nuts work better on a cold wash, so you'll be saving even more money on your water and electric bill (they work good on a hot wash, too).

7. They're reusable. Soap nuts can be used over and over! See the rest of this page for details.

8. They're fun to use! It's a fun idea for kids, and it's interesting to see soap nuts in action. If you have any doubts, visit the website so you can see some of the reviews (click shop for products, then scroll down to "soap nuts").

9. You can compost soap nuts. Just throw them in your compost bin once they've enjoyed a long healthy life!

10. You're helping third world countries where these magical berries grow. Saponin is largely grown in impoverished nations like Nepal that need the sales of these berries to survive, so you're doing a good thing!

Now available, liquid soap nuts!

Liquid Soap Nuts

from Chartreuse 8oz 96 loads HE, 48 regular loads

The liquid version can be used as you normally use your laundry detergent. It has all of the natural properties of soap nuts, but in a concentrate form.