Soap Berries / Soap Nuts

Description

Soapnuts are a dried fruit husk, rich in plant saponins (natural soap). They are used for washing and conditioning clothes in the washing machine and can also be used to clean dishes in a dishwasher, be boiled to make a cleaning liquid, washing up liquid or shampoo, plant insect repellant or even boiled and liquidised to make a natural soap ingredient. Once the soapnuts have given up all their soap, you just compost them. Use 4-5 soapnuts split in half. Place them in an old sock (or similar) a thick one is best. Tie a knot in the sock to prevent the soapnuts from escaping and place the sock in the washing machine drum with the clothes. There is no need to add detergent or fabric conditioner. Go ahead and do the wash. The sock of soapnuts can be reused 3-4 times, and then the spent soapnut shells can be composted. If you wish to add a scent to your washing, just add 8 drops of essential oil into the conditioner tray of the washing machine.