Soap nuts can be used to make a natural homemade all-purpose cleaner for everything in your home, from laundry to dishes to floors to toilets.
Soap Nuts – not just another inappropriate joke
The world of DIY cleaning can get a little silly. Dryer balls. Soap nuts. It all sounds a bit, inappropriate, right?
When I first heard about soap nuts I thought, “Really? Are people REALLY cleaning their laundry with nuts?” I thought it was taking the green cleaning movement a little too far.
But then I talked to a woman at a local farmer’s market who was selling soap nuts and I decided I should jump on the chance to try one more method of green cleaning. Mainly because they sounded too good to be true. I had only heard of them being used for laundry, but the woman told me I could clean almost ANYTHING in my house with them! And hey, I’m always game for simplifying things.
What are Soap Nuts?
They’re really not a nut at all. They are a berry that is grown on a tree native to the Himalayan regions of Nepal and India. This berry is generally referred to as the Soapberry because it produces a natural soap, called saponin. Saponin is a natural surfactant that foams when dissolved in water, removing dirt and odors from surfaces.
These Soapberries are normally wild-harvested from trees that have never been sprayed with any chemicals or pesticides – there’s no need because pests don’t like the taste of the fruit. Once harvested, the Soapberry is dried and de-seeded. They end up looking like a little brown nut – hence the name.
Since they don’t really belong to the nut family, they are absolutely safe to use around family members with nut allergies!
Soap nuts are extremely gentle, 100% natural, and chemical-free, making them perfect for even the most sensitive skin or delicate surfaces. This eco-friendly option is also naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and a very powerful alternative to chemical cleaners.
But do they Really Work?
Yes, they work. (Y’all should know by now that I always speak from experience.)
The even better news is that the woman I met at the farmer’s market had some 3rd party testing done on her soap nuts. They were found to deter the growth of some really nasty stuff – including E. Coli, yeast, black mold, salmonella, and staph. (This is unique to Shecologyâ„¢ Golden Soap Nuts, as other varieties of soap nuts may not have the same properties.)
I can also confidently say that soap nuts are very effective at removing odors. I washed a load of campfire clothing with them and there was not a single trace of campfire smell left on them. (Many of you know what a miracle that is!)
2 Ways to Use Soap Nuts
It’s true, soap nuts can be used to clean the entire house and all of your laundry. And there are two main ways to utilize them.
Using the whole nut
This option is best for cleaning your laundry. Your soap nuts will normally come with a reusable muslin bag that you fill with 5-6 soap nuts. Simply drop the bag directly in the washer with your clothes and allow it to agitate through all the cycles. Saponins do not leave a residue on clothing like commercial detergents, so there is no need to remove them before the rinse cycle. When the washer has stopped, remove your bag of soap nuts and allow it to dry or use again right away in your next load. Each bag of soap nuts can be re-used up to 10 times, or until the soap nuts are soft/mushy, or not producing suds when the bag is held underwater and squeezed. (Hot water loads will exhaust your soap nuts faster.)
This method works best with laundry washed in warm water because saponins are released better in warm water. If washing on cold, simply steep the bag of soap nuts in a few cups of hot water for several minutes (to release saponins) and add to your cold load of laundry, or use the liquid concentrate (see next paragraph).
Making a liquid concentrate
This is my favorite method because I love having a liquid cleaner that I can spray or squirt onto surfaces for easy cleaning. You can use this concentrate to clean anything – sinks, floors, dishes, countertops, stovetop, bathtub, toilets, cold or warm laundry loads, cloth diapers, fruits & veggies, glass, carpets, and more.
Making an All-purpose Cleaner with Soap Nuts
Recipe adapted from Shecologyâ„¢.
You will need:
- 20 soap nuts (find soap nuts here)
- 2 cups of water
- 10 drops of essential oil (find 100% pure essential oils here)
Directions:
- Combine soap nuts and water in a medium pot.
- Bring to a gentle boil. (Watch the pan carefully so suds doesn’t boil over!) Reduce heat, cover, and allow to simmer for 1 hour.
- Allow the liquid to cool, then strain and add essential oils for scent. Transfer liquid to a sealed container. Compost or discard soap nuts.
Note: I should warn you that your house will smell a little funky while your soap nuts are boiling on the stove.
Tips for Storage
Like any other botanical water-based liquid, your soap nut liquid cleaner will go bad after a period of time. If kept at room temperature, store in a small bottle that you can use up within a week or so. The refrigerated liquid will keep for a few months. If you make large batches, simply freeze portions of your concentrated cleaner to ensure freshness.
Instructions for Use
Laundry
This liquid cleaner is perfect for HE washers because it produces very little suds, but works in any type of washer. This concentrate is great for ANY temperature wash cycle and is the preferred method when washing with cold water. (The whole nut works well in warm/hot water, but sometimes cold water won’t release the saponins needed to clean laundry.) Use 2-3 TBSP of your homemade concentrate for large loads of laundry. Your soap nut cleaner is free of chemicals or perfumes, so it’s perfect for cloth diapers or even hand washing delicates.
You can also try making our homemade laundry detergent.
Dishes
Add your soap nut cleaner to a squirt bottle and use about 1 TBSP per sink of dishes. I like to fill my dish wand with liquid soap for hand washing dishes. They come out sparkling clean without any residue.
Toilets
Add your liquid concentrate to a spray or squirt bottle. Use generously in and around the toilet bowl and lid. Allow to sit for several minutes and then clean as usual.
Floors
This all-purpose cleaner is also great for mopping floors. Add 1 TBSP of liquid to your mopping water.
Other surfaces in your house
Add the liquid cleaner to a spray bottle and use it to clean the following surfaces:
- countertops
- stovetop
- sinks
- glass
- bathtubs
- fruits & veggies
Spray on, allow to sit for several minutes, and wipe with a clean dry cloth. Rinse with clean water if desired (especially if you’re using it as a fruit & veggie wash) and dry.
The Soap Nut Revolution
Could it be possible that we might only need these silly little nuts to clean almost everything in our houses? Seems too good to be true, but other cultures have used them for centuries before we caught on. You’ll have to use them and be the judge.
If you haven’t tried soap nuts yet, it’s time to give them a shot!
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Jeanette says
Can this be used on quartz kitchen worktops.
Sheila says
I don’t have a problem with people using the words “anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial” but I do question the need for “refridgeration” for things that are touted as “anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial”. If they were truely such they would not need refridgeration. So I have a question for you. Have you ever left your concentrate out at room temperature to see if it actually will “spoil”?
Your sources claim soapnut to be effective against E. Coli which is a bacteria, yeast which is a fungus, black mold which is also a fungus, salmonella which is a bacteria and staph, again, is a bacteria.
“Spoilage” is a word to describe something that has aquired harmful amounts of bad bacteria or harmful fungus. Why would you need to refridgerate a concentrate that is harmful to these organisms?
For the ‘anti-microbial” claim; a microbe is short for a microscopic organism, an organism that can only be seen with a microscope. These include funguses, bacteria and viruses. Viruses are non-bacterial pathogens. So to be anti-microbial means it is harmful to all microscopic organisms including ‘good’ or beneficial bacteria and ‘good’ or beneficial yeasts like the ones used in your bread, beer, etc..
I hope this explains why I wonder if your concentrate truely needs to be refridgerated. Have you ever left it out to see if it “spoils”? It would be real handy if it didn’t “spoil” and you could make large batches of it without worry.
Nirvana says
My homemade soap nut liquid did eventually get mouldy after being left out of the fridge. I had even added citric acid to it as a preservative
Sheila says
Nirvana, thanks for your reply. Good to know.
Sheila says
Nirvana, I appreciate your reply and I am sorry for your loss ;-). You have answered my question. Thank you.
Christina says
Hi,Sheila. Just as any plant-based product that is made into a tea with no additives, it will eventually change molecularly and ferment. Have you ever left tea out and let it sit? It will eventually ferment. Keeping the soap nut tea in the refrigerator will extend it’s shelf life a little bit longer, as will adding citric acid (or lemon). Knowing that the tea will eventually ferment should put your heart as ease, knowing there are no additives in it, which is something you can hardly say about any over the counter products, such as lotions you put on your skin or other cleaning products in liquid form.
Christina says
Sheila, just as any plant-based product that is made into a tea with no additives, it will eventually change molecularly and ferment. Have you ever left tea out and let it sit? It will eventually ferment. Keeping the soap nut tea in the refrigerator will extend it’s shelf life a little bit longer, as will adding citric acid (or lemon). Knowing that the tea will eventually ferment should put your heart as ease, knowing there are no additives in it, which is something you can hardly say about any over the counter products, such as lotions you put on your skin or other cleaning products in liquid form.
candi baker says
I bought a bag for $17.99 8 years ago..our family has used them for laundry for 8 years ..our clothes are clean and I still have 1/2 of the bag…so..my laundry soap has only cost me $8 to wash for 8 years!! and they really work..dont bother sensitive skin
Paula says
Are soap nuts safe to use on granite countertops? I know it is not good to use vinegar based cleaners on them, would this work? Does anyone know?
Betsy Jabs says
Hi Paula,
Yes, soap nuts are safe for use on granite. They are very gentle, and contain only natural surfactants, so won’t harm granite surfaces.
Lesa W says
Would you use this recipe as a concentrate? In other words, when putting in a spray bottle for surface cleaner do you dilute with water, and if so, in what concentration. Also, for the toilet bowl cleaner – concentrated or diluted?
Thanks.
Betsy Jabs says
Good question Lesa! Use this liquid cleaner at full strength. Do not dilute with water. If you use it full strength it is at the right concentration to kill the specific germs listed in the above article.
Mari says
I found it to be both… really made my hair shine, but I found the smell nauseating… so I rinsed with cider vinegar then washed it out and was extra shiny.
Randall says
If using the nuts for your hair, I’m assuming you would use the liquid concentrate as a “shampoo” instead of your homemade shampoo, correct? Are the nuts good for conditioning too or just as a shampoo?
Mari says
oops… sorry, read below. I didn’t press reply and my answer is a separate post.
Randall says
Thank you!!
Shannon says
Hi
I’m just starting to move into using more all natural products and wanted to try out an all natural laundry detergent. Would you suggest soap nuts or your recipe for homemade laundry detergent?
Betsy Jabs says
Hi Shannon,
We like them both! So it just depends on how available the ingredients are in your area and which method seems easier for you. The great thing about the soap nuts is that you can use them to make the all-purpose cleaner for the rest of the house, but the liquid concentrate has to be stored properly or it will go bad. With the laundry detergent, you can also use the leftover borax and washing soda to clean so much more.
Victoria says
Where do you get soap nuts and how do you use them to wash your hair?
Betsy Jabs says
There is a link in the above all-purpose cleaner recipe for buying soap nuts. I’ll actually be writing about using soap nuts to wash your hair very soon!
Nirvana says
How much of soap nut liquid do you end up with after boiling and straining? I assume some water will be lost due to evaporation?
Betsy Jabs says
You will end up with around 1 cup of liquid. This may not last long in some households, so you may choose to make larger batches and refrigerate or freeze.
Mari says
Has anyone tried soap nuts in any form in their dishwasher??
I have tried all sorts of dishwasher recipes and formula but can not find one that suits our chlorinated, flourinated (don’t start me off here) water does not cause a slimy residue on glass and plastics.
I feel an experiment coming on… hmm. Any suggestions anyone?
Betsy Jabs says
I haven’t put the liquid concentrate in the dishwasher yet, but you should try it. You may want to put the cleaner in the pre-wash compartment, and then put citric acid in the main wash compartment. The citric acid will help with residue on dishes. Be sure to return and let us know how it goes if you do try it!
Mari says
Am just getting over moving house so will do some experimenting nex week and let you know how it goes. I’ll be baaaack
Mimi says
Just got my first order of nuts, which came with an 18X concentrate one-ounce sample. The instructions were to dilute this at a 16-1 ratio, so I made 2 cups of all-purpose cleaner. I used a tablespoon of it to do the dishes, including pans, and they came out nice and clean, even though there were very few suds. I was sceptical but it proved to be what it claims. I did some heavy duty cleaning as well and, again, was not disappointed. This is one more step towards ridding my whole house of toxins. It feels good. BTW. This site has been instrumental in helping me switch my face products over the past few months using essential oils. Love the recipes and the finished products. Thank you so much!
shivangi says
i use it for hair washing but can they clean the stains on clothes
Betsy Jabs says
They are better for general laundry purposes, not necessarily stains. You will need to pre-treat stains as you normally would.
Wanda Lam says
Hi,
I read about your soapnut article. Just a quick question. Do you replace the soap nut with laundry detergent? If so, how much is needed? I have an he washer. Thanks
Wanda Lam
Betsy Jabs says
Hi Wanda,
Yes, soap nuts are a replacement for laundry detergent. Your soap nuts will usually come with a small muslin bag that you fill with about 5 nuts, then drop directly in the washer with your clothes. See more details for using them in the laundry in the above article under the heading “Using the whole nut.” Soap nuts are perfect for HE washers!
Lori D. says
You can also wash yourself and your hair with them! They really are little miracles!