Eco Friendly Laundry Detergent

You may be wondering "how" soap nuts are used to clean laundry. Are they processed into powder or liquid? Can they be used as is? Can they be used more than once? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding "Yes."

As research on soap nuts continues, new ways of using the berry will surely surface. However, as of now, soap nuts are most often used in their dried-fruit form. The fruit is harvested, de-seeded, and then dried in the sun, leaving behind the hardened shells -- which can be soaked, crushed, and recycled.

What You Get: Dried soap nuts come bundled with a muslin bag, which holds the nuts during the wash cycle. The bag is reusable and also replaceable with household items like any drawstring pouch or even, a sock. So long as the cleaning properties of soap nuts can be released into the water, any breathable "bag" will do.

The demands of your laundry will determine the number of soap nuts you'll need. A good rule-of-thumb is:

• 2 soap nuts for a hot-water wash
• 4 soap nuts for a cold-water wash
• 4 soap nuts for stubborn stains

It's important to remember that soap nuts react to warm/hot water. Therefore, if you're using soap nuts for a cold wash, you may want to soak them in a hot bowl for a few minutes first, before tossing the entire solution into the wash.

Think of soap nuts as a recipe. Though a recipe may provide measurements, oftentimes you may change it to better fit your taste. The same can be said of soap nuts and the needs of your laundry. With experience of use, you'll find the right soap-nuts combination to work with your wash loads.

In addition to the dried-fruit form, soap nuts are also available in powder form and can be easily transformed into a liquid. For the latter, simply boil the soap nuts, strain the concentrated water, and administer in a spray bottle or foaming pump.

Soap nuts can also be used as:

• All-purpose cleaner
• Steam-cleaning spot treatment
• Liquid hand soap
• Body wash
• Shampoo
• Jewelry cleaner
• Window cleaner
• Vegetable wash
• Pest repellant

For its primary function as a laundry detergent, soap nuts works with most any fabric -- from delicates to wool to hardy fleece. It's versatile, adaptable, and effective.