Tips & Recipes
Soap nuts are incredibly versatile. Here are some of our favorite ways to use them around the house.
Laundry — The Basics
Place 4–5 soap nut shells in the cotton wash bag. Toss it in with your clothes and wash on any cycle. Reuse the same shells for 3–5 loads until they turn soft and gray. Then compost them!
Hot Water vs. Cold Water
Soap nuts release saponin faster in warm water, but they work in cold water too. For cold washes, you can soak the bag in a cup of hot water for a few minutes first, then pour the liquid into the machine along with the bag.
Tough Stains
For heavily soiled clothes, add a scoop of oxygen bleach (like OxiClean) along with your soap nuts. You can also pre-treat stains with a paste of baking soda and water before washing.
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
Boil 10–12 soap nut shells in 4 cups of water for about 20 minutes. Let it cool, strain, and pour into a spray bottle. Use it on counters, sinks, stovetops, and bathroom surfaces. Store in the fridge and use within two weeks.
Dish Soap
Use the same liquid recipe above (boiled soap nuts), but add a squeeze of lemon juice for extra grease-cutting power. Works great for hand-washing dishes.
Gentle Shampoo
The boiled soap nut liquid also makes a mild, chemical-free shampoo. Massage it into wet hair, let it sit for a minute, and rinse well. It will not lather like regular shampoo, but it cleans gently.
Pet Wash
Soap nut liquid is gentle enough for washing pets. It is free of harsh chemicals that can irritate their skin. Use the boiled liquid and rinse thoroughly.
Garden Pest Spray
Dilute the boiled soap nut liquid with extra water (about 1 part liquid to 3 parts water) and spray on plants to help deter aphids and other soft-bodied pests. It is natural and will not harm your garden.
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