Also known as the soap nut, soapnuts, Reetha and Chinese Soapberry, Soap Nuts are also known botanically as the Sapindus Mukorossi and Sapindus Trifoliatus which are two of the best sources of naturally produced saponin.

Where do I find information about Soap Nuts?

You have found our frequently asked questions which is a great start! We also have several great pages with information on soap nuts which you can view online including:

Why use Soap Nuts?
Soap Nuts Laundry How-to, and
Soap Nut Shampoo How-to

How do soap nuts work?

The soap nut contains saponin, a natural form of soap, which can be found in concentrations of up to 14% in the Sapindus Mukorossi soapnuts. Saponin is naturally released from the soapnut shell when added to water especially when agitated, stirred in or boiled.

So soap nuts contain saponin, what else do they contain?

Very little. In fact it is easier to tell you that what they don't contain! In soap nuts you will not find bleaching, whitening or sudsing agents, artificial colorants or fragrances, optical brighteners, or animal products.

What about allergies (especially to nuts)?

The soap nut is not actually a nut or even from the oder Fagales (the order from which botanical nut families exist)! It is actually the fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree which is air dried after being harvested from the wild. The soap nut in it's natural form is hypo-allergenic and used in Ayuverdic medicine for the treatment of skin conditions including excema and psoriasis.

So why do they call them 'soap nuts' if they are not nuts?

I am not sure - maybe the person who gave them their English name was a bit nutty!

Are they safe for my front loading machine?

Soap nuts are fine for use in both front and top loading machines alike. In fact, in 2007 Hungarian designer Levente Szabó won the 2007 Electrolux Design Lab competition with a front loading washing machine designed that is designed specifically for soap nuts.

Will soap nuts whiten my clothes and remove stains?

If you are looking for whiter whites then you will need to add some lemon juice or citric acid to your wash load. Soap nuts will effectively remove a number of everyday stains but special treatment may be required for stubborn stains, particularly those based from zinc or oil. For more information please see our Soap Nut Laundry How-to.

What about my delicates?

Delicate clothing items are safe to be washed using soap nuts providing you take measures to care for the garment like putting it into a wash bag before putting it into the machine.

... and nappies?

Soap nuts are a fantastic natural option for people using cloth nappies, especially with modern cloth fabrics like hemp and bamboo when you are seeking to maintain the absorbency and natural anti-bacterial properties. Check out our Laundry How-to for more information.

What smell can I expect?

Soap nuts have a pungent smell when fresh similiar to that of vinegar. However, garments tend not to take on this odour. When wet they can have a woody or earthy smell associated with the natural smell of the raw material from which it was made. However, this smell is not found in the dry garment. If you are keen for a fresh smell add a few drops of your favorite fragrant oil to the wash bag or make a spritz bottle of water and oil to spray clothes after removing them from the machine. Our recommendations are lemongrass, lavender and lemon oils.

Are soap nuts septic safe?

To our knowledge they are completely safe for your septic. It is our belief that the removal of chemicals from the septic may contribute to lower levels of toxicity in overflow water that is returned to the surrounding soil.

My wash bag had stitching come undone - can I get a new one?

Absolutely, just contact your place of purchase and they should have a spare bag that they can send to you!

What about Fair Trade?

We have asked our supplier point blank 'Have you sought Fair Trade Certification for your soap nut products?' and their response was, with abbreviations expanded and punctuation correction, 'Please note that there is no Fair Trade Certification in India. We too want to get it done as soon as it is available in India.' We have asked the consulate about the introduction of a certification and have assured them that we have a business interest in this being the case.

Have your soap nuts been fumigated?

As part of the AQIS requirements for entry into Australia the dunnage (outer packaging and pallets) are required to be treated through one of many treatment options before they are cleared to enter Australia. This can occur either before being shipped in their source country or once they arrive in Australia. For more information see: Importation and Treatment of Soap Nuts.