Walnuts: 14 reasons why they belong in every home
We would like to take you into the unique world of soap nuts!
Humanity's quest for cleaning is nothing new.
The earliest evidence of soap making dates back to 2800 BC, when the ancient Babylonians boiled fats with the ash from their wood fires to make the first soap.
Another source for obtaining ingredients for cleaning are plants that are naturally rich in saponins. In combination with water, saponin-rich plants produce a soapy foam that is both gentle and effective for cleaning.
Various plants are rich in saponins. These include soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), and ginseng (Panax species).
But perhaps the best known and most famous natural cleaning agent are the drupes of the Sapindus tree (Sapindus Mukorossi), better known as soap nuts, soap berries, or soapberries.
What exactly are soap nuts?
The Sapindus genus, native to temperate and tropical regions of the world, consists of about a dozen species of trees and shrubs within the Lychee family.
The soapberry trees bear small, leathery stone fruits and have been used for thousands of years as a natural cleaning agent in Asia and South America.
Elicious sells the sun-dried fruits of the variety from Asia (Sapindus mukorossi).
Advantages of using soap nuts or soapberries
There are countless reasons to replace or supplement your regular household cleaning products with soap nuts:
Walnuts are environmentally friendly
Walnuts literally grow on trees and are therefore a renewable resource that requires very little processing without plastic packaging.
Once used up, they are fully biodegradable and can be composted.
Soap nuts that are rinsed down the drain do not pollute the water system either.
Walnuts are 100% natural
Walnut shells are odorless, hypoallergenic, and free from chemical additives and fragrances. They are also incredibly gentle on the skin, clothing, and household surfaces.
It is actually not a nut, so people with a nut allergy can use it safely.
Walnut shells or soap nuts are super economical
Soap nuts or soap berries can replace many different cleaning products in the house. And because they can be reused up to six times, a little bit of soap goes a long way.
Walnuts are easy to use
Basically, soap nuts or soap berries only need water and a little stirring to do their magical cleaning work. They work just as well in cold as in warm water. You can use them in all types of washing machines, including front loaders.
Washing nuts or soap nuts also soften the laundry naturally.
How to use soap nuts or soapberries?
1. Yours truly
Most people start their journey with soap nuts by using them as detergent.
To start, you simply put a few nuts in a cloth bag (or even an old sock), tie it closed, and throw it in the washing machine as a replacement for liquid or powder detergent and fabric softener.
With 8 walnuts, you can wash multiple times, depending on the temperature.
Although walnut shells are odorless and give a fresh neutral aroma to clothing, you can always add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the sachet for your own scent experience.
Add vinegar or baking soda to the laundry if you want to clean white clothes or clothes with stains. However, do this separately from colored laundry. To do your white laundry 100% safely, it is recommended to use liquid soap made from soap nuts.
When the laundry is done, hang the bag up to dry completely between two wash cycles. This step helps prevent rot or mold from developing on the soap nuts.
To test if the soap nuts you used earlier still have their soapy foam, drop them into a small container of water. Screw the lid on and shake well. If it is foamy, the soap nuts are still good to use. If there is no foam, it's time to throw them in the garden or compost.
You can also use soap nuts in liquid or powder form!
2. Liquid soap
You can quite easily make a liquid detergent from soap nuts yourself. It is especially suitable for hand washes (and machine hand washes) and for white fabrics. Put about 50 grams of soap nuts in 1 liter of warm water. You can also make the shells a bit finer if you want. Then bring this to a boil, stirring occasionally. After that, let it simmer at a low temperature for 10-15 minutes. Let it cool with the lid on the pan. Then filter through a fine sieve or cotton cloth. The liquid is then free of shells and residues. Put it in a bottle and store it in the refrigerator; it will keep well for about 15 days. With a little vinegar, you can extend the shelf life. You can also freeze it for later, for example handy in an ice cube tray. It is a bit of work, but then you are really doing well!
3. Soap in powder form
You can also very easily turn soap nuts into powder. The trick is to make sure it is really finely ground without visible pieces.
Use a coffee or spice grinder to grind them into a powder with a flour-like consistency.
4. Dishwashing liquid
Soapnut shells are also suitable for the dishwasher. The dirty dishes become wonderfully clean again and you don't need to use rinse aid. Use the same cotton wash bag with 8 shells and place it in the cutlery basket of the dishwasher. Always hang the bag with soapnuts to dry after the cycle before using it again.
For hand washing, simply add a splash of liquid soap nuts to the warm water and stir well to create a good lather.
5. All-purpose cleaner
To make a spray to clean multiple surfaces in the house, add ½ cup liquid soap nuts, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, and ¼ cup water to a spray bottle.
Use this solution to spray and clean countertops, sinks, appliances, bathtubs, toilets, cabinets, doors, floors, stainless steel, porcelain, wood, and much more.
6. Glasreiniger
For streak-free windows and mirrors, combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap nuts, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and ½ cup of water in a spray bottle. Use clean cloths to polish the glass.
This mixture is especially effective for dirty exterior glass, grease stains, greasy fingerprints, and toothpaste splatters on bathroom mirrors.
7. Scouring powder
Ideal for scrubbing toilet bowls, bathtubs, and shower walls. Make a paste by mixing ¼ cup baking soda, ¼ cup baking soda, and ½ cup liquid soap.
Stir until you reach the desired consistency. Add a little water if you want a thinner mixture.
8. Polishing jewelry and silverware
Restore tarnished silver by soaking it in a bath of liquid walnut soap diluted with distilled water. Let it sit in the liquid for about 20 minutes before scrubbing and polishing it with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
9. Shampoo
For a gentle cleansing of hair and scalp, apply liquid nut soap to your hair. The amount is a matter of trial and also depends on your hair length. Massage and lather deeply into your scalp and rinse thoroughly.
Finish with a rinse of white vinegar for the softest hair ever.
10. Washing face and body
Also add a splash of the liquid to a washcloth or loofah to cleanse and scrub your skin.
11. Pet care
With a cleansing action gentle enough for our furry friends, you can use liquid soap for shampoo, cleaning toys, and washing the dog or cat bed.
12. Washing the car
You can wash your car on your driveway with a good feeling using soap nuts - the biodegradable soap that does not harm the ecosystem!
Soak whole soap nuts for about 30 minutes in a bucket of hot water from week 8 to 12, or dilute a few splashes of liquid in water and use immediately.
13. Washing vegetables and fruit
Rid fresh vegetables and fruit of all unpleasantness they have encountered along the way by spraying them with liquid soap nuts.
Rub the lather into all the nooks and crannies after spraying (this works perfectly with one of our loofahs) and rinse well.
14. Insecticide
Saponins have surface-active properties that are naturally antimicrobial, and it is this quality that makes soap nuts such a great cleaner.
In plants, saponins are produced as a defense mechanism to protect the plant against attacks from microbes, fungi, and animal food.
Saponins are toxic to insects and are successfully used as a pesticide for food crops and stored grains.
To protect your garden from harmful insects, dilute some liquid soap nuts in a spray bottle and spray your plants. Repeat this weekly and after every rainfall.
Soap nuts or soapberries are a versatile, relatively inexpensive natural product that deserves a place in every home. And they are becoming increasingly popular.
Also consult our FAQ page 'All about soap nuts' here.
