Soap Nut Recipes

Soap nuts can be used for any laundry, household cleaning or body cleaning. If something needs cleaned, soapnuts (in one form or another) can be used! Here are a few examples:

Body Wash – Use soapnut liquid alone on your washcloth or bath poof, or combine 1/2 cup soapnut liquid with 2 Tbsp. aloe vera gel for an even softer finish.

All-Purpose Cleaner – Combine 1/2 cup soapnut liquid, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 1/4 cup water in a spray bottle. Use all over your house

Insecticidal Garden Spray – Spray the soapnut liquid on and around your plants because it’s a natural insecticidal. For even more power, combine 1 Tbsp. liquid castile soap, 1/2 cup soapnuts liquid, and 1/4 cup water.

Washing the Car - Put 12-14 soapnuts into a bucket, half fill a gallon hot water and let steep for ten minutes or more, then wash car.

Pet Shampoo – Use soapnut liquid. Leaves hair soft and silky, will also repel fleas, mites, ticks, mosquitoes etc.

Glass Cleaner – Mix together 1tbsp soapnut liquid, 1 tbsp vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle.

Soapnut Paste – Save all the used soapnuts and put them in a pan and cover with water. Boil gently until very soft and squishy. Place in a food processor and process until smooth. Press the paste through a fine sieve (like a tea strainer) to remove some of the fibre. Use for shaving cream, exfoliating cream or as a mild abrasive cleaner. Store in refrigerator. (For more abrasive paste, skip pressing the paste through a sieve.)

Keep your whites white – a teaspoon of citric acid in with your washload will help keep your whites gleaming white. Lemon juice is another natural bleach so try soaking your “stained” washing in a bucket with a ratio of 1 cup lemon juice to half at bucket of cold water.

 Stain Remover Options: To help with those stubborn stains, run cold water over the stain, then cover with bi-carb soda (baking soda) and let it sit overnight.  Wash the bi-carb soda off with cold water, then take your current soapnut washbag and (if not already wet) wet it then rub the stained area vigorously with this to form a lather.  Then place the clothing into the wash as per normal.  Use a cold water wash and let the load soak for extra cleanliness.

For heavily soiled washing, use a warm to hot water wash as this will extract more saponin from your wash bag of soapnuts, giving it a more powerful clean.  This will mean, however, that your soapnuts washbag may have to be reloaded with fresh soapnuts sooner than if you use a cold water wash.