Nuts For Soapberries-A Review
What Are Soapberries?
Soapberries are harvested from Sapindus Mukorossi, or soapberry tree, and are also called soap nuts. They are native to India and Nepal, where they thrive in the tropical climate.
After the drying process, the fruits resemble hollowed-out nuts, giving them their moniker. Since they are actually berries, they are nut-allergy safe.
How Do They Work?
Soapberries contain saponin, a plant-derived, organic chemical with soap-like properties. When agitated in water, particularly at higher temperatures, it creates mild suds and acts as a cleansing agent. The saponin is contained in the berry's skin, so halves and pieces work as well as whole berries.
To use as laundry detergent:
1.) Put four or five berries in a cloth bag (One or two bags will be included in the box, typically.)
2.) Toss in the washer with your clothes, preferably using warm or hot settings, or after steeping in boiling water for a few minutes.
3.) Wash as normal. There is no need to remove them during the rinse cycle because they also work well as a fabric softener.
One bag is good for about 10 loads. When the berries become thin, brittle, or lose their color, replace them!
Do They Work?
Yes, with some caveats. My niece, Ess, and I tried Eco Nuts in two different situations with some pretty awesome results!
I’m an avid hiker, so I’m no stranger to gross socks and smelly sneakers. I wore some pristine, white socks on a multi-mile hike and then washed them with soapberries for this review. To ensure I found the correct test sock, I marked it with an “A” in red sharpie.
Here’s how it went:
As you can see, not only did I manage to clean most of the dirt out of the fabric, but it reduced the appearance of the red ink, which I was not expecting! Most importantly, while…
