Do you laundry with soapnuts

Soap nuts. Ever heard of these?
In my search for having less plastic in our house, I stumbled upon this nature friendly way to do laundry. I have been using these soapnuts  – or rather the peels of the fruits of the soapnut tree – for quite a while now.

This tree grows in abundance in the Himalayan area at an altitude of about 1000 meters, mainly in northern India and Nepal. People over there have been using it for centuries as a detergent for silk, wool and cotton clothes. And also as shampoo.

How does it work?
The skin of this nut contains saponin, a natural soap substance with cleansing and antibacterial properties. When the dried peels come into contact with water, soapy substances are released.

There are lot’s of advantages:

• Biodegradable (can be used in the compost bin)
• Hypoallergenic
• Less damage to your washed clothes
• Neutral scent
• No harmful substances

BUT: Saponin does not dissolve fats

Tip for today
Use laundry nuts instead of your classic detergent.