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Soapnuts are an eco-friendly way to clean your laundry, without any fillers, dyes or chemicals. They're hypoallergenic, biodegradable and antimicrobial, too.
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Laundry Tree
SoapNuts
Clean, natural alternative to traditional laundry and cleaning detergents. Gentle and fragrance-free berries with natural cleansing abilities. Essential oils available for added fragrance.
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Starting at $14.95
Talk about this Grommet
Hi, everyone!
Like you, we're huge fans of Daily Grommet. We love learning about the unique stories behind the products featured here, and are thrilled to be able to share our story with you again!

We also love learning about our customers -- and the issues in their lives that steer them toward this unique solution for clean laundry!

One of our favorites: Mike, a long-time LaundryTree customer, tells us that before he started using soap nuts for his laundry, everywhere his clothes touched his skin was red and raw. He'd figured out that he was allergic to detergents, but hadn't found a good alternative. Now, he uses soapnuts to get his clothes fresh and clean, and he's no longer bothered by a painful rash.

Soapnuts are a truly great product for ANYONE who wants clean, fresh laundry. So... what's YOUR laundry story? Can we help you make LaundryTree SoapNuts a part of it?
Lisa on Jul 28, 2010
I'm curious about the package that gives you 40 loads. Does that mean there are enough nuts for 40 loads of laundry, using the soap nuts once? Or does it mean there are enough nuts for about 10 loads of laundry, and then you re-use the nuts three more times per batch? Thanks!
Aliza Earnshaw on Jul 28, 2010
I bought these a few months ago and was very disappointed to find that I couldn't use them in cold water until I first cooked them on the stove to make a liquid laundry solution. I use cold water for all my laundry and this extra step just isn't practical for me.
Cathy on Jul 28, 2010
I love the Daily Grommet! (and, BTW, I love the Grommets, every day!) The soapnuts are a great hit with me, always looking for closer to nature ways to eat, clean, and live!
Kari Cutler on Jul 28, 2010
This appears to be a great product, the question I have before I place an order is..I am a caregiver for a man who is undergoing chemo then will have a stem cell transplant if everything goes according to plan, he will not much of an immune system when he gets out of the hospital, is this a product I can use to wash his clothes and bedding etc?
Mary Anne on Jul 28, 2010
Special Guest Comment
Hi Aliza! Thanks for your question! Soapnuts can be re-used about three times before they have lost their cleaning power; so we include those re-uses in out total load estimates.

Cathy - It's true that soapnuts work best in warm or hot water. (It is the heat that makes thhem release saponin -- the cleaning agent). Making the liquid version, which we call soapnut soak, is no harder than brewing a pot of tea. It is an extra step, but not a complicated or time-consuming one. (I like to make enough at one time to do several weeks worth of laundry). And then once the liquid is made, you can use it for all the things Joanne mentions in the video and more!

Hi, Mary Anne! Thanks for your question. From what I understand, dry, irritated skin can be a side-effect of chemo. If for that reason alone, soapnuts would be a great fit for your friend. Soapnuts are gentle on skin AND clothes -- and they don't have manufactured fragrances that can sometimes be an irritation. Soapnuts are antibacterial and antimicrobial, so they're great for cleansing and disinfecting. In this situation, I'd certainly use soapnuts (using hot water where possible). You could also a little tea tree oil to the wash for a disinfectant boost.
Lisa on Jul 29, 2010
@Kari - thanks for loving what we do!! We are glad you're here!
Katherine - Daily Grommet Community Team on Jul 29, 2010
How long is the "shelf life" of Soap Nuts when they are not used, i.e. do the get moldy or dry up? Also, it is stated that Soap Nuts can be used up to 4 loads of laundry; what about when you "brew" the Soap Nuts to make a liquid soap? Can your still get 4 uses out of the Soap Nuts once your "brew" them?
Amy on Jul 31, 2010
Special Guest Comment
Hi Amy, what great questions!

Soapnuts are not perishable and do not have a shelf life. We recommend that you store them in an air-tight container because when exposed to air and humidity, they will naturally absorb moisture and become dark and sticky. However, this “transformation” does not affect their cleaning capabilities — the stickiness means that the saponin is already being released.

Our load estimates are based on the soapnuts themselves; you will most likely get MORE loads out of your soapnuts if you "brew" them. (We call the resulting liquid Soapnut Soak). Making Soapnut Soak is the most efficient way to use soapnuts -- as you can keep putting them in hot water until they have released ALL their saponin.

The best way to tell that your soapnuts are spent is to squeeze them when they’re wet. If you see a white, foamy liquid or a honey-like liquid, they still contain saponin and are good for another use.
Lisa on Aug 01, 2010
I bought a bag of soap nuts about 6 months ago, and I use them off and on. They do work well for lightly dirty things, t-shirts and whatnot. However, I have found that for stinky stuff like socks, the soap nuts don't cut it. I don't wash in hot water, warm at best, or cold if I can get away with it, and when I wash the stinky loads, they just aren't clean. :( quite sad, I had high hopes for soap nuts, but I still have to supplement some loads with some form of detergent.
Laura Kerrone on Aug 02, 2010
Hi, Laura! I'm so sorry that your experience with your soapnuts weren't all positive! I've successfully washed some REALLY stinky things with them (think pet bedding, very soured laundry, and stinky little boy socks), and some of our favorite testimonials include descriptions of really dirty cloth diaper laundry. I'd love to help you figure out what's going with YOUR soap nuts, so we can restore your hopes for them!

The first thing I'd check is where your soapnuts come from. There are some inferior species of the soapnut tree that don't work as well as the fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi (which is what ours are).

The other thing I'd recommend is maybe adding a couple more soapnuts to your laundry. We recommend that for big or extra-dirty loads. Or, since you prefer cold water washes (as many people do), an even better solution would be to make Soapnut Soak mentioned above, because soapnuts do their best work in very warm or hot water.

Please don't hesitate to contact me directly for more help!
Lisa Albrecht on Aug 02, 2010
How do the soap nuts or ak work in hard water?
Maggi on Aug 05, 2010
Special Guest Comment
Soapnuts work great in hard water. Our recommendation is to use soapnuts the same as you would with your regular detergent. Then, if you think they need a boost, you can use hard-water additives (such as borax). If you use vinegar to soften your laundry, you can also use it when you use the soapnuts (although you may not need it!)
Lisa Albrecht on Aug 05, 2010
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