Wash nuts - What are they? And that's how they work!

What are laundry nuts?

Wash nuts, also known as soap berries , are a natural and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional detergents and cleaning agents. Although they are called nuts by many, cashew nuts are actually dried berries that come from the soap tree Sapindus mukorossi , which grows primarily in India and Nepal.

Wash nuts contain all-natural soap substances called saponins , which act as a surfactant to help remove dirt from surfaces. The name saponin actually originates from Latin "sapo" = soap.

When carob nuts come into contact with water, the saponins are released, creating a foamy soapy solution that can be used for everything from laundry and cleaning to personal care.

One of the biggest benefits of using carob nuts as a natural detergent is that they are completely biodegradable and contain no harsh chemicals or additives. This makes them particularly hypoallergenic, and a good solution for people with sensitive skin.

Another clear advantage of washer nuts is that they are a very economical choice as they are so cumbersome to use. A 500g bag of soap nuts can last for 180+ washes, which actually makes soap nuts the cheapest detergent on the market per wash. They are also easily available online or in several of the country's supermarkets.

How to use washing nuts as a detergent and for cleaning

Laundry:

It is super easy to wash clothes with laundry nuts.

Here's how you do it:

1. Place the equivalent of 5 whole walnuts in the small fabric bag provided and tie a knot on the bag.
2. Put the laundry bag into the washing machine drum together with the laundry.
3. Wash the clothes as usual. The sink nuts do not have to be taken out along the way, but are included under the entire sink.
4. The washing nuts in the small fabric bag can be used approx. 2-5 times, depending on how hot it is washed. They last about 4-5 washes at 40 degrees and only 1-2 washes at 90 degrees.

Cleaning:

In addition to being a good detergent, caraway seeds can also be used as a completely natural cleaning agent in the home. When you boil 10 wash nuts in 1 liter of water for 20-30 minutes, you get a concentrated soap solution created by the saponins in the shells. The soap can be used to clean all around the home for everything from floors to the bathroom and kitchen. It can also be used as a natural shampoo and body wash.

Find all recipes with walnuts here .

What is the difference between soap nuts, soap nuts, soap berries, etc.?

Perhaps you have heard nature's own detergent being called a lot of different things? We have both heard the names soap berries, soap berries, soap nuts, soap nuts and even soap balls. So one must say that dear child has many names. But it is all the fruit of Sapindus Mukorossi that is being talked about. And that fruit is technically a berry, even though the dried shells may look a bit like nuts.

So that's why we usually always call soap nuts soap berries to avoid confusion. Especially in connection with nut allergies, we do not want to give the impression that the berries have anything to do with nuts. So if you have a nut allergy, you can safely use soapberry/washnuts.

Is there a difference in the quality of washer nuts?

When it comes to washing nuts, price and quality go hand in hand! We have made this video below to show you how you can see the difference.

Wash nuts are becoming more and more popular, and when something becomes popular, the cheap copies of the products creep in.

And if you buy cashew nuts from a manufacturer that does not have complete control over the production and the product, you may risk buying a bag where half the weight turns out to be kernels, so you have to crack open the berries yourself and peel the kernels out before washing. .

Here in the video, we have found a bag of washed nuts, which at first glance seems much cheaper than ours from Care by Nature. But as you can see when you press play, they are neither pitted, cleaned nor have the beautiful amber color that characterizes a fresh and juicy berry filled with soap.

Imagine if your first experience with soap nuts was a bag from the cheap brand. Would you be happy to use it and want to recommend it to your loved ones?

It is so important that you can use carob nuts knowing that they have been produced properly and with love for both the planet and people.

All our berries are stoned with care, cleaned and sorted by expert hands we have trained ourselves. In general, we don't encourage you to go only for looks, meeeen... Right here you can do that.

Find Care by Nature washing nuts here