Laundry Soap Berries/Nuts

1 oz will do about 10-15 loads.

You are not going to believe how well these work. It may sound crazy but wait until you try it. Soapberries or soap nuts contain saponin a natural detergent which is used to clean naturally without chemicals. Soapberries have become popular as an alternative to manufactured chemical detergents and are especially environmentally friendly.They are safe for use in septic systems and grey water systems. HE washer safe (high efficiency washers) since it is low sudsing.

Commercial detergents are harsh on your clothing by breaking down fibers making them wear out faster. That's minor considering the health problems that are caused by detergents like cancer allergies birth defects reproductive disorders lung disorders photosensitivity or even death. They also biodegrade slowly making them a hazard to the environment.

Fabric softeners have toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, central nervous system disorders, nausea, respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness, skin irritation and much more. Fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothing for a long time to keep releasing a pleasant scent. These chemicals are slowly released into the air for you to inhale and onto your skin where the chemicals are absorbed, meaning you are exposed to these chemicals every day, all day.

• Simply put 5 soap nuts in a cloth bag place in washer with clothes and wash on warm water setting.
• Remove bag from laundry before drying and use for another 4 washes or so.
• When the berries turn mushy and tan, they have been used up and should be composted.  Refill the bag with a few fresh berries and repeat the cycle.
  
• Add vinegar and a bit of essential oil to your fabric softener dispenser for extra softness and light scent.
  

Clothes come out soft, clean, chemical and fragrance free. It doesn't get better than that. This is particularly nice for those who suffer from sensitive skin or allergies to detergents. Your clothes will also keep their full color longer since no harsh detergents are removing the color.

Your clothing is in contact with your skin all day and you sleep in your sheets all night. Whether you're an allergy sufferer, have sensitive skin, use cloth diapers or just want to do your part for a greener earth, soapberries are a dream come true.

When in warm or hot water, soapberries release an extremely effective hypoallergenic, biodegradable cleaning agent with no added synthetics chemicals toxins or artificial perfumes. This natural detergent leaves laundry amazingly clean, fresh and soft, plus provides a plethora of other truly green household cleaning uses. Your clothes will smell fresh and you won't need any fabric softener.

A few berriess can be placed in a cotton drawstring bag in with a wash load and reused several times. Soapberries are safe for washing silk woolens and other delicate fabrics. The fruits are considered to be poisonous to humans although they produce a good lather in warm or hot water.

The fruit of the Soapberry tree is a little nut that is harvested and dried. It used medically as an expectorant, emetic ,contraceptive and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis, and migraines. Studies show that saponins from the soapberry inhibit tumor cell growth.

They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers and are used as a treatment for eczema psoriasis and for removing freckles. Soapberries have gentle insecticidal properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp. Soapberries are used by Indian and Indonesian jewelers to remove the tarnish from gold silver and other precious metals.

You can simmer some berries in water, strain, and then use the liquid as detergent or liquid soap.  Instructions are included on the 1.1 lb bag.  This way, you don't have to keep track of the muslin bag of berries in the washer.  You still need much less soap berry liquid than regular detergent, and it has no harmful chemicals.

Please note that this information is provided for educational use and you should not use the soapberries internally without professional medical advice.