It all depends on the size and quality of the soapnuts. But on average, around 6-8 shells are sufficient. If the water is soft, then even 3-4 shells will do the trick. A bit of trial and error will help you understand what best suits your washing conditions.

SoapNuts are the perfect cleaning product for sensitive souls. They are chemical free and hypoallergenic. We recommend using SoapNuts if you are allergic to soap and laundry powders and if you suffer from eczema or psoriasis.

No. SoapNuts leave clothes gorgeously soft and fresh, say goodbye to purchase fabric softeners.

Yes you will be perfectly safe. SoapNuts are a dried berry and aren't a nut at all. The dried berry looks a little like a nutcase hence the name SoapNut.

Your clothes will have no scent. If you like scented laundry add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil to the washbag. Try using lavender oil for sheets and pillowcases for a relaxing sleep, lemon oil for work clothes to make you feel fresh and sharp, and tea tree for cloth nappies for a little bit of extra antiseptic and antibacterial protection.

Yes, they are suitable for washing the most delicate of fabrics such as wool and silk. Its gentleness maintains the fabric structure of the material and it doesn't leave a build up of residue on fabrics.

Colours will be brighter because SoapNuts contain no bleach. Whites will experience some greying over time. We recommend washing whites and colours separately. Add an eco friendly laundry bleach such as our pure oxygen whitening powder or 1/2 cup of lemon juice with your whites to keep them looking crisp and white.

Reuse shells 4-6x and dispose of in your compost bin. You will find that you will get more washes from doing cold washes than hot. Hot water washes (up to 40 degrees) release more saponin, I find I get 1-2 hot washes. The berries get very shiny and fleshy when they have done their dash.

Yes, the Soapnut we are selling are fairly traded (the fair trade isn't certified). Our supplier is also involved in contract farming. It means that they are suppling the farmers with selected input including technical advice if required. They also supply the farmers with the basic necessities like Food, shelter, clothes, money and medicines.

No. Your cleaning will be just as effective without the presence of suds. There are no commercial foaming agents or chemicals added, which are commonly used in commercial detergents.

No. Actually it is better if the nuts are in smaller pieces. Many people crush the soapnut shells into smaller pieces so that the contact surface with the water increases.

Put them in your compost bin or throw them in the waste bin. They are 100% bio degradable.

No. In humid conditions SoapNuts absorb moisture and become sticky. If this happens it won't affect the product or its cleaning capabilities, it will still wash brilliantly. We recommend you store your SoapNuts in an airtight container to prevent getting sticky nuts.

Commercial detergents need to be rinsed out of the clothes completely as they leave a soapy residue. Since soapnuts are a 100% natural product with no soapy residue, you can reduce the machine rinse cycles, hence saving valuable electricity and water.

Yes. It is a 100% natural product without any harsh chemicals. The life of the machine will only be greater if you use soapnuts. If you are switching to using soapnuts, it will even clean your machine of any chemical residues from any previous washing.

Yes. Depending on the concentration of the liquid, you can add it accordingly. It is best to experment and see what works best for you.

Yes. SoapNuts produce low suds and are suitable to use in all washing machines.

No. The seeds are the round black balls. They contain no saponin. So the only thing that might be of any use is to plant them. Depending on the climatic conditions, it might grow. However, it normally takes 9 years before you will see any results. If you still want to experiment, then soak the seed in warm water for 24 hours and then sow it about an inch into the ground.

No, because soap nuts do not leave a soapy residue. Any remaining saponin adds softness and body to your clean laundry.

If you washing feels stiff after washing with SoapNuts, try reducing the number of SoapNuts until you no longer has this effect.Less SoapNuts are required for a hotwash as this releases more saponin.

Washbags are provided with any purchase of SoapNuts from The SoapNut Shop. These are for your convenience only and additional washbags may be purchased from the shop. You can choose to use a sock, a handkerchief, or a delicates washbag to hold your SoapNuts if you choose.

We import our SoapNuts from Northern India. Our SoapNuts grow wild around villages. This means at harvest time any villager may collect SoapNuts and receive an income for them. This also reduces the number of trees chopped down for firewood sale. We believe this has a greater good for local people and the planet than buying from any farmed sources.

No, the SoapNut used for washing is the berry casing, which has been dried and deseeded. Occasionally you may find a seed still attached to the berry in your bag of SoapNuts- it is a small, black, and hard, it looks like a solid blueberry. If you find one soak it overnight in warm water and then plant into seed mix and keep damp, warm and in bright light, it will take time to germinate but you can grow yourself a SoapNut tree.