Most commercial detergents contain a cocktail of chemicals which not only pollute the environment but have been implicated in causing many conditions from skin allergies to hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic changes in the body. Consumers have become used to associating abundant, soapy suds with cleansing ability.  These bubbles are artificially produced by adding chemical foaming agents such as sodium laureth /laurel sulphate, MEA (monoethanlomine) and DEA (diethanlomine) to shampoos, washing up liquids and laundry detergents and even toothpastes.  Quite scary when you think that the second most efficient way of absorbing chemicals into the body is via the skin (the first being under the tongue).

I started using soapnut shells after the birth of my son who, like any real eco-baby, wears washable nappies.  I wanted to ensure that these, as well as his clothes, blankets and bedclothes (in fact anything which came into contact with his skin, including my clothes!) did not contain any of these chemicals. Soapnuts come from a tree which grows mainly in South India.  The outer shell of the fruit of the tree (sapindus trifoliatus) contains saponin - a natural soap.

Because the soap in the nuts is natural and does not contain chemical foaming agents, you will get a small amount of quickly disappearing bubbles, not masses of soapy bubbles that take ages to dissipate but don’t worry,  your laundry WILL be clean.  

Soapnuts come from a tree which grows mainly in South India.  Because the soap in the nuts is natural and does not contain chemical foaming agents, you will get a small amount of quickly disappearing bubbles, not masses of soapy bubbles that take ages to dissipate but don’t worry,  your laundry WILL be clean.  When I first tried them on my sons’ nappies the result was perfectly clean and soft nappies, and I live in London which is a very hard water area.  I was so impressed that I now use them on absolutely all my laundry, including handwashing.  They obviously contain no bleaching agents so colours don’t fade, but even whites are still white, and they haven’t failed yet to get all manner of stains out of my laundry, including baby poo!  Although the nuts do have a very faint, not unpleasant smell when wet, this does not transfer to your laundry but if you want your laundry perfumed a natural way, you can use a few drops of essential oil.  Put these in the fabric conditioner compartment of your machine – I liked bergamot.

And soapnut shells don’t just have to be used for your laundry.  I had been finding it really difficult to find a completely natural, really gentle “shampoo” for my son’s hair; one which didn’t come in a plastic container. The solution? soak a couple of Soapnut shells in hot water for a few minutes to make a soapy solution.  His hair was clean and incredibly soft!

A few of the shells, enclosed inside a small cotton bag, or even an old sock, lasts for several washes and once they are exhausted, they can be composted as they are 100% biodegradable.  A kilogramme bag of soap nuts lasts for ages.  I bought one when my son was born and I have only just finished them now, four months later.  And there’s a lot of nappy washing in four months……….

Indian Soapnut Shells can be bought from Bio-bubs Ltd.  www.bio-bubs.co.uk Tel: 020 8835 0438