Using Soapnuts
Doing
Laundry
Put 6 - 8 Soapnuts to a small cotton bag (or an old
cotton sock), tie the end and place it inside the drum of the washing
machine together with your clothes. Wash as per normal.
For hand washing, you can make a tea with 8 soapnuts
and wash as usual.
Soapnuts produce low suds and are suitable for
use in both front and top loading machines.
Use warm/hot water for
soiled washing and a cold wash for refreshing clothes. Depending on your
preference, the rinse cycle need not be used as this is a low sud product
or you can reduce the number of rinse cycle. I do suggest that you start
off with washing the laundry as normal to get a feel of it first.
If you enjoy scented laundry add 5 - 8 drops of
essential oil to the washbag.
Store soapnuts in a dry and cool area. Sometimes
soapnuts will absorb some moisture and becomes sticky but this will not
effect their cleaning properties.
Note:
- Soapnuts are ideal for HE and front load
washers.
- Try adding 5 - 8 drops of your favourite
essential oil to make the laundry smell nice.
- If the soapnuts become mushy, gray, and no
longer has a soapy feeling, they can be thrown away or be used as
compost in the garden.
- Try adding some vinegar as a fabric
softener or baking soda to whiten your whites (we recommend that you do
not mix your colour and white clothing items).
- For heavily soiled or stained clothing and
fabrics, please pre-soak with other detergents or oxygen bleach or
pre-treat it before adding to the wash.
Dishwasher
use
Place 5-6 soapnuts into the washbag and secure to
the cutlery holder. You may add vinegar to the rinse aid dispenser for
sparkling clean glasses.
Using Soapnut Liquid
How to make Soapnut Liquid
Put 15-20 pieces of soapnuts shell in around
4-5 cups of water and let it soak for 12 hours. Then strain and use.
Soapnut shell can be reused until it no longer has a "soapy" feel to it.
The longer the soapnuts sit in the water, the more concentrated the liquid
becomes.
Alternatively, bring to boil the 15-20 pieces of soapnuts shell in
4-5 cups of water, and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool and strain liquid into
a bottle. These soapnuts cannot be reused again.
Note:
This soapnut liquid can also be used for
washing and cleaning a wide range of items. As this very pure
soapnut solution has no preservatives of any kind, it has only a very
limited shelf life for only a few short days. To extend its shelf life, it
would be best to keep it refrigerated (some people freeze it into ice
cubes and use as needed).
General Household Cleaner
Keep the soapnuts liquid in a spray bottle and use to
clean the bathroom, kitchen, and floors.
Jewellery
cleaner
Soak your jewellery in
the liquid for a few minutes. Use an old soft toothbrush to gently remove
debris. Rinse with clean water and polish with a dry
cloth.
Window and Glass
cleaner
Fill a spray bottle
with 250ml water, 15ml vinegar and 15ml soapnuts liquid. Spray and wipe
windows or mirrors clean. Polish with newspaper.
Dishwashing Machine
Fill the soap
dispenser with soap nuts liquid. Add vinegar as a rinse
agent.
Liquid hand soap and
shampoo
Fill a pump bottle
with the liquid and use to wash your hands or hair.
Note: Avoid your eyes, as it would sting quite a
bit.
Pet shampoo
Dilute one part
of soapnut liquid with 3 parts water. Pour over pet, wash thoroughly and
rinse with clean water. Please avoid the pet's eyes. It will leave the fur
soft, clean and helps repel pests.
Plant wash and pest
repellent
Add around 3 parts of
water, 1 part soapnuts liquid and 4 teaspoons of Neem oil (optional) to a
clean spray bottle. Shake well and spray on your plants
Handwashing silks and delicate
fabrics
Add one cup
of soapnuts liquid to half a pail of warm water or less. Gently wash
your delicate clothes. Rinse with warm water and hang or lay flat to
dry.
These are just the general guidelines
on how to use soapnuts, please do feel free to experiment and modify the
recipe to suit your own needs, please do adjust accordingly whenever
needed.
Where are
the bubbles?
Most if not all commercial cleaners contain chemical foaming agents
to generate soapy foam to fool us into believing that the detergent or
cleanser is working. But just because that there are a lot of bubbles
doesn’t mean that the detergent/cleanser is effective. Soapnuts clean
efficiently without much soapy bubbles, and because they are low sudsing
(it is the natural saponin that creates the suds), it is highly ideal for
H.E. and front loader washing machines.
Soapnuts
get black and sticky
Soapnuts turn black and sticky
as they absorb moisture from the air. If your soapnuts are exposed to
long-term moisture, like humid air, they may change color and get sticky,
but that wouldn't affect the cleaning power of soapnuts.
Store and
Keep Soapnuts
Store soapnuts in a dry and cool area, avoid
direct sunlight, preferably in an air tight
container.
|
