Soap Nuts

Organic soap nuts, also known as soap berries, are a versatile, hypoallergenic and eco-friendly cleaning solution for laundry and around the home. Despite the name, they are berries rather than nuts. Their shells naturally contain saponin, which is released in water and helps lift dirt and grime.

Soap berries are palm oil free, plastic free, biodegradable, compostable and grey water safe. They are also cost-effective because the same shells can be reused several times before being returned to the compost or garden.

Gentle on sensitive skin, soap berries can be used for washing clothes, soaking and handwashing laundry, making household cleaning liquid, handwashing dishes, cleaning glass and stainless steel, and even as a gentle hand, body or hair cleanser.

For a fresh fragrance in your laundry, add a few drops of That Red House Laundry Tonic to the soap berry wash bag. For stains or heavily soiled laundry, use Sodium Percarbonate (Oxygen Bleach) alongside your soap berries for extra cleaning power.

Curious to know more? Here are seven ways you can use soap berries around the home.

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Explore Biome’s soap berries and natural soap berry laundry products below.

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What are Soap Nuts?

The Sapindus Mukorossi tree produces a fruit that is commonly known as soap berries or soap nuts. They are not actually nuts, but stone fruits that have a hard seed inside a fleshy pulp. These soap berries are native to the Himalayan region, where our That Red House organic soapberries are sourced from. Soap nuts are collected by hand by small local communities who follow ethical and sustainable practices. The surface of the dried berry contains a high amount of saponin, a natural compound that reduces the surface tension of water and acts as a soap and detergent.

Soap nuts can be used to clean almost anything around the home, such as clothes, dishes, floors, windows, and even hair and body.

Completely zero waste, as they come in a reusable calico bag with no plastic packaging and the nuts can be composted or buried in the soil after use. Soap nuts will decompose naturally and enrich the earth with nutrients.

Soap berries are hypoallergenic, meaning they do not leave residue on clothes that cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin. They are ideal for people with sensitive skin and allergies, as well as babies and children who have delicate skin. They are also antibacterial and anti-fungal, which means they can prevent the growth of harmful microbes and fungi on surfaces and fabrics.

With no artificial fragrance or colour, soap nuts are odourless and do not stain clothes or surfaces. Our organic soapberries are certified organic by USDA and EcoCert, which means they are grown without any pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilisers. They are also cruelty free, palm oil free and vegan, as they are not tested on animals or contain any animal-derived ingredients.