Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you use soapnuts if you have a nut allergy?
Soapnuts despite the name are NOT actually nuts: they are a berry. They are not part of the nut family and won’t cause any nut allergy.
2.How do they work?
Soapnuts contain approximately 12% saponins which are a natural detergent. Similar to soap, when the shells of the soapnut come in contact with water the saponin is released and suds are produced - these are excellent for cleaning laundry and leaving it beautifully soft.
3. How many do I need?
We recommend that you use 6-8 half soapnut shells per wash which can then be reused around 4 times - until the soapnuts start to become darker and lose their sheen. As a general rule 50g should be sufficient for approximately 20-25 washes. A 1 Kg bag would wash 7-10 loads per week for around a year before it runs out.
4. Will they remove stains?
They are effective at removing everyday stains but you may need to use a separate stain treatment for more stubborn ones.
5. Can they be used on nappies?
Absolutely! Just use the soapnuts as you would normal detergent and see if they pass the smell test! As always though be careful when using essential oils near your baby sensitive skin.
6. Can they be used for anything other than laundry?
Yes indeed! These versatile little wonders can be used for a whole range of things. To make a liquid soap simmer 25g of soap nuts in 500ml of water for around 10 minutes - this can be used as a household cleaner or as a base for many personal hygiene products. Add some favourite essential oil and it can be used as handwash or shampoo. Refer to our Soapnut Recipes page for many other ideas.
7. Will my whites stay white?
For best results separate your colours and whites.Because they don't contain optical brighteners you may experience some greying over time. Try adding half a cup of lemon juice to maintain your whites.
8. Are they safe to use in all machines (front and top loaders)?
Absolutely - just remember to keep them in the cotton wash bag provided (or alternatively an old sock tied at the top) to avoid the shells sticking in any filters in your machine. If the nuts have come free in the wash check your filter to ensure none have become lodged.
9. Is it ok to leave them in the rinse cycle?
Yes there is no residue to wash away. The rinse cycles cold water and soapnuts are mainly released in warmer water. The little remaining saponin in the rinse cycle also adds body and softness to you laundry... you can even save water and energy by reducing your rinse cycle!
10.Are they fairly traded?
Although our supplier does not yet have have formal fair trade certification we have been assured that employees are fairly treated and there is no child labour involved. By purchasing soapnuts you are helping maintain the natural habitat and environment which has existed for centuries and are providing a living direct to some of the more impoverished areas of India.
11. Will soapnuts maintain my colours?
Yes! Soap in a Nutshell soapnuts are especially beneficial for colours... your clothes will never have looked brighter!
12. Can I use soapnuts with cold water?
Yes! It's best to soak the soanuts just prior to using in hot water to release the saponins. The saponins release more slowly in cold water but they still work effectively.
13. Do I need to use fabric softener?
The saponins contained in soapnuts leave your laundry beautifully soft so there should be no need for further softeners.
14. Can I use soapnuts if I have sensitive skin?
Soap in a Nutshell soap nuts contain no chemicals so they are safe for most sensitive skins. We have in fact received some very positive reports back from customers of sensitive skin conditions having improved after using our soapnuts.
15. My bag has broken - where can I get another?
Just contact us and we will arrange to have another sent out to you. In the meantime pop them in a securely knotted old sock and this can work as well.
16. Should I dry out the bag before using for a further wash?
Unless you are going to use the soapnuts immediately after for a further wash we recommend drying the bag out fully on the washing line or even in the dryer before you use it again.
17. Are your soapnuts organic?
Although Soap in a Nutshell soapnuts do not have formal organic certification they are not chemically treated in any way. Our soapnuts are wild grown so no fertilisers are used - our harvesters pick the fruit in much the same way as a guava ...straight from the tree when ripe thus maintaining the sustainability of the plants for generations to come. They are then dried on racks in the sun (without chemicals) with no chemicals being used to pulverise the soapnuts into powder either.
All current stocks are free from any Australian Quarantine department (AQIS) treatments which we have been advised should apply to any future shipment as well.
18. Are soapnuts safe to use on my really delicate clothes?
Yes! Soapnuts have been used for centuries for the most delicate of fabrics and shawls and can be safely used without bleaching out colour.
19. Can soapnuts be used to handwash clothes?
Yes you can either make up a soapnut solution (see 6 above) or else you can soak them for a few minutes in their bag in hot water. Then just add more water so you have enough to hand wash safely without burning yourself.
20. What if I have a really dirty load?
We recommend using half the load size with the usual quantity of soapnuts. When you do use hotter washes (e.g. 60C +) you will probably only get around one or two washes out of one batch of soapnut shells.
21. Where do Soap in a Nutshell soapnuts come from and how are they transported?
Soap in a Nutshell are grown in India - where they have been used for centuries for cleaning and personal hygene purposes. They are shipped by sea directly to Sydney so as to minimise their 'carbon footprint'.
22. I live in a soft water area - how will this impact the effectiveness of the soapnuts?
We find that softer water areas require less soapnuts per cycle - so you may even be able to reduce the number of nuts you use if this is the case! Feel free to experiment!
23. I can't see any bubbles in my wash - how can they be working?
The quantity of bubbles do not have any bearing on the effectiveness of the cleaning product. Although some soaps by nature are foaming, commercial detergents are generally low foaming with a foaming agent added to increase the perception of cleaning power.
24. Do you have wholesale or bulk rates available?
Yes - please contact us if you are interested in buying bulk orders - either between a group of friends/family or for the potential on-selling opportunity.
25. I love Soap in a Nutshell products! Do you have any distributorship opportunities?
Yes! We have many opportunities for distributorship relationships across Australia. for individuals or businesses who are as enthusastic about this product as us. Please Contact usfor details of how you can become involved.
26. Do soapnuts have a lifespan? Will they lose effectiveness over time?
Provided soapnuts are kept in a dry place they should remain as effective as the day you bought them. When using soapnuts to create your own products (e.g. multi-purpose cleaner we recommend using within 3-6 months).
27. Can soapnuts be eaten?
We do NOT recommend eating Soap in a Nutshell soapnuts or soapnut powder. They are being sold purely as a cleaning product and should not be ingested. | 
