How Many Earth's Berries™ Soap Nuts Do You Need?

As with any recipe, you can experiment with how much or how little soap nuts you need. It all depends on your laundry demands. Simply keep in mind that soap nuts release saponin best soaked in hot water for 2 mins first

 

Cold or Warm Water:  4-5 (8-10 half husks) soap nuts for a cold or warm water wash pre soaked in hot tap water first
Hot Water:  4-5 (8-10 half husks) soap nuts for hot water
Hard Water:  5-6 (10-12 half husks) soap nuts for hard water or heavily soiled items

 

Reuse soap nuts 4 times before discarding shells to the compost or garden.

 

Another great way to measure them out is to fill a quarter cup just below the rim.

 

They aren’t working what am I doing wrong?

• Do you have hard water? If so, make sure you are using the 5 whole berries or 10 halves. You may need a few more to get a great result.

• Are you using cold water? If so, pre soak for a minute or 2 in hot tap water before putting the bag in the washing machine......don’t throw out the water that you soaked them in, put that water in your wash as well.

• Are you using enough Earth’s Berries™? Many of the berries are halved during processing so make sure you are using 2 halves for one whole berry.

 

Can I just leave the bag in the washing machine between washes?

No, this will actually begin to mold both the berries and the bag. It is best if you aren't using the bag for the next load to hang it somewhere in your laundry room.

 

Can I use Earth’s Berries™ Soap Nuts to pre-spot?

Get your bag ready for the laundry and soak it in hot water for a few minutes, then rub the bag with the berries onto the stain.  I’ve actually started carrying this in my purse as my own little Earth’s Berries™ stain bag.

 

Are they hypo-allergenic.........I have a nut allergy?

For those concerned about nut allergies, they are actually a berry not a nut. They are considered hypo-allergenic, meaning that they are likely not to irritate sensitive skin. They have actually been shown to improve some skin conditions such as eczema. For those concerned about nut allergies, they are actually a berry not a nut. They are considered hypo-allergenic, meaning that they are likely not to irritate sensitive skin. They have actually been shown to improve some skin conditions such as eczema.

 

For those concerned about nut allergies, they are actually a berry not a nut. They are considered hypo-allergenic, meaning that they are likely not to irritate sensitive skin. They have actually been shown to improve some skin conditions such as eczema.

 

For those concerned about nut allergies, they are actually a berry not a nut. They are considered hypo-allergenic, meaning that they are likely not to irritate sensitive skin. They have actually been shown to improve some skin conditions such as eczema.

 

How many times have I used that darn bag??

The bag can be used for the same lifetime as your soap nuts - 4-5 washes, then should be discarded along with the nuts.  Even I get confused so this is what I have implemented in my laundry room. I purchased 5 metal hooks from the dollar store and mounted them on the wall. I move the bag from hook to hook after each use.  When I finish with the 5th hook, I know it's time to discard the soap nuts.

 

Have fun with it! You can make it a laundry room accessory.

 

They went into the dryer, should I throw them out?

Nope just check them, either visually or another way is to put them into hot water and give a squeeze, if they still release a good amount of suds then they can be used again!

 

Do I have to fish them out of the machine during the rinse cycle?

No, Earth’s Berries™soap nuts can stay in the machine through the entire wash.  You actually only need the rinse cycle to clean off the dirty wash water as there is nothing to rinse from the clothes.......definitely shut off the extra rinse you may be running on your machine.

 

I've made the liquid, but I am afraid I won’t use it all in 10 days?

You can always half the recipe or:

1. A few drops of Oil of Oregano or Grapefruit seed extract and some of your favourite essential orders will help with preservation.

2. Citric Acid is a great preservative, use one tsp per litre of liquid, dissolve it into 2 tbsp of hot water and then add it to the liquid.

3. Freeze the liquid into ice cube trays and use 2 cubes for a large load.

 

Use it around the house, I do all of my cleaning with the liquid.

 

Why don’t you have more recipes for body and hair care uses?

I personally use Earth’s Berries™ soap nuts for all kinds of things in my home from shampoo to cleaners. However, there are more regulations in Canada for the use of the soap nuts directly on the skin. I would invite you to explore other sites to find recipes for more and more uses. They truly are a gift and can be used in every area of your home and body.

 

Are they organic?

Yes they most definitely are organic. However, beyond being organic,  my choice was to hand pick my supplier, one whose mission is fair practices and fair wages to his employees.

 

What species are Earth’s Berries™ soap nuts?

Earth’s Berries™ are of the highest quality sapindus mukorossi species. Though there are many species of soap nuts this is one contains the highest level of saponin (cleaning agent) and work best for your laundry and cleaning needs.

 

How do they get here?

They arrive here by ship; I do my best to order in large quantities so that I can keep the carbon footprint as low as possible.

 

What about the carbon footprint it takes to get Earth’s Berries™ Soap Nuts to Canada?

I choose to bring over the Earth’s Berries™ in Shipments of no less than 3000kg per shipment, below is the calculation between using plastic and the shipment and the CO2 difference:

• Each 3000kg shipment from India = approximately 2 tons of CO2 to the carbon footprint

• 3000kg of soap nuts replace= 27000 plastic 32 load laundry bottle

• The production of 1 plastic 32 load bottle = 1kg of C02 carbon footprint

• Therefore that is equal to 27,000kg of CO2 carbon footprint

• 27 000 kilogram = 27 ton [metric] co2 carbon footprint

 

Can we grow it here?

There is a real possibility that the tree would survive our climate here, however, the import of the seed at this present time is not allowed. The tree is a very hardy tree and may be extremely invasive to our present wild species of trees.

 

What is the sustainability of the tree?

The seed of the Earth’s Berries™ are left in India, therefore providing lots of time for them to take hold and grow a new tree. It takes nine years for the tree to bear fruit that is usable as an Earth’s Berry. Most of the trees are centuries old.

 

Where are they packaged?

Our Earth’s Berries™ are now packaged in Canada, in a completely bio-degradable bag made from wildgrass sustainable sources. Both our labels and our bags employ women in Nepal and The Phillipines.

 

Are they de-seeded?

Yes the Earth’s Berries™ soap nuts are de-seeded, however it is all done by hand and due to human error you may find that the odd seed gets into your bag. Do not use it in your laundry.