1. Put 5 - 7 soapnut shells/or equivalent half shells into the muslin washbag, tie bag securely. You can also use a bag clip to secure the washbag.

2. (Optional step) Place washbag into jar with warm water for 3 minutes. This helps to release the soap.

3. Load laundry into machine, place soaked washbag into drum of the washing machine with clothes. Wash clothes as directed by fabric care instructions.

4. Save used shells, as they can be reused up to FOUR more times.

1. Put 15-20 shells/50g of Soapnuts into 2 litres of water, and bring to the boil.
   
2. Switch off heat, cover and let the liquid cool down.
3. Once the liquid is cooled, strain the liquid into a jar or bottle and put the soapnuts back in the pan. Your Homemade Soapnut Laundry Liquid should be stored in the fridge.
   
4. These boiled soapnuts can be reboiled up to 3 times with 2 litre each time. This should give you between 7- 8 litres of homemade soapnut liquid.
   

HOW TO USE: Load laundry into machine. Pour ONE cup / 250ml of home-made soapnut liquid into detergent drawer of washing machine and wash as directed. Use TWO cups for larger or dirtier wash loads.

NO BOIL RECIPE: Alternatively you can add 10 soapnuts to a kilner/plastic jar and 1 litre of hot tap water. Shake and leave to soak and when water turns brown the soap has been extracted. Use liquid as needed and when jar is empty replenish with hot water. You can keep doing this until no soap is present in the soap nuts.

HANDWASH: Pour 1 cup / 250ml of home-made soapnut liquid into basin. Wash and rinse as usual.

TO USE SOAPNUT POWDER: Add 2 tablespoons of the soapnut powder into a sock/muslin bag and tie securely. Place sock on top of laundry in the washing machine drum and wash as directed. After wash has finished, discard all unused soapnut powder from sock in compost/bin/green recycling.

HANDWASH WITH SOAPNUT POWDER: Add 2 tablespoons of the soapnut powder into a sock/muslin bag and let it sit in basin of warm water to help extract the soap. You can squeeze the sock/muslin to extract as much soap as you need. Wash and rinse clothes as usual.

Soapnuts are phosphate free so they won't pollute water systems, so they are great to take on camping trips or if you live on a boat!

To use you can follow the handwash suggestions above for Soapnut Powder or Homemade Soapnut Liquid.

SOAPNUT SOAP BAR ALTERNATIVE: You can use our Soap Bars or Natural Stain Remover to wash clothes whilst travelling. Simply rub soap on clothes, lather, wash and rinse.

PRE-WASH:
Soak stubborn stains, greasy clothes and textiles overnight in bicarbonate of soda or soda crystals overnight, before washing normally. Use cold water as hot water will set stains. You can also Use our stain removing bar: Wet stain and bar then work bar into stained fabric. Treat both sides of the stain. Wash as directed.

DURING WASH:
Add 2 tablespoons of soda crystals in the powder drawer along with your soapnut detergent (soapnut shells, soapnut liquid, or soapnut powder. For softer clothes, linens and towels add vinegar to the wash instead of fabric softener. Or alternatively : use an in wash stain remover / laundry bleach of your choice.

Soapnut shells are completely hypoallergenic and scent-free. They are also a natural softener, so no artificial fabric conditioner is needed. But to add a fragrance to your washing follow our easy steps below:

ESSENTIAL OILS
You can add essential oils to your wash by adding a few drops onto the washbag before it goes into the washing machine with your laundry. Or you can add it directly to you homemade soapnut laundry liquid. 10ml of essential oil is enough to scent 1 litre of homemade soapnut laundry liquid.

LINEN WATER
You can spray your clothes with our pure linen waters whilst they are drying. If you are using a tumble dryer you can add a few drops of essential oil onto a washbag/sock/handkerchief and add that to the tumble dryer.

The same washbag of soapnuts can be re-used 3 - 4 times. Exhausted soapnut shells start to break up in the bag. When soapnuts reach this stage compost them. The picture above shows the soapnuts after 2, 3 and finally 4 washes. When the saponin/soap is completely exhausted from the soapnuts, simply throw them in your garden to ward off slugs and snails or put it in your green recycling/bin or food waste. Soapnuts are 100% biodegardable and compostable.

Soapnuts are totally organic and as stated earlier, a mild insecticide. It is safe, even beneficial to put your greay waste water from your washing machine on your garden. The residual soap/saponin in the grey water will ward of any insects. As a guide your washing machine uses about 50 litres (12 gallons!) of water per wash, which you can collect and save loads of money and the environment.