DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent
So, I started toying around different ways to make a good DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent. I’ve used soap nuts to do my laundry for years (in a pouch…), but I do miss the convenience of having a “liquid” detergent too…
When I’d search for recipes, they always called for all kinds of extra ingredients I’m just not interested in adding. Plus, I plan on using this DIY detergent to wash my baby’s clothes and cloth diapers. Basically, I insist the “safe” standard be a step-up for my little girl’s stuff. Usually the only way I can achieve this, is by making it myself…
Hency, my DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent concoction came to life! Took me a few tries and blends but this recipe is the winner. Scented using mandarin essential oils (you could also use lavender), it’s refreshing and 100% pure & safe on all types of clothes.
What the Heck Is A Soap Nut?
In case you’re not up to speed – soap nuts (AKA – soapberries) are actually a fruit and not a nut, that grows on tres in Nepal, India.
100% natural and biodegradable, they are the perfect laundry soap alternative used by many for centuries. You can buy laundry nuts easily at health food stores or online. Heck, I ordered mine through Sears, so it’s not hard to get em’ now thankfully.
There’s loads of ways you can use them for cleaning in your home, beyond laundry – A bag of soap nuts is worth the investment for any “eco–green” fan.
Benefits of Washing w/Soap Nuts
Skip the laundry detergent – these sustainable little nuts naturally soften clothes. They have zero odor, making their fragrance-free attribute great for all skin types. Using soap nuts is also way more affordable than using both laundry detergent and liquid softener.
Both HE machines or front loader machines can handle soap nuts. Water temperature isn’t a factor either they can handle it all: hot, mild, or cold.
Now on to my recipe…
DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent RECIPE
Ingredients/Materials:
- 5 cups water
- 50 soap nuts (approx.)
- ¼ cup liquid castile soap
- 20 drops mandarin essential oil (or more less, as desired…)
- 1 tsp citric acid
- Cheese cloth
- Glass mason jar
Directions: Place a medium-sized pan on stove top over medium heat.
Add water and soap nuts into the pot.
Cook over medium heat for approx. 1 hour. Stirring occasionally.
As your cooking the soap nuts, you’ll see the water slowly go from clear to a brown tint. That’s a good sign that the soap is getting properly expelled from the nuts too.
Add the liquid castile soap before removing from heat.
Let hot mixture cool, to room temperature. Once cooled, pour the liquid through a cheese cloth to get rid of all the nuts and bits into a glass mason jar for storage… (I didn’t have cheese cloth on hand so I squeezed my literally through a cloth into my mason jar…)
Finally, add in the citric acid and the essential oils to the liquid contained in the mason jar.
SHAKE WELL before using. Use approx. 3 to 5 tbsp. per large load of laundry.
Store in fridge (keeps for 3 to 5 weeks) – on a shelf (keeps 1 to 2 weeks). You’ll know it’s gone rancid by the smell alone. It pretty much smells rotten, it’s not hard to tell.
CONCLUSION – DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent
I created this DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent so I’d easily have access to an affordable, safe, baby laundry soap. So far, it’s been the perfect, healthy clean clothes alternative.
50 soap nuts may seem to be a bit high in this recipe. My reason for this is because I have extremely “hard” water. But if you don’t have this water issue, you could get away with using around 35 soap nuts…
Thanks for reading my DIY Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent! Please “PIN” and share. Hope it serves your laundry room well ?
86
156
942
Love your DIY’s. I’ve heard of soap nuts but never used them before. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Angie,
Until now, I’ve never heard of Soap Nut. This is really great information. I love the fact that you only have to use 3 to 5 tbsp per. load of laundry. With three growing kids we do laundry daily. Using Soap Nut detergent would help cut cost when compared to leading store detergent. Another perk is that its natural.
Hi Angie,
Until now, I’ve never heard of Soap Nut. This is really great information. I love the fact that you only have to use 3 to 5 tbsp per. load of laundry. With three growing kids we do laundry daily. Using Soap Nut detergent would help cut cost when compared to leading store detergent. Another perk is that its natural.
Oh wow, congrats on 3 little ones – your laundry piles must be no joke ! 🙂 I hope you get the chance to try your own soap nuts soon. I am so happy to have a jar on hand here.
Appreciate your comment!
I’ve never heard of soap nuts! I’d be honored if you shared this at the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
http://www.pleasuresofthenw.com/crafty-link-58/
Thanks for joining the party!
An hour made half of the water goes away. I think it is to long…
You want to boil down the water, to have a more concentrated product. You can see from my pictures, my water definitely boiled down- but obviously you still need liquid. You can add more water half-way, if it’s boiling down too quickly. Or, if you want more. I’d make a bigger batch – it’ll solve this problem 🙂 Thanks for coming by!