Are Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Safe For Baby – Yes, soap nuts, scientifically referred to as Organic Sapindus Mukorossi, have been used for centuries and are safe for babies. With an eye to safety and sustainability, people are currently rediscovering their benefits. Soap nuts do not include any harmful chemicals. They can be made into liquid detergents without the use of any chemical ingredients.

Organic Sapindus Mukorossi aka Soap Nuts

Furthermore, finding sustainable personal care and household supplies rewards your own overall health and the environment. Soap nuts are a great and very safe option for beginning the journey into sustainability.

Soap nuts are actually berries. This 100% organic product comes from the Sapindus mukorossi tree. The soap nut tree produces berries after nine years. Once it starts to yield soap nuts, there is a harvest for six months every year for the next 90 years. During summer, the Sapindus mukorossi tree bears small flowers with a greenish white color. The mature trees produce fruits between July and August which ripens by December.

These econuts convert carbon dioxide into oxygen cleaning the air and reducing greenhouse gases. Often, the chemicals in commercial laundry soap poison the soil and surrounding waters. Soap nuts can be used in the laundry then discarded in the compost as they are biodegradable. Organic soap nuts do not contain any harsh chemicals such as lye.

Soap nuts produced by the Sapindus mukorossi tree contain very high levels of saponin which is responsible for their cleaning properties. They are best soaked in hot water to obtain their natural cleaning powers. Soap nuts are a natural surfactant but will not produce the foam that is common in commercial products. Organic soap nuts are grown without any chemicals at all including pesticides or fertilizers ^[1].

Origins Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

Soap nuts have been used in India and Nepal for centuries as laundry soap. There are different types of soap nut trees. However, the best sources of natural soap nut laundry soaps are Sapindus trifoliatus and Sapindus mukorossi. The botanical name of Sapindus is already indicative of what it is best used since it comes from the words “Sapo” which means soap and the word “indicus” which means India. Sapindus mukorossi means “soap from India.”

The Sapindus mukorossi tree in India grows in the wild but is easy to propagate since it is insect and disease-resistant. The tree, which grows best in clay loam soil, reaches up to 82 feet in height and weighs as much as 30 kilograms per cubic foot. While the berries are used as soap nuts, the trunk is used as agricultural implements and construction materials.

There are around 12 species under the Sapindus genus consisting of both trees and shrubs. The seeds measure one to two centimeters in diameter with up to three seeds per nut. They readily germinate provided they are soaked for at least 24 hours in warm water. When sown, a mixture of manure and loam soil is best.

Organic soap nuts, which are commonly found in the Himalayan Mountains, are known by different names in other countries. They are called wash shells, Ritha nutshells, and soapberry nut husks. There is also a Chinese soapberry tree. This soap nut tree product is popular in India, China, the United States, and various countries in Europe.

Its cleansing power is known all over the world and used as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical laundry soap. Most importantly, soap nuts do not contain the skin irritant, sodium laureth sulfate. Soap nuts provide a means for natural laundry detergent as well as a natural ingredient for personal hygiene products.

Saponin Made From Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

The natural detergent in Sapindus mukorossi is called saponin. When organic soap nuts are soaked in hot water, the saponin is released.

Scientists studied the phytochemical composition of soap nuts and discovered that saponin is an effective ingredient because of its antimicrobial, piscicidal, and hepatoprotective pharmacological actions.When saponin mixes with water, it cleans grime and dirt from clothing.

As a surfactant, the saponin makes it easier for water to penetrate fabrics by reducing the tension on their surfaces. When hand washing or using a washing machine to clean clothes with this ingredient, the agitation more effectively eliminates dirt.

Appearance Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

The Sapindus mukorossi tree has a smooth bark that varies in color from pale to dark yellow. The fruits or nuts have a round shape that measures around an inch in diameter. Inside the yellow-brown nut is a seed that has a hard, black endocarp. The soapberries start off as yellow but can transform into a reddish tan. When ripe, they may appear as gummy nuts with a wrinkled appearance much like dates. The soap nut’s beauty also makes it a natural ornament.

A liquid soap nut must be created before it can be used as laundry soap. This can be created by boiling 10 soap nuts with two cups of water. The liquid soap nut is greyish in color. Soap nuts can be reused as laundry detergent, but they are no longer as effective when the nut shells start to deteriorate

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Smell

Soap nut detergents are different from commercial detergents because the former does not foam or have a scent. The fruity smell of the nut does not transfer to the clothes. It does not contain any of the fragrant chemicals that consumers often find in detergents or products that are added to the rinse cycle.

Typically, people associate the average fragrance of cleanliness with a clean scent. Unknown to many users, neuro-stimulant irritants are added to many synthetic detergents and foaming agents. Fragrance-free indicates a lack of these possibly irritating chemicals.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Use In Baby Products

Are Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Safe For Baby?  Typically, soap nuts are placed inside muslin bags before they are added to the washing machine. The fruity smell of the nuts will indicate if they are still usable for the next set of laundry.

Uses Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

The all-natural and environmentally friendly soap nuts are popular as an herb but are also used for a variety of purposes.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) As A Laundry Detergent

Soap nuts are used as laundry detergent for cloth diapers and clothes. Since they are all-natural, they do not contain any chemicals.

Since soap nuts are organic, use them to wash your baby’s clothes or cloth diapers without worrying about exposing their sensitive skin to chemicals.

The naturally occurring saponin is the surfactant in soap nuts, but commercial laundry detergents contain surfactants that are chemical-based. Unfortunately, some of these chemical-based surfactants have been identified as carcinogenic which endanger you and your baby’s health when they come into contact with the skin.

There are no hard and fast rules to determine the exact number of times that you can reuse your laundry soap nuts. Before each use. check if the soap nuts still have suds when you squeeze them. If they feel slippery, they can still be used as laundry soap.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) As A Dishwashing Soap

Aside from their ability to clean baby’s clothes, soap nuts are also ideal as a dishwashing liquid. When mixed with white vinegar and placed in the dishwasher, the soap nut can be an effective dish cleaner.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) As An All-Purpose Cleaner

Because it contains no harsh chemicals, using soap nuts for cleaning your baby’s toys, shoes, and other items that come into contact with your baby is an ideal solution.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) As A Shampoo

Soap nuts do not contain harmful chemical ingredients which makes them a safe ingredient for shampoo. Synthetic shampoos strip hair of its natural oil. On the other hand, soap nuts shampoo’s are all natural and far from toxic. Soap nuts shampoo is just one example of its application in personal products. They can also be used as a liquid body or face wash.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) As An Insect Repellant

Liquid soap nuts can be used to repel mosquitos and other insects. Apply the liquid soap nut on your body, and then let it dry. It can also be used on babies’ sensitive skin as a natural insect repellent and as a treatment for lice.

Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Medicinal Properties

Soap nuts have bee used to treat a variety of medical conditions including epilepsy, psoriasis, migraines, chlorosis (an iron deficiency), and eczema. Some find them an effective medication for treating migraines.

Benefits Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

Soap nuts are all-natural cleaning agents which makes them ideal for products for babies. The following are some of the benefits of soap nuts ^[2].

Sustainability Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

Sustainability is one of the main reasons why soap nuts are highly recommended as a laundry detergent. This natural cleaning product grows on trees and requires minimal processing. Minimal packaging means they have a very small carbon footprint. The Sapindus mukorossi trees produce soap nuts for years, so a sustainable supply of the organic soap nuts is generated for as long as the trees are standing.

Environmentally Friendly Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

Because soap nuts are all-natural and organic, they do not contain ingredients that are harmful to infants’ sensitive skin. The berries do not pollute waters or the soil. Soap nuts for laundry are in demand due to their insecticidal properties. Once you are done with them, simply add them to your compost.

Affordable Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

Soap nuts are a practical cleaning detergent for your baby’s cloth diapers and other clothing items. Although the trees take several years to produce fruit, once they start growing the berries, you can look forward to years of production.

Hypoallergenic Of Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi)

Because soap nuts are actually berries, they are safe to use around those with nut allergies. Soap nuts are all-natural and non-toxic. They do not cause respiratory irritation.

Soap nuts have been proven to be more than just a useful ingredient in baby products and personal hygiene products. They are non-toxic, affordable, and help conserve the environment. Their many uses and benefits make them an excellent and safe product to keep around the house for you and your baby.

Are Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Safe For Baby Resources:

[1]   Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences; Multifacetious Uses of Soapnut Tree, Are Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Safe For Baby.
[2]   International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research; SAPINDUS MUKOROSSI (AREETHA): AN OVERVIEW, Are Soap Nuts (Organic Sapindus Mukorossi) Safe For Baby.