DIY Soap Nut Laundry Soap
If you’re looking for a natural, no-fuss way to wash your clothes—without synthetic fragrances, dyes, or questionable ingredients—let me introduce you to my new favorite herbal laundry staple: soap nuts.
These wrinkly little berries (yep, they’re technically berries!) are a game-changer when it comes to natural cleaning.
I’ve made plenty of laundry soap recipes in the past, but something as always missing. After a few months, my clothes would start to smell or just didn’t get how I wanted them to be.
Then someone mentioned soap nuts to me and I was so intrigued. I finally was able to try them out and now I am hooked!
Learn all about soap nuts and this super easy DIY laundry soap with you’ll love!
Why Soap Nuts?
Soap nuts, also called soapberries, come from the Sapindus tree. They contain a natural cleaning agent called saponin, which is released when they’re soaked or boiled in water.
Saponins break down dirt, oils, and grime without the need for harsh detergents. Plus, they’re incredibly gentle on sensitive skin and biodegradable—so you’re doing your skin and the planet a favor.
As an herbalist, I love using remedies and solutions that come straight from the earth. Soap nuts feel like one of those ancestral wisdom tools we forgot about—and it’s time to bring them back into our homes!
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What I Love About the Simply Earth Soap Nit Laundry Soap Kit
I’ve made soap nut detergent from scratch before, but this kit simplifies the process beautifully and makes it so easy for anyone who wants to make their own laundry soap.
Here’s what it comes with:
- Cypress Essential Oil
- Grapefruit Essential Oil
- Soap Nuts (2oz)
- Natural Solublizer (2oz)
- Geogard ECT Preservative (1oz)
- Amber Plastic Bottles (16oz – 2pcs)
- Recipe Labels (2pcs)
- Instructions that are easy to follow (no guesswork here)
It’s perfect for beginners, busy moms, or anyone wanting to dip their toes into the world of herbal home care. Use KATE10 to get 10% off this box!
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How to Make Soap Nut Liquid Laundry Detergent
Here is how to make your own homemade soap nut laundry soap:
Ingredients Needed
- 2 oz soap nuts
- 32 oz water
- 2 oz natural solubilizer
- 200 drops grapefruit essential oil (2 teaspoons)
- 100 drops cypress essential oil (1 teaspoon)
- 1/2 tablespoon Geogard ECT preservative
- 2 16 oz amber bottles
Instructions
In a pot, combine Soap Nuts and distilled water and cover. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Continue cooking the Soap Nuts for 1 hour, or until they become pale brown in color.
Tip: Stay nearby while the soap nuts cook so you can briefly remove them from the heat if they start to bubble up.
Remove mixture from the heat. Strain out and discard the Soap Nuts. Allow the remaining mixture to cool to room temperature. Replace any water lost during the heating phase to get back to 32 fl oz.
In a small bowl, add the essential oils. I did 100 drops for a 1% dilution rate. While stirring, slowly add the Natural Solubilizer. Add the preservative and stir.
Once the soap nut mixture has cooled, slowly pour a small amount of soap nut water (~1/2 cup) into the essential oil mixture and stir to combine.
Pour your mixture from Step 4 into the larger batch of soap nut water and stir until thoroughly combined.
Pour into bottles and label.
How to Use
Add 1/8-1/4 cup of liquid soap nut laundry soap to your washing machine. For a natural fabric softener, add 1/2 cup vinegar to the wash load.
The soap nuts will give the laundry detergent a cider-like aroma that won’t be noticeable after washing. To preserve the light Cypress and Grapefruit scent on your clothes, air dry or use a cool dryer setting.
This recipe lasts for up to one year.
A Few Tips from My Laundry Routine
- Add essential oils: A few drops of lavender, tea tree, or citrus not only add a fresh scent but can boost the antimicrobial properties of your wash. I do this in my laundry scent booster.
- Use wool dryer balls: To keep your laundry routine plastic-free and toxin-free, skip dryer sheets and go for wool balls with a few drops of essential oil.
- Good for baby clothes: This detergent is so gentle, I’ve used it for my babies’ laundry with zero skin irritation!
- Reuse the soap nuts: After using them for liquid detergent, toss the used berries into your compost or garden soil—they’ll break down naturally.
Check out Simply Earth’s monthly subscription box and use code KATEFREE to get $45 FREE GIFT CARD!
Soap Nut Laundry Soap
Materials
- 2 oz soap nuts
- 32 oz water
- 2 oz natural solubilizer
- 200 drops grapefruit essential oil (2 teaspoons)
- 100 drops cypress essential oil (1 teaspoon)
- 1/2 tablespoon Geogard ECT preservative
- 2 16 oz amber bottles
Instructions
- In a pot, combine Soap Nuts and distilled water and cover. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Continue cooking the Soap Nuts for 1 hour, or until they become pale brown in color.
- Tip: Stay nearby while the soap nuts cook so you can briefly remove them from the heat if they start to bubble up.
- Remove mixture from the heat. Strain out and discard the Soap Nuts. Allow the remaining mixture to cool to room temperature. Replace any water lost during the heating phase to get back to 32 fl oz.
- In a small bowl, add the essential oils. I did 100 drops for a 1% dilution rate. While stirring, slowly add the Natural Solubilizer. Add the preservative and stir.
- Once the soap nut mixture has cooled, slowly pour a small amount of soap nut water (~1/2 cup) into the essential oil mixture and stir to combine.
- Pour your mixture from Step 4 into the larger batch of soap nut water and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Pour into bottles and label.
Notes
How to Use
Add 1/8-1/4 cup of liquid soap nut laundry soap to your washing machine. For a natural fabric softener, add 1/2 cup vinegar to the wash load.
The soap nuts will give the laundry detergent a cider-like aroma that won't be noticeable after washing. To preserve the light Cypress and Grapefruit scent on your clothes, air dry or use a cool dryer setting.
This recipe lasts for up to one year.
Final Thoughts
The Simply Earth DIY Soap Nut Laundry Soap Kit makes it easy to bring herbalism into your daily rhythm. It’s effective, affordable, and gentle on your home, your skin, and the earth. I couldn’t recommend it more.
So if you’re ready to swap out your conventional detergent for something cleaner and kinder—this is a great place to start.
Want more DIY cleaners? Check out these:
Is it safe for septic?
Great question! Yes, soap nuts are totally septic safe. They’re all-natural (just a berry, no chemicals) and low-sudsing, which is actually a big deal for septic systems since heavy suds are one of the main things that cause problems over time. So you’re good to use them without worrying about your tank 🙂